Accra: Madam Susan Shika Gbedemah Agbesi, Head of Business Technology Solutions at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, delivered an inspiring message at the Wallace Academy graduation ceremony, emphasizing faith, perseverance, and courage as essential tools for the graduates as they embark on their next journey. She encouraged the Class of 2025 to maintain confidence as they transition into a new phase of life, drawing inspiration from a verse in Jeremiah 29:11.
According to Ghana News Agency, the ceremony, which took place on Saturday, celebrated the graduation of 98 students, consisting of 26 males and 72 females, from Wallace Academy. The event was vibrant, and the graduates were lauded for their resilience and discipline during their academic journey. Madam Agbesi urged the graduates to be bold, adaptable, and purposeful in navigating life after Senior High School, with the theme ‘After Senior High School, What Next?’ setting the tone for the occasion.
Madam Agbesi highlighted the challenges faced by graduates in Ghana, such as limited access to tertiary education, financial constraints, and unemployment. She shared personal success stories of individuals who overcame initial setbacks, such as a science student who sold plantain chips and is now a nursing lecturer and another who became a successful repair shop owner despite not attending university. These narratives served to emphasize that it is not the challenges that define individuals, but their responses to them.
The guest speaker stressed that success does not always start in glamorous settings but can begin in modest places like small shops or community initiatives. She encouraged the graduates to ‘start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can,’ urging them to stay grounded in their faith and cultural values, which are key drivers of success.
Madam Agbesi also advised the graduates to cultivate adaptability, problem-solving skills, and leadership qualities while finding ways to contribute to society. She reminded them of the importance of lifting others as they rise, emphasizing that success is more meaningful when shared. As future leaders of Ghana, she charged the graduates to embrace the present as active builders of their country.
The graduation ceremony was filled with cheers, songs, and reflections as parents, teachers, and students celebrated the achievements of Wallace Academy’s 2025 graduating class.