‘Your grade does not define you’

Marianas High School’s 2018 class valedictorian Louise Zheng Li joined her friends and classmates in receiving their diplomas in yesterday’s more than two-hour-long commencement exercise at the school grounds.

Li, who was also the recipient of the CNMI State Board of Education award, only learned that she would be graduating at the top of her class last Friday.

“I could barely digest the idea of it. I just didn’t feel like I deserved it. There were several people who worked harder than me,” she said.

In her speech, though, Li reminded her fellow graduates that their grades do not define who they truly are. “I want you all to know that your grades don’t define you. They don’t define the amount of effort you exert. They don’t define how smart you are. And they don’t definitely define where you’re going to end up in the future.”

She added that they would encounter other things in their lives that would be more emotionally challenging. “You’re going to encounter several moments in your life where you aren’t happy with where you are. There are going to be times where you feel completely defeated. And that’s totally fine… You’re going to get out of that rut. So don’t doubt yourself. Don’t doubt your potential, because you are a part of a class that exudes potential. We’re always going to encounter hardships in our lives. And those hardships are going to offer us opportunities to grow and lessons to learn,” said Li.

Class salutatorian Joyce Ane Rios Nisola said that resilience is the one thing that they all have in common. “Resilience is toughness. It’s the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. …Many of us have been dealt with bad cards; cards that we did not want and yet, against all odds, amidst the fear, the difficulties, and heartaches, here we are. We are a resilient class.”

Nisola also received the Commissioner’s Award.

Chloe Hazel Anne Perone Salvosa, this year’s Student Council president and runner-up in the 2018 Miss Marianas, was honored with the Governor’s Award that was given by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and first lady Diann T. Torres.

Lischulisch William received the Lieutenant Governor’s Excelsior Award, which was presented to a graduating senior that had overcome challenges and obstacles in life. Ryan Christopher Uvero Relucio was honored with the Principal’s Award.

Li, Nisola, John Michael Ortizo Costales, Relucio, Amelito Obtinalla Dalusong Jr., Diana Pacanan Maniacop, Salvosa, Catherine Nicole Diotares Roque, Chenoa Gale Bunts-Anderson, and Miguel Andrei De Leon Aninon completed the Top 10.

Palau President Tommy Remengasau was the keynote speaker in the graduation that was also attended by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, first lady Diann T. Torres, Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog, CNMI Board of Education officials led by vice chair Janice Tenorio, and Public School System commissioners led by interim commissioner Glenn Muna.

There was a total of 382 MHS graduates in all.