This post is also available in:
Spanish
Last Saturday the 7th of July, the Saint John School celebrated its graduation ceremony at Casa de Campo’s Flamboyan conference centre – a beautiful event where enthusiastic, talented and outgoing young boys and girls of the Saint John School in Buena Vista Norte, La Romana finally received their diplomas!
By 6:30pm the Flamboyan conference center was filled with the many guests of the Saint John School graduation ceremony, where the 23 happy graduates shone in electric blue gowns, accompanied by their families, friends, with mixed feelings of nervousness, pride, happiness and the unanimous desire to live, feel and appreciate every second of this important step in their lives.
After taking numerous photos for the official graduation album, families, friends and guests headed to the main salon, where later and introduced by the Headmistress of the Saint John School Hilda Alvarez, the young graduating class otherwise known as “OPTIMUS” paraded through the isle, along with their parents to start off the graduation ceremony.
Saint John School graduating class of 2012!
The emotive ceremony started with the Dominican National anthem, followed a the prayer written by one of the graduates, the class motto “Breaking Barriers”, the valedictorian speeches by Ricardo Fondeur and Esther Cazanova as well as an inspiring performance of R. Kelly’s famous song, “The World’s Greatest”.
“What was distant, is now history. Today, a dream is accomplished. Today we remember why, when and how we got here. Let us not change true love for a passing affair or change the real path for a sidewalk. Never forget that gold is melted with fire and hammer. Fatigue is temporary, but pride remains forever. We’ve been together a long time, but we have to grow, we must try, although it is difficult, so difficult to have to say goodbye and go our way, it’s time. We never thought this would end. Lets cling to our memories and walk steadily towards the future; ‘Traveler, there is no path, this is made by walking’.”
— Valedictorian speech by Ricardo Fondeur
In the midst of laughter, tears and joy, the attendees as well as the 23 stars of the night, listened to the many anecdotes shared by parents who, as a way of thanking their children and the school for a wonderful experience that started 16 years ago – a special moment which led to the most awaited part of the event…. that one thing that would open a world of numerous opportunities and greater challenges for OPTIMUS – their diplomas!“There is no way for us to know what the future might bring us, because expectations don’t always meet reality, and because however we have lived our lives can suddenly change, and specially because challenges in life only become harder; what we do know, is who we are, who we want to be, or that we want to know, and that, and everything that is inside us is what truly matters once we’re on our own“.
— Valedictorian speech by Esther Cazanova
It’s time to party!!
