A.R. Johnson Health, Science and Engineering Magnet School celebrated its 41st Commencement, Friday morning, as part of the Richmond County School Board’s series of high school graduation ceremonies this week at the James Brown Arena.
The AP school graduated some 85 candidates this year, 38 of whom are already university-bound. Among its accolades this school year is placing 11th among Georgia high schools in the U.S. News and World Report and placing first in the district in the Academic Decathlon.
Honor graduate Nathaniel Goodwin, in an inspirational reading preceded by the presentation of colors and the national anthem, encouraged his classmates to follow their passion to find “fulfillment and success” and to not eschew taking risks, telling them to “embrace change, keep an open mind” and “to share the memories you have made here.”
Salutatorian Jayda Bell, co-founder of the school’s Leadership Genesis Project organization who plans to study sociology at Emory University, tackled mental health in her address, acknowledging the numerous difficulties endured by her classmates and urging them to recognize their own strengths.
“We live in a world that often prioritizes productivity over well-being, where admitting vulnerability is seen as a sign of weakness,” said Bell. “But I stand before you today to challenge that notion. It takes immense strength to confront our struggles… to seek help when we need it, and to prioritize our mental and emotional health above all else, and today is a testament to that confrontation.”
Valedictorian Rafael Vargas, a STAR student and Academic Decathlon team captain who plans to study computer science, was open in his speech about his own determination to progress academically.
“I’m here presenting the speech, not because I’m particularly gifted, but because I decided I would improve in spite of it,” Vargas said, calling his fellow graduates his “north star” to help him toward the right path. “I believe that anyone could do what I have done if they really wanted to. And in fact, I want to encourage you to do just that. To encourage you to do great things even if you don’t think you can even if you don’t think you’re good enough or smart enough or competent enough. There’s nothing in this world that you cannot do.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
