AFRICA | A brilliant 16-year-old Nigerian girl named Surefunmi Ibukun emerged as the 2021 valedictorian of Willis High School, Texas, United States.
Valedictorian is an academic title for the highest-performing student of a graduating class of an academic institution in the United States.
Born in Nigeria in 2004, Ibukun’s family relocated to England when she was just six years old, searching for better opportunities. After a few years, they moved to New York, United States, before they finally settled in Texas in 2018.
At Willis High School, Ibukun not only excelled academically but also actively participated in various extracurricular activities.
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She was involved in the yearbook, newspaper, UIL Math, UIL Journalism, track, cross country, National Honor Society, and Student Council, and even served as her Senior Class Officer-Treasurer.
Despite her many responsibilities, she remained focused on her studies and, to her surprise, became ranked number one in her junior year, maintaining that position until graduation.
During her valedictorian speech, Ibukun reflected on her journey, her classmates, and the lessons learned along the way.
“All of us being in that class of 2021 as Willis High School students, that was not just a random thing, it didn’t just happen. Some people could have moved away, but they didn’t,” Ibukun said.
”They stayed for some reason. I think it was meant to have happened. We were meant to have graduated together,” she added. Ibukun further emphasized how education goes beyond academics, shaping individuals socially and personally.
“The people you met, they taught you lessons. You learned things from your teachers, and from being in those classes you learned things — not just academically but about life in general — you learned how to be together socially and stuff and those things will help you later on in life and they will also help you be successful later on in life too,” she said.
Adjusting to life in the U.S. came with cultural differences. Ibukun recalled how she found it strange to learn and recite the Pledge of Allegiance for both the U.S. and Texas flags, something she had never done in England.
“That was something we never did in England, so learning that was really weird to me,” Ibukun said. Initially, she doubted her ability to become the top student in her class, but with encouragement from her mother, she set her mind to it.
After the COVID-19 Pandemic, Ibukun felt uncertain about her future and almost did not apply to college. However, her faith kept her going.
”I just kept telling myself to ‘calm down and take it step by step and you’ll be fine. In the next year, everything will work out fine.’ I really am Christian, and I felt like God was going to work it out for me and that everything would be fine because He would work it out for me in my life,” she said.
Ibukun eventually earned acceptance from Rice University, Houston where she is now majoring in English with minors in Data Science and Business. Her ultimate goal is to become an English professor.
Advising other students, Ibukun students, reminding them that success is not defined by ranking or prestige but by personal fulfillment. “In society, we always have this view of being the best and being number one,” Ibukun said.
“What may seem the best in some people’s eyes may not be the best for you and the best for your life. So, even though you may not be the number one in your class and you may not be going to the top college — just know that there is a plan for you and that you will be successful later in life if you continue to work hard,” she added.
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