Family, friends and school and division staff gathered at Averett University’s E. Stuart James Grant Center to celebrate Galileo Magnet High School’s Class of 2024 on Saturday, June 8. 61 students received their diplomas Saturday.
Touted by Galileo Principal Michelle Ramsey, the class amassed several accolades during their four years at Galileo, including but not limited to several state championships for cross country and track, Beta recognitions, and theatre awards.
Ramsey reminded the students of how they began their freshman year: by meeting with her via Google Meet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While the COVID pandemic certainly impacted the beginning of your high school years, you have remained determined, passionate, and positive through it all,” Ramsey said. “We have persevered through the challenges, and we have celebrated our successes.” The graduating class heard a commencement address from Cecila “Cici” Yeager, a 2013 International Baccalaureate (IB) graduate of Galileo and Director of Communications at a school and church in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Yeager earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Old Dominion University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Averett University. Yeager told the graduates that they should learn to take constructive feedback and failures and persevere, even when they’re faced with the unknown.
“It’s not about retaining every piece of knowledge from the past four years that will earn you success,” she said. “It’s about the process and skills you’ve learned along the way…this is what the IB program taught me. It taught me that failure, like being rejected for an internship, isn’t the end of the road, rather, it can lead to new beginnings.”
Salutatorian Sara Al-Azzam reminded graduates to embrace their relationships, both the ones they’ve made through their time at Galileo and their family, and cherish time together.
“As I stand here today, preparing to embark on a new chapter of my life at Northwestern University in Chicago, I am acutely aware of the physical distance that will soon separate me from those I hold dear,” Al-Azzam said. “A 12-hour distance by car may seem like a small inconvenience, but it’s a powerful reminder to treasure every moment with our loved ones. Distance may test the strength of our bonds, but it can never diminish the love and connection we share.”
Valedictorian Neil Shroff, in his speech titled “French Fries and Ice Cream,” told graduates that there must be balance in their lives, much like the perfect ratio when you’re eating french fries and ice cream. They should find the balance in working versus self-care.
“Just as we dip our french fries into ice cream at a fixed ratio, I urge all of you as you step into this next phase of your life to embrace the equilibrium between work and relaxation, being careful not to fall out of balance,” Shroff said. “Set up designated times for self-care within the work week and find your rhythm and stability in your daily schedule.”