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Richmond's Valedictorians: McMath secondary

With the pandemic putting paid to large gatherings, including Class of 2020 graduation ceremonies, the Richmond News reached out to the school district’s Valedictorians for them to share their speeches with their families, friends and our readers.
valedictorian
McMath secondary's Valedictorian Eric Lu. Photo submitted

With the pandemic putting paid to large gatherings, including Class of 2020 graduation ceremonies, the Richmond News reached out to the school district’s Valedictorians for them to share their speeches with their families, friends and our readers.

This week, the News will be publishing their abbreviated versions online and in print as they come into our newsroom.

 

By Eric Lu

Valedictorian at McMath secondary

 

Some have said to us “you’ll be ready when you’re older.”

I will admit that I don’t yet feel completely ready. I wonder if any of you feel the same way.

McMath was our space of support, with considerate staff and familiar friends. Sometimes, I wonder if graduating means letting go of this support.

But I have complete faith in our abilities to handle whatever comes next.

We’ve learned and grown, and most importantly, worked together.

Whether it was cheering for the grad guys at Breakfast with Santa or pulling on the same rope at the Pep Rally, we did these things united as a grad class.

For that reason, I’m confident we’ll find communities to support us in our futures just like those that supported us at McMath.

Now, I’d like to thank the people who have supported us with their time and energy.

Thank you to the endless list of staff who have been positive forces in our lives: the office staff, administrators, counsellors, custodians, cafeteria staff, EAs, librarians, lab tech, and teachers.

Your effort and care have not only cemented you as our role-models, but also our friends.

To our family members: thank you for years of love and unconditional support. You have truly made us the people we are today.

Finally, to the grads: I wouldn’t have wanted to graduate with any other class.

You have played an irreplaceable part in creating memories and feelings that we will all remember for a long time.

It’s been an absolute pleasure and I hope that we can all meet again.

Let’s remember it’s not about what we started, it’s about what we finished.

And tonight, grads, we celebrate exactly what we finished.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020 - we did it!