Meet the Valedictorians of Douglass and Washington High Schools

Saturday morning and early afternoon hours at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center in Midtown played host to graduation ceremonies for Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass High Schools.

Washington High graduated 276 students; its top two students both plan on making strides in the field of psychology. Shaquitta Bell, Washington's Salutatorian, will explore educational psychology in an effort to “help kids deal with mental and social issues and . . . increase their academic strengths.” The Gates Millenium Scholar has chosen Agnes Scott, a private liberal arts college for women in Decatur, Georgia, to continue her academic career.

Shaquitta overcame severe childhood shyness to reach great heights. She used her experience to compose a speech about shedding self-imposed limitations:

I learned that I have to “speak victory” over myself. With this newfound knowledge, I refuse to abdicate my right to a promising future. So, I managed to reach within myself and found the courage to have a vision and imagine a world outside my world.

Class Valedictorian Iniki Franklin intends on studying clinical psychology at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton. At Washington's Saturday noon graduation, Iniki spoke about triumph over tragedy:

As I look back at the graduating class of 2011 I am inspired. We were spectators of tragedy, observers of catastrophe, and eyewitnesses to calamity; yet, we stand today strong, determined, and victorious. Entrenched in uniqueness, we have defied all of those that thought we would fail, predicted that we would not survive, and prophesied our doom.

Approximately 200 Douglass High students walked across the auditorium stage to receive their diplomas.

Valedictorian Vivian Stepp will study computer science at Georgia Tech. Her love for computers started when she began competing as a freshman member of the Douglass Robotics Team. “I really like to know how things work,” Vivian said.

Vivian's inspirational speech encouraged her classmates to never give up:

We are the generation that holds the cradle for new innovation. The world needs your imaginative minds. Keep your heads up and stay strong. Keep those dreams alive and live them to your fullest potential. Keep up the legacy that you have made for yourself.

Douglass's Salutatorian Edward Mosley will cross state lines to study business and marketing at Alabama State University. His speech theme was fulfilling the dream:

Fulfilling The Dream brings about two thoughts to ones mind. The first thought is the legendary “dream” of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. The second thought is the personal dream that serves as the driving force behind the lives of most individuals. While those of us who are present today are here because we have worked hard and continue to work hard to pursue and achieve our hopes and dreams, there are many, many other young people out there who either have no dreams or lack the confidence to pursue the dreams they might have had at one time.