UL Dux Cautions Women

The state-run University of Liberia 2015 valedictorian, Ms. Anita Taplah, has cautioned her fellow women here that beauty doesn’t bring success, but hard work and study.

Delivering her valedictorian address on Wednesday, 16 December during the last of the series of U L graduations, Ms. Taplah said despite her beauty, she ‘kept her feet in a bucket of water’ for many nights to achieve her goal.

“Let me sound this caveat to everyone under my voice that as a woman, beauty doesn’t bring success. Today, I can attest to the fact that many days – despite my beauty, I had to keep my feet in a bucket of water for many nights to achieve what I have achieved today,” Ms Taplah said.

She scored the highest GPA in the College of Science, as well as the highest overall GPA for the 2015 graduating class at the T. J. R. Faulkner College of Science and Technology’s graduation ceremony on December 10, 2015.

“My study mates—Titus Jerbo, Titus Siryon and Klon Hinneh and professors can confirm this. I give God all of the praises – it was because of His Grace I have reached this far,” she said.

Anita’s brief biography revealed that she graduated as the valedictorian of her elementary school – the Alcah Memorial Preparatory School in 2004; and also graduated in 2010 as the valedictorian of her high school- the St. Theresa Covenant.

Ms. Taplah received the honor as the Most Outstanding Scholar from the College of Science and Technology, and is currently a first year medical student at Tbilisi State Medical University in Tbilisi, Georgia. Her dream is to become a successful cardiologist and contribute to the medical welfare of the people of Liberia.

Ms. Taplah paid tribute to the memory of her late Father, who, she said, was a professor at the University of Liberia, as well as her mother, who also worked at the University.

“I have long felt a close sense of belonging at the University of Liberia; my dad was a member of the UL Class of 1977, and an associate professor in the department of forestry,” she said, adding that her education is blended in faith and hard work. “Hard work should deepen our concern for improving the quality of human life in all of its proportions. That is the predominant objectives of the career I continue to pursue.”

The UL’s Vice President for Public Relations has said in many ways, the distinction of graduating with Magna Cum makes Anita “the bedrock of academic excellence and an epitome of hard work, who does not believe that her good look guarantees her anything, but to work hard.”

“This might be a hard feat to emulate, but for every young boy and girl in this country, Anita Taplah is your example; for every parent or guidance, Anita Taplah should be a role model for your children,” a special write-out by Atty. Norris Tweah, Vice President for UL Relations said.-Press release