L-R: Emily Liu (Hunting Hills), Alexa Swenson (Lindsay Thurber) and Jessica Snyder (Gateway Christian). (Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

class of 2021

Red Deer Public Schools valedictorians share thoughts on graduation

Jun 19, 2021 | 12:05 PM

Three local valedictorians are sharing their parting words as they finish the high school journey.

Alexa Swenson, chosen as valedictorian at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School, says finishing high school during a pandemic was far from easy.

“As the year went on it became obvious that we probably wouldn’t get all of our grad events – we had lots planned and then cancelled,” she said. “Motivation was the hardest factor. It’s been really hard to go from in-person to online over and over again because your learning strategies have to shift. It’s about being self disciplined and making sure you are doing the work because it’s really easy to fall behind if you’re at home.”

Looking to make the leap to the University of Victoria, Swenson will study psychology and pursue a career in health care.

Over at Hunting Hills High School, Emily Liu calls it an incredible honour to be named class valedictorian.

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Liu says if there’s one thing she’s learned during the pandemic that she’d share with her fellow grads, it’s that relationships are so incredibly precious.

“When your only way of communicating with your friends or your family is through a screen or a phone call, there’s aspects of simple physical interaction that you really can’t get through in an online medium,” she said. “We need to treasure the relationships we have in our lives, maybe a little more. It may be a little cliché, but you really don’t appreciate what you have in your life until they are gone.”

A volunteer at Red Deer Regional Hospital, Liu is headed to the University of Alberta to study biochemistry.

Meantime, at Gateway Christian, valedictorian Jessica Snyder is set on becoming a teacher.

“It took a lot of hard work (this year) and I had to be very dedicated to my work. It took a lot of strength especially through COVID,” said Snyder. “My family and friends really helped me to keep going and keep learning. It’s all a learning experience, so that was a motivator to me – the more I devoted myself to my work, the more I learned.”

Adds Snyder: “Over the past couple of years we’ve had to show a steadfast character – being loyal and committed, devoted and dedicated whether that’s with our relationships or working towards finding a job. I want to encourage my class to keep going with that because it helps us get to great goals like achieving our graduation.”

Snyder is headed to Red Deer College’s bachelor of education program.

Grad ceremonies

Lindsay Thurber: June 25 at Bower Ponds

Hunting Hills: June 25 at the Westerner Park Centrium

Gateway: June 29 at Canyon Ski Resort