The Deputy Country Representative UN Women Liberia, MS. Dr. Yemi Falayajo, has charged graduates of the New Hope Academy Elementary, Junior and Senior High School to be good ambassadors of their school, families and Liberia as they move forward in their educational sojourn.
By Augustus D.R [email protected]
Speaking on behalf of her boss Madam Comfort Lamptey, Country Representative UN Women Liberia on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the New Hope Academy 30th Gala Anniversary & 23rd Graduation of the 12th Grade Class of the school situated in New Hope Community, Peace Island, Paynesville, outside Monrovia, Dr. Falayajo further charged the graduates to be mentally and spiritually strong and of course they must take of themselves.
‘‘You are young and vibrant now and after a while you will not be young and be vibrant forever. But if you take care of your body, make a determination that you will go to those places where you have hoped to go to,’’ the Deputy County Representative UN Women Liberia admonished the graduates.
Speaking further, Dr. Falayajo, who congratulated the Proprietor and Proprietress, the Principal, the faculty, the visionaries and others who have held the vision of the school for the past 30 years, shared with the graduates something they must keep and must not lose as they enter the new phase of their life.
‘‘As you move through life, life is going to try to define who you are. Life may try to take away that hope in your heart and the stars in your eyes but you must always remember who you are, you must always remember the value that the school has taught you. You must always remember your relationship with your community and your families,’’ she told the graduates.
‘‘God has given you a sense of identity. It is really really important. When you lose your sense of identity, you begin to lose your authority. You begin to lose your voice. So not losing your sense of identity is really important.’’
The UN Women Liberia official urged the graduates that the second thing they must not lose is their character, value system and that they must be a person of character.
‘‘You have been taught integrity, diligence, kindness-keep it. A philosper and a writer says character is who you are and what you are in the dark. Where there is no instagram, where there is no Facebook, where there is no ring light who you really are when nobody is looking at you is your character, ‘’ she emphasized.
However, Dr. Falayajo pointed out that the thing about character is that it shows in the public how one does things, further urging the graduates never to lose their character.
‘‘The third thing I do not want you to lose is your community, the people you surround yourself with. As you move into the journey of life, your community and association will tend to change. People will try to draw you to all kinds of communities, into all kinds of societies but the community who you surround yourself with matters. But if you do not surround yourself with people who have the intention as you, you are likely to be where you are. You must be intentional about the people you surround yourself with. The school environment has been able to create a community for you and you must take that forward,’’ the guest speaker asserted amid applause from the graduates.
‘‘The fourth thing is that you must never lose curiosity- curiosity drives innovation. You must never stop learning. Al ways be curious-you must always ask question. The last thing you must never lose is your courage. Courage got you where you are. You must never give up on courage. You must always be willing to try again. Some of you lost your parents and love ones along the way but because of courage you reached where you are today,’’ he, among other things, added.
Meanwhile, 35 students-19 females & 16 males successfully passed the 2025 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The school has been praised for good performances in WASSCE for the past several years.
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