SUCCESS in life can only be achieved through dedication and commitment.
That’s the message highlighted by the Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Wagina Ward in South Choiseul Tongoua Tabe during the Wagina Community High School (CHS) annual graduation ceremony on Monday 11 November.
A total of 33 Forms 3 and 5 students graduated -19 in Form 3 and 14 in Form 5.
MPA Tabe was speaking as one of the guest speakers at the ceremony based on the 2024 graduation theme; ‘Commitment Leads to Greater Success.’
“Today is a day of happiness, of celebration, of appreciation, and gratification for the splendid efforts of our graduates who have achieved success.
“I know success does not just creep up on a day like this.
“It requires a lot of dedication and commitment for one to achieve success.
“And I know, it is not just the commitment of you graduates that have led to your success today.
“It is also the commitment of your (grand) parents, who picked you up and encouraged you when you were slacking to be upright and continue with your school journey.
“The vitality of success is vested in one’s commitment to be successful. It goes without saying, therefore, that without a commitment, it will be hard for success to come by.
“It will be hard for any student to respond positively to his parent’s encouragement to stand up and continue his school journey with vigour and commitment,” he reminded the students.
The former Choiseul Premier also quoted from the words of Winston Churchill, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister during one of the world wars.
“He said in his update to his people during the war, ‘Success is not final.
Failure is not fatal. It is how you stand up and continue to success that counts.
“Churchill’s wisdom is very fitting to the graduation theme today.
“He reminded us that failure is just a setback, and that success is never an end in itself.
‘He clearly reminded us that the success we may achieve depends on the level of our commitment to progress towards success.
“It is appropriate, therefore, at this juncture, that I express to you all my heartfelt gratitude for the success we are witnessing today,” he said during the ceremony.
The ceremony featured speeches and the presentation of prizes and certificates.
For the first time in the history of the school he also sponsored ‘Citizen Award’ to the head boy as part of motivating the good character of the future leaders.
In addition to the student citizenship award, he also provided and sponsored the best outstanding teacher of the year.
And for the first time one teacher grabbed the award during the graduation. It was an eye-opener for the whole school, school board and public, it was revealed.
The graduation ceremony was graced by the presence of the Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands Miwa Yoshiaki, the Coordinator of Japan’s Grassroots and Human Security Programme, Toshiki Nakagawa, School Principal Chris Rabaua and the Deputy Principal and school staff, graduands, village elders, church representatives, parents, guardians and supporters.
The programme concluded with refreshment and entertainment.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo
