By Dan Murphy
Congratulations to the 2021 Valedictorian Shemar Forbes, and Salutatorian Raheemat Traore, from Palisades Prep High School. They both will be attending NYU in the fall.
Valedictorian Shemar Forbes will graduate with a 98.17 GPA. His favorite teachers are Math teacher Ms. Street, English teacher Ms.Jagessar and History teacher Ms. Scott. “All three of these women have gone the extra mile to ensure that I receive the education that I deserve. I have known Ms. Street since the 7th grade.”
Shemar’s favorite subject is English, “because I enjoy reading and analyzing text,” and joined a student-based publication created by YPIE during the pandemic called the “Quaran Times.”
“It was something that allows students to voice their opinions on what’s happening, and YPIE decided to give the students a voice during the pandemic to express our opinions,” said Forbes, who also got involved with YPIE’s film program, “I directed, and video edited films with students,” and YPIE’s tech squad, “which allowed me to provide remote tech assistance to seniors in my community. I also leaned how to code.”
Shemar said that during COVID and learning from home, “Some of my classmates had issues logging into class. At first it was a bit difficult, but then, over time, I adjusted and got used to it.”
Born in the Bronx, the Forbes family moved to Jamaica, and then returned to New York when Shemar was six. “I have been able to see and experience different perspectives and working collaboratively with other people has helped me broaden my world view.
Accepted to a dozen colleges, Shemar will be attending NYU in the fall on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship. “I like the location. The City is exciting and diverse and I know that I will learn a lot at NYU. They have the courses and clubs that I like, and I got a good scholarship. It was the best option.”
Forbes plans to major in Anthropology at NYU and is leaving his career and professional path options open. “I’m still trying to figure it out. I may go into law, or public policy or maybe education.
Shemar thanked his parents for “always making sure that I did my work, starting back in elementary school. My stepfather would take the time, even if it took hours, to help me with my assignments.
“But I am self-motivated now. A lot of people have doubted me, but I always try my best and give my best.” Shemar stayed home for the entire school year, “because of COVID and I had to help care for my little brother who is two.”
With the help of the Yonkers Public Schools, Shemar was able to use of the districts laptops after he ran into some issues with his old one.
Salutatorian, Raheemat Traore will graduate with a 97.75 GPA. Among her extra-curricular activities was serving in the Empress Ambulance service program. “It was great, and I learned a lot about the medical field. It helped me find out what I really wanted to do.”
YPIE also helped Raheemat succeed at Palisade Prep. She attended the Scholars and College Prep offerings, which she said, “helped with my essay writing for college applications.”
Traore also helped her fellow students during her lunch time with classwork. She also helped her English teacher with some tasks.
Raheemat moved to Yonkers from Ghana in 2018. “It was a hard adjustment in the beginning. It was a different system that I wasn’t familiar with, but I learned to assimilate and do the best that I could.”
Her favorite teachers are also Ms. Jagessar, Ms. Street and Ms. Scott. “They were really supportive of me and helped me every step of the way.” Her favorite subject is English. “I enjoy the opportunity to write about a particular topic and express myself.”
Reheemat will be attending NYU in the fall and plans to major in Global Public Health. “It has all the classes and program that I’m interested in, plus its close to home so I can visit my family.”
“I want to help improve health care in underprivileged societies. Growing up I saw a lot of problems with the health care system in Ghana, and there are ways to improve it and help others get access to better health care. Hopefully, I can help back home and around the world.”
Learning at home through COVID, “was different. It would have been better if we were in school, but I went with it and did my best.”
Traore thanked her parents and family, but also “everybody I have met. Everyone plays a role in what you do in life.” She stayed at home for the entire school year, “I have a little sister and she wasn’t ready to go back to school, so I help her with her classes.”
For the first time in our 10 years of covering the Valedictorians and Salutatorians in Yonkers, both will attend the same, prestigious university-NYU. Like many Val’s and Sal’s, they have known each other since the 9th grade, and neither really cared about or looked at the student rankings until this year.
Congratulations!
