BOSTON — The City of Boston looks to its future by celebrating its best students every year.
They are the best of the best. Boston’s 35 high school valedictorians are honored at a luncheon at the Boston Harbor Hotel. They are graduating at the top of their class, ready to take life’s next step.
Lenysle Ferreira is graduating Dearborn STEM Academy, but seven years ago, when she arrived in Boston from Cape Verde, she didn’t speak English. Now, she’s top of her class, headed to Boston College, no doubt an inspiration to others.
"I didn't know anything, I was very shy," she said Tuesday afternoon. "Everything is possible. It doesn’t matter where you came from."
Forty percent of this year's valedictorians were born outside the United States.
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Four years ago, Carolyn DeJesus arrived from the Dominican Republic and lived in a shelter just two years ago. Today, she is headed to Wesleyan University on a full scholarship.
"There were times, yes, where I felt like challenges are too much and maybe coming to the United States was not worth it," she said. "But I just pushed through and, yeah, I didn’t give up! It paid off."
Each of the valedictorians overcame personal challenges to achieve scholastic success. And as they look to tomorrow, they can see the long road they’ve already traveled.
"Keep an open mind and know what you are working for, and really commit. Because a dream is only a goal when you work towards it," Boston Arts Academy valedictorian Jonah Barricklo said.
Thanks to hard work, these 35 dreams have already become reality.
There’s no telling where the road goes from here.
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