By DEJA JONES
Northwestern High School held its commencement ceremony on May 27, 2025. As students sat in excitement waiting for their diplomas, their fellow graduates Mariana Yanes-Barrera and Aaliyah Quiayum stood before them and gave two final addresses.
Yanes-Barrera, the salutatorian, opened up with a powerful statement: “You are the loudest voice in your head, leaving us extremely vulnerable to becoming our biggest critics.” She followed this by stating how her experiences shaped her statement. When talking about mistakes, she said, “But we should not let those errors define who we are. What matters is not just how we get into a mess, but how we get out of it and what we learn from the experience.”
Yanes-Barrera addressed the challenges of Covid-19 during her freshman year. She described the experience as “filled with social distancing, face masks, constant sanitation, and for some even family loss.” She also addressed the challenges of transitioning into high school with the abnormal welcome of the effects of Covid-19.
Aaliyah Quiayum, the valedictorian, served as the president of both the class of 2025 and of the math honors society. Quiaym opened her speech by giving thanks to those she considered most important in her life, such as her mother, siblings, teachers and friends.
Valedictorian Aaliyah Quiayum Picture from 2025 Graduation Ceremony-Northwestern HS on Youtube.
She went on to talk about the important lessons her mother taught her about life. From her mother, Quiayum shared words of wisdom with her classmates: “When you drive, always look in front of the road. If you keep your eyes on the rearview mirror, you will crash.” She added, “The mirror is there to let you take a quick glance at how far you’ve come, but do not dwell on your missed exits and accidental turns.”
Quiayum ended her speech with her own encouraging words and best wishes, and congratulated her fellow classmates on their accomplishments.
