Sunapee
But on Friday evening there were no tears, only smiles, as the 2018 Sunapee High School valedictorian marched with her class into the Sherburne Gymnasium at the start of commencement.
“When I was a little girl, I wanted to go back and cried for days,” Malik said before the ceremony. “But now I have come to love it here and the people have been so supportive and encouraging.”
Malik’s father came to the U.S. in 2000, first to Connecticut and then Newport, where his wife and Malik joined him in 2006 when she was just five and half years old. The family moved to Sunapee in 2012.
“My father wanted a better life and he made the decision early on to come to America,” Malik said.
Malik was able to learn English within a year and slowly adjusted to what she remembers initially as “culture shock” from sleepovers, Santa Claus and the tooth fairy, things that now are routine.
Malik, who will attend Smith College on a pre-med track in the fall, said she truly appreciates what moving to the United States has meant for her family, education and future.
“The biggest thing is the opportunity that I would not have had in Pakistan,” Malik said. “There is so much more to do, so I am really thankful my family made the decision to come here.”
Before her class of 29 students, who were seated on the stage in the gym, Malik urged them to use their voice for change in the same way voices of the past such as the march on Selma, Ala., the first Earth Day and the Stonewall riots in New York City made a difference.
“From walking over the bridge at Selma to the recent expansion of the ‘Me Too’ movement, change may not happen overnight, but joining together in our voices can make a difference,” Malik said.
With high school behind them and new decisions ahead that they will begin making alone, Malik said, “No longer can we expect to achieve what we desire without using the power of our voices. No longer can we expect to create a better tomorrow without using the power of our voices.”
“While each single voice is powerful to begin with, it gains even more strength as part of a community.The decisions that you will make, the number of times you will speak up, will impact more than just one future. But there is no way to ensure the future if we are not willing to fight for it today.”
Malik also welcomed the class, recounting student accomplishments across a spectrum of athletic, academic, artistic, service and other endeavors.
“Everyone here has something to celebrate,” she said. “Look how far this class has come. We are not afraid to speak our mind. We are not afraid to help others and we are not afraid to lead.”
The evening included the class history, with the achievements and the plans of each student presented, and the awarding of more than $80,000 in 44 different scholarships. The school chorus sang Alma Mater and Carole King’s You’ve Got a Friend.
Salutatorian Aubrey Porter said while their shared past holds special memories for graduates, it is the future that should excite them. And though she did not know them all equally, Porter said she knew each enough “to say that they will go on to do something meaningful in their lives.”
“People from my grade are leaving to pursue their goals, whether that is entering the workforce, or going to a tech school or four-year college. And I am so excited for all of us.”
Porter reminded her classmates not to fret about the uncertainty of what they may choose to do with their lives.
“If you don’t know, then join the club because none of us really know,” Porter said.
She wished the graduates meaningful work, the courage to pursue their passions and the hope they find something that makes them productive and happy.
“So I wish my class the best of luck because I believe all of us have the capability to positively contribute to the world we’re going off into,” Porter said.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
Sunapee Class of 2018
Madeline Austin, Southern New Hampshire University; Jacqueline Balch, University of Connecticut; Kayleigh Bean, University of Vermont; Matthew Clay, Manchester Community College; Tyler Couitt, Lakes Region Community College; Mary Elizabeth Coverdale, Norwich University; Emily Devore, Desales University; Nicholas Ducharme, University of New Hampshire; Celeste Duda, Johnson and Wales University; Kalleigh-Leigh Durkee, Colby-Sawyer College; Eliana Falleur, Plymouth State University (deferred); Jason Glover, workforce; Naomi Gonzalez, workforce; Cory Henault, Maine Maritime Academy; Christa Hulton, Plymouth State University; Hayden Lester, Maine Maritime Academy; Uzma Malik, Smith College; Carter McFarland, workforce; Mary Moynihan, University of New Hampshire; William Palin, University of Syracuse; Aubrey Porter, University of New Hampshire; Suzanne Rickard, St. Lawrence University; Cade Robinson, University of New Hampshire; Lawrence Roessel, Florida Keys Community College; Brandon Strobel, Southern Maine Community College; Benjamin van Paassen, Bates College; Ana Villarreal, New Hampshire Technical Institute; Christina Slavin; Beck Johnson, Vermont Technical College.
