A Supreme Court Justice told graduates of the Adult Education School that they could determine where Bermuda would head in the next ten years.

Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe, the guest speaker during the school’s graduation ceremony at Bermuda College, said that while the reasons for the 16 graduates attending AES may have varied, they were all determined to change their lives for the better.

He said: “As community, we are at a crossroads — the next five years will determine whether we will continue to prosper morally, ethically, socially and financially, or whether we will descend into a possible irreversible state of despair, so graduates we need you.

“We need you to continue to lead by example, to impart your wisdom on to others, to be involved in projects that will uplift your community and to call out injustices and unfairness when you see them, have the courage to change the status quo if it is demonstrably wrong”.

Mr Justice Wolffe also urged graduates to take their place in the “social, economic, financial and political landscape of Bermuda and rebuke those who dare to stop you”.

Football trailblazer Clyde Best; AES managing director Arlene Brock; the director of programming Thaao Dill; Bermuda College president David Sam; and AES board chairman Ernest Peets all spoke during the event, while several graduates discussed their education journeys and what the school meant to them.

Mr Best told the graduates in a video: “It’s an unbelievable achievement and I wish you all the very best, now that you’ve got the first one, go on to the next one.”

Chris Pacheco worked for months to earn his General Educational Development and thanked the teachers who helped him.

He told students: “You’ve got so much time in the world and you can just keep going and do your best.

“It took me a while and I eventually got it done. If I can get do it, you can do it too.”

Satinka Smith, who hopes to study and further her dance career overseas, said: “Even in moments where it does not feel like it’s going to happen or you don’t know when it’s going to happen, I think being consistent is really important and continuing to go over it and studying.”

Dr Sam said all the graduates had qualified for Bermuda College by earning their GEDs and that the school would “meet and exceed” their expectations.

He said: “Some doors have opened for you just today but I tell you there are more doors out there and the keys for all of you to enter those doors will be obtained at Bermuda College.”

Savannah Lewis, who hopes to work as an underwriter, thanked family, supporters and AES staff on behalf of all the graduates.

She said: “[Staff] saw a potential that many of us could not see in ourselves. They challenged us when we needed challenging, encouraged us when we needed encouragement and reminded us that one difficult chapter does not define the rest of our story.”

Ms Lewis told fellow graduates: “We have proven that success does not always follow a straight line and it’s never too late to be yourself again”.

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