MONROVIA, Montserrado – The University of Liberia’s highest honor for the Class of 2016 has gone to a 20-year-old accounting major from the Business College.

Lexanndine T. Taylor was announced as the valedictorian of the university’s 97^th class, as she received the highest academic honor for excellence at the university with a grade point average of 3.87.

For the perennial overachiever, the recognition did not come by surprise. “This something that I did see coming,” she said. “It is something I have been doing, so academic excellence is something I have been doing even before now.”

Taylor recounted how when she was younger, she would cry if she missed out on achieving a particular award or honor because “honor is something that has been a part of me.”

A graduate of Monrovia’s J. J. Roberts High School, Taylor is introverted and soft spoken, although her academic excellence is apparent in her articulate and precise use of the English language. While receiving the recognition makes her shy, Taylor said being the valedictorian means a lot to her.

She said she is driven by the support she receives from her family and friends. “And because I am in the University of Liberia, I’m supposed to be a light in darkness,” she added.

A member of the university’s selective Lux in Tenebris Scholars Program, Taylor wants to become a certified public accountant who can improve accounting practices in Liberia. She already had a head start as an intern for Baker Tilly, one of the world’s leading accounting firms.

For all the talk of the Liberian educational system being a mess, the valedictorian sees herself as a good example to defeat that argument.

She called on young women in Liberia to not remain in the back but to strive to be recognized and to break the gender imbalance of recognition.

“Your gender doesn’t matter, just go on,” she said. “Stop being afraid to shine in the darkness because you are a light. Dream big and be passionate about what you do because the world needs people who are more committed to improving the world than improving their looks.”

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah