YOUR VALEDICTORIANS 2023 CELEBRATING BRIGHT FUTURES FOR THE CLASSES OF 2023

Graduation is a time of reflection, a time to celebrate and a time to look forward toward the future. Thanks to the high schools in Burnaby, the Burnaby NOW celebrates this time through the words of the valedictorians from the Grad Class of 2023. What follows are excerpts from their respective speeches.

Kendall Drager, Haida Nation

I’d like to take the opportunity to talk about my home of Haida Gwaii. Growing up on the island was the best thing for me being around family and having so much nature around with so little buildings. Leaving home and coming here changed my view of the world It gave me a new lens to look through and opportunities opened for me But home brought a lot of things as well Being withEldersandlearningfromthem…IbelieveItrulygotthebestofbothworlds.

I want to recognize the aspects of our spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual accomplishments. I want to recognize that we are celebrating not only academics, but also our determination to survive and thrive in a system and world that hasn’t treated Indigenous people very well Success is not measured only by degrees or job titles or grades It is measuredbythepositiveimpactwehaveonourcommunities,howwehelpthose who come after us, how we show courage and respect in the face of adversity

Congratulations! Class of 2023, whatever comes next on your journey we encourage you to keep dreaming, keep reaching for your goals and keep learning.

YOUR VALEDICTORIANS 2023 2

VALEDICTORIAN:

Fredson Hu

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Class of 2023, we are the generation to challenge the impossible. We are the generation that has inherited a planet facing extraordinary adversities - from climate change to social inequality We are the generation tasked with the insurmountable challenge to change the world, but we are not daunted by this Instead, we embrace it as an opportunity to make a positive difference We are a generation that is passionate about change We have started movements far

We need to thank each other for all the lasting memories we have created, for the perspectives and views we have gained, and for the support we have given each other that has led us to where we are today. We changed each other’s lives, every little word we said, or any little gesture we made, we truly shaped each other into the people we are today I urge you all to cherish those moments, not take them for granted and continue to fill your buckets up None of us can control what life throws at us, but we all have a choice on how we react to what comes our way. I am encouraged and hopeful that we as a group will truly make powerful choices filling up our buckets every day, as we stay young, wild, and free. Congratulations Grads! WE DID IT!

BURNABY NORTH SECONDARY VALEDICTORIAN: Elsie

Beyond the school walls, we become adults, we seek our own adventures wherever they may lead us. And of course, we become responsible for shaping our own destinies. Nevertheless, regardless of where we are, we willbemovingon,andwewillallflourish.As weembarkonthesenewadventures,Iknowthateveryoneofuswillachieve our own greatness. We can look to our sides and see the dear people we call friends, peer into classrooms to see our occasional source of stress and the teachers who are our mentors; we look into our homes to find warmth and comfort through turbulent times And lastly, we can look into ourselves and identify all the relationships and experiences that make us strong and worthy I hope you all choose to love yourselves for who you were, who you are, and who you hope to become