St. Augustine's College graduate Nia Cambridge, who has graduated high school with a 3.99 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to earn the Sisters of Charity Valedictorian Award winner, and also took home eight subject awards, is excited to begin the next chapter of her life. She will enroll at the University of Richmond, Virginia in the fall. Nia was also the winner of the Eta Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and was awarded a $5,000 Linda Higgs-Swann Memorial Scholarship at their 38th Annual Honour's Day Programme. (Photo: Braxton G. Photography)

While their past may be filled with amazing memories, St. Augustine’s College (SAC) valedictorian Nia Cambridge told her peers that what lies ahead of them will be even more profound. She is eager to see where each member of the 116-strong class would end up — whether they become an Olympian, run successful companies, or just see the ways in which they would contribute to the growth of the country and world.

In all their pursuits, Nia reminded them to be brave, because she said every day would bring new problems, created in a world which would require creative and ingenious solutions to solve problems that would require them to be adventurous in their thinking.

“No matter what, I have great hopes for what the future holds for each and every one of us, because we have a network of 116 people [who] are strong and [have] high aspirations.”

Nia who has high aspirations graduated with a 3.99 Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) to earn the Sisters of Charity Valedictorian Award. She was also named the best and brightest among graduating females by the Eta Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and awarded the $5,000 Linda Higgs-Swann Memorial Scholarship at their 38th Annual Honour’s Day Programme.

She will enroll at the University of Richmond, Virginia, in the fall to pursue studies in international studies with a concentration in international development.

“I’m really interested in sustainable development — finding the balance between meeting people’s needs, building a stable economy and trying to limit the harmful effects on the environment in developing a place,” said the recent graduate who walked on June 15 in the ceremony held at the Melia Nassau Beach Hotel.

With few schools offering a sustainable development course of study as a first degree, Nia, the daughter of Shevonn and Mirielle Cambridge decided to pursue the avenue through international studies.

Graduating top of her class is something Nia has always worked for, but she says she never strove to excel with the express purpose of beating anyone.

At the end of the day she said it was about knowing she did her best. And as far back as she can recall, she said she always sought to do that, even though as a child she did have a “flaw” in that she would finish her work early, with a motivation to distract and talk to the other children around her. To stop her she remembers her teachers always giving her extra work.

“I was interested and curious as to what was going on around me,” she said in her defence.

She may not be able to pinpoint exactly when she made the switch from trying to distract others, but said it came as she matured over the years.

“My dad always says your education is the one thing people can’t take away from you … so you look at education as a door opener. In many ways it’s invaluable. No matter what happens you always have your education and the possibilities are limitless.”

The eldest of three — sister, Christie and brother Tyler — Nia who has set the academic standard in her family said her advice to her siblings is to not try to be her, or anyone else, but to simply do their best.

Now that she’s finished high school and is referred to as a graduate, important advice she would give to incoming 12th grade students would be to prepare their college applications early. She said it’s advice she heard over the years, but did not really heed herself. Having gone through it, she’s now doling out that same advice.

“At the end of the 11th grade I thought grade 12 would be smooth sailing, and I would enjoy it. Over the Christmas break my friends were going out and I had to stay home and write essays. It’s hard to carve out time during the first semester, but try to do those applications early,” she said. So Nia found herself filling out applications and writing essays while taking Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus and English Language and Composition and preparing to sit eight Bahamas General Certificates of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations.

She also took home eight academic awards — English Language, English Literature, computer studies, AP Mathematics, Spanish, biology, chemistry, and physics.

Achintya Garikaparthi who graduated with a 3.95 GPA took home the Deacon Leviticus L. Adderley Outstanding Male Award and the Brother Barry Gearman (Salutatorian) Award.

He took home seven subject awards — English Language, English Literature, AP Mathematics, religion, community service, chemistry and accounting.

During her address Nia reminisced with her fellow graduates to one year ago to the end of their 11th grade year when a sheet of paper with one line written on it had been placed on their desks. It read: “Dear Future Seniors.”

Almost a year to the day she said that memory was etched in her mind, but she was thankful they had arrived at the finish line after many essays written, thousands of laughs and two rained out convocations. They were no longer future seniors, but graduates. She said it was almost surreal how quickly their final year went by, and she said the entire six years at SAC had gone by quickly.

She reminded them that over the years they had been there for each other.

“In the six years or less, that we have spent together, we have watched each other grow — physically, mentally and spiritually. But most importantly, we have grown together. Together we have done it all. We’ve laughed. We’ve cried. We’ve argued. Despite this, we have always been there for each other when someone needed a smile, or sought a friend to help them through a painful situation.”

As they embarked on the path that would be their future Nia told them they would take a high school experience unlike any other with them. She recalled transforming the bushes behind the cafeteria into the mystical world of adventure that was Candy Land, to cheering sporting teams on and coming together to organize a potluck dinner during the cafeteria boycott in refusal to pay an extra 75¢ for a dinner plate in the cafe.

In order to capture the uniqueness of not just hers, but her peers’ SAC experience, she challenged classmates to complete the sentence, “SAC is the only place where …”

The range of responses were from: “SAC is the only place where Blue Square isn’t actually blue; SAC is the only place where you have tests the week before exams; The only place where we picnic on the grass for weeks just because we refuse to pay an extra 75¢ for a dinner plate in the café; SAC is the only place where a ‘sweepeat’ ever happened; The only place where being competitive, yet supportive is innate in every student; The only place where an athlete who doesn’t believe in him/herself can gain confidence and humility.”

Other memorable responses she received included: “SAC is the only place where you can enter after grade seven, but feel like you’ve been there the entire time; The only place where school spirit is implanted in you and never dies; It is the only place where you make more out of less.”

“St. Augustine’s College is the place where champions are made and leaders are created,” said Nia.

She told her fellow graduates that she gleaned from their responses that it was evident that the true spirit of the Big Red Machine was not in the bricks of Red Square, or the building blocks that make up the classrooms, but in the staff, students and parents who pass through the Big Red gates daily.

“It lies in the laughter and cheers of students and alumni around whom no one would dare to speak ill about SAC.

“It lies in the hearts of the parents who make the sacrifice to invest in our education because they believe in our potential. It lies in the hearts of teachers who work tirelessly to ensure that we become not only better students but better citizens. Where else can you go into a chemistry class and start off learning electrolysis, but somehow wind up getting a motivational talk on unlocking your true potential?”

Nia thanked the teachers who pushed them to get them to the end on behalf of her peers, the parents who supported them, and God.

“May our futures be filled with moments and friendships just as great or even greater than those at St. Augustine’s College. We did it!” she said.

Highest Honours awards (cumulative average above 3.75) also went to Ayanna Culmer-Gilbert, Brianna Tinker, Sara Tilberg, Bria Smith and Charisma Clarke.

High Honours awards (cumulative average 3.50 to 3.74) went to Kistacia Thompson, Lyndon Rolle, Serena Brown, Abigail Hanna, Andreas Weech, Eric Moore, Ashlee Colebrook and Tito Leadon.

Highest Honours (cumulative average 3.00 to 3.50) went to Ashli Ferguson, Jerniqua Roberts, Frankia Wright, Ryan Smith, Mya Forbes, Kenneisha Rolle, Gabrielle McDonald, Leshan Pratt, Fredeshia Neely, Rudolph Burgzorg, Anthony Thompson, Alexis Hamilton, Gianna Conliffe, Sabian Catalano, Anita Williams, Waynette Munnings, Keitra Lloyd, Kamden Ferguson, D’Antoine Neely, Tinarje Moxey, Kody Rolle, Ashley Rose, Heath-Vonn Styles, Necko Kelly, Samantha Hanna, Clement Butler, Gia Hepburn, Bryant Flowers, Romeisha Smith, Savana Moree, Alexio Munnings, Kyle Turnquest, Summer Rahming and Jamika Miller.

Shavaughn Moss, Guardian Lifestyles Editor

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