First Lady Jeannette Kagame, on Saturday, June 17, commended Green Hills Academy graduates and urged them to make the right decisions for their future.
She was speaking during a graduation ceremony held at Kigali Convention Center where 87 students from 17 countries graduated after completing high school.
Parents, guardians, educators, and government officials, among others, convened to celebrate the GHA class of 2023 graduates in an event marked by showcasing various talents and awarding the best performing students based on different criteria.
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Mrs. Kagame congratulated and gave a message of advice to the students as they close the enchanting chapter of childhood and engage in the adventure of adulthood.
She advised them to use every skill they have gained to make the world better, starting with their communities in every corner where their futures will lead them to.
"The courts of public opinion will begin to observe your actions as your own and will no longer attribute them to the choices of your parents. Sooner than you think, you will be decision-makers and opinion leaders...it is a defining time for you in terms of choices.”
"You are never too young to make the right choice; for these choices are the seeds that will sprout throughout the rest of your lives...in the long run, only hard work and smart work pay off,” she told them, noting that it’s up to them to earn respect through moral and ethical choices and consideration of one another.
She also thanked the educators for "building ladders for our children to climb as they soar into new heights.”
Values
The Minister of Education, Valentine Uwamariya, told the graduates that their success is not solely defined by the marks on report cards but by the character they have developed and the values they hold.
She said: "In the face of adverse challenges and unprecedented circumstances, you have demonstrated resilience and adaptability, the Covid-19 outbreak forced us to rethink our education methods and find creative ways to continue your learning journey.”
"Your ability to adapt to these situations has prepared you for the unpredictable and fast-changing world that awaits you,” she added.
On behalf of the school, Anna Bagabe, the High School Principal at GHA, thanked the parents and guardians, who have remained actively present in their children’s education journey and contributed to their success.
Many of the 2023 GHA graduates have secured admissions into different world-renowned universities to pursue a range of courses in their higher education journey. They pledged to be a part of Rwanda’s development.