'My doubts were set aside when I entered BCC in 2019, let me tell you why,' she said. Barry became sober in 2014, the same year that she lost her mother to cancer. In high school, she never received a grade higher than a C and struggled with a severe addiction to alcohol. Similarly, being esteemed with the role of salutatorian is far beyond anything that Barry could have imagined. Do not leave yourself up to the interpretation of anyone else. You are the most important person in your life. 'Fellow graduates as you move forward, remember that same sentiment, take the time take all that you need and through your learning, learn about yourself.

I say what I mean and I don't leave my life up to anyone's interpretation but my own because quote: I am not up to interpretation,' What I do now, I do with purpose and intent. 'Along my journey, I have defined myself and narrowed the range of interpretation people can have about my life. I am so glad to be among the graduates here today in a place I never thought I would be going to, places I never thought I would go,' Bird said. It was not a goal of mine and I never thought I would be in this position. I was just doing all that I could and having fun while I was doing it. 'Being chosen as valedictorian came as a massive surprise to me but apparently no one else was as shocked as I was. It was only at this point that he felt discomfort with an incorrect interpretation of his thoughts, which sparked the decision to no longer be up to interpretation. The scholar explained that he is often at a loss for the correct words to say, so creative writing, painting, and music help express thoughts in an indirect way that can be verbalized later. Surprise, surprise, parents are sometimes right.' 'It took some heavy encouragement from my father, but he eventually got me to just give it a try to just pick something and go with it. I was letting others define my personal interaction with the world,' he explained. 'College was not on my radar and I kept digging myself deeper into the hole of a fruitless identity search. Both with 4.0 GPAs, Bird earned an associate of arts in liberal arts and Barry earned associate of science in criminal Justice.īird's high school experience was not pleasant, plagued by mental health issues and a hearing disability, which came to a head during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, it provides you have an opportunity not only to prove that it is indeed a public good, that your next steps will support our community and the Commonwealth, but that you see your role in ensuring others find ways to be successful on a similar journey to the one you are taking.'įor valedictorian Ashton Bird and salutatorian Kaitlyn Barry, college was an unexpected venture that wound up as a transformative life-changing experience. 'The public will benefit by your completing this degree or certificate.

'Public education is at its best a public good,' President Ellen Kennedy said. Thirty-three students received more than one degree or certificate, and two students completed degree requirements as Early College students.

The college awarded 189 associate degrees and 97 certificates to 245 students in 43 programs of study. In the college's 63rd year, the recipients of certificates and associate degrees concluded their education under the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood. The rain held off for Berkshire Community College's 2023 commencement on Friday as graduates were reminded of the power of higher education. Commencement speaker Edson Chipalo says BCC was a critical stepping stone on an educational path that has taken him from poverty in Zambia to a doctorate in social work.

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