Anna Lago arrived in Leominster from her native Brazil in 2019 without speaking English. She immediately enrolled in MWCC’s English as a Second Language program at our Leominster campus. She pushed through remote courses during the pandemic and continued on to enroll in the art degree program.
She completed her associate degree in art requirements in December 2022 with a GPA of 3.92, before transferring for her bachelor’s degree in illustration at one of the country’s most prestigious art schools – The Savannah College of Art & Design in Georgia.
Lago’s artwork has already been selected for exhibition multiple times and one of her pieces, “International Experience” – which she created while at MWCC – was recently awarded first place in an honors student showcase. That same work is now framed and included as part of Savannah College of Art & Design’s permanent collection. You can view more of her work from MWCC in the 2022 Student Exhibition.
Lago finished her first semester at Savannah College of Art and Design on May 16 and flew back to Massachusetts that evening in order to be the Class of 2023 Student Commencement Speaker. Please find the transcript of her speech below.
“It’s an honor to be here representing the class of 2023 at Mount Wachusett Community College. Today, I am not only receiving my associate degree in art, but I also have the honor of representing you all as one of this year’s graduation speakers. Thank everyone for being here today, mainly for participating in our learning process. I also want to thank MWCC for being the best college we could have.
“Being part of MWCC has brought us many lessons, not only in our lives as students but also in our personal lives. At MWCC, we learned how to ignore our limits, believe in our power, take and manage our time, and follow our path. We also learned that we are free to write our own stories. By the way, it is a pleasure to write a happy ending with you all.
“We made it! Today is the day to celebrate our arrival and recap our journey here. Mine, for example, started here in 2019, when I arrived in the United States without speaking English. I came to MWCC to study English as a second language. Then COVID began, and all courses were moved online.
“Everyone here knows what a significant adjustment online learning was. But imagine how you would have felt if all your online classes were written and taught in a language you’re still trying to learn. I took two years of ESL classes and started my ART studies soon after.
“It was challenging to get here. I have always pushed myself and never accepted anything other than my best. When in-person classes returned, I didn’t feel able to communicate. I thought my English needed to be better to be there, even though professors and classmates encouraged me to try. Semesters passed, and every day was an internal struggle. I wanted to speak and express myself, but my voice would not come out. Presentation days in class were like a nightmare for me, but each performance was a victory, which became a learning experience. I began to value my efforts and take pride in small achievements. Today, I present myself in English to a large audience for the first time, turning in my most significant achievement ever.
“Now that you’ve heard about my journey at MWCC, I want each of you, my fellow graduates, to think about your own. What challenges have you encountered in this process so far? What were the achievements? What are you proud of in this process? I know that many of you worked and studied at the same time, did your homework at dawn just to turn it in on time, and often ate poorly or just skipped meals altogether so you could be in class on time. Today is about that. About celebrating all those daily sacrifices we’ve made over the years. Today, we no longer must remind ourselves ‘This will eventually be worth it.’ Instead, we finally get to celebrate how much all that hard work was worth. And it will always be worth it, so always strive to get what you want. You know those dreams that you have kept inside you? Turn them into goals, into objectives to be achieved. Never give up without trying. Remember that anything is possible. So, dedicate yourself and persist. Never forget what a good example you have already set for yourself. Remember high school graduation day? Did those young adults think they would be able to tackle another rank? Today you proved to yourselves that you are capable of anything.
As Michael Jordan says, “Talent wins games, but only teamwork wins championships.” In this way, President, Faculty, and Employees, you were essential for us to get here. You are the ones who carry on the MWCC name. You bring MWCC to life. and make it a college and home for each of us. You welcome us, show us care, and respect our choices, limits, and time. You value our past and believe in our potential. You are interested in our culture and values; you never let us give up. Thank you for everything. Thank you, and MWCC at large, for all the events, talks, weekly activities, and opportunities you’ve given us to create bonds and connections with such special people.
“Parents, friends, and guests, you are also part of all this. You were always present, but especially in the bad times. You supported us in our moments of fury. You gave us hugs and strength when we were about to give up on everything. You did your best for us, even when you didn’t know exactly how to help. You were essential in this process, and for these reasons, we will be grateful for the rest of our lives. We promise to make you very proud of us. Keep believing in us. Don’t pressure us by wanting to know what’s next, we already have our plans in mind. And as you witnessed while we were in college here, we’ve already pressured ourselves enough. We understand that these questions are nothing less than concerns born of the simple fact that you love us, for now, though, just know that we plan to grow and fly wherever our dreams take us.
“To end my speech, I want to make one last suggestion. Remember that what makes your dreams come true is you. So, fly high, but don’t forget to carry with you all the knowledge and experience you’ve gained at Mount Wachusett Community College. Sure, it might be heavy luggage, but you’ll need it for the next steps in your journey. Everyone here will always be rooting for your success. Graduates of 2023 let’s go out there and take on the world.”