Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is holding graduation ceremonies May 28 through 31 with St. Charles kicking off the week with a morning commencement. The Kelly-green robes of the Spartans were the first to dominate the field of Regency Furniture Stadium Tuesday led by valedictorian Miracle Washington and salutatorian Chloe Del Rosario.

“Know that life has a plan for you,” Del Rosario told her peers during her speech. “It’s time to say ‘Hello,’ to your future. Our lives are in no one else’s hands but our own.”

In her valedictory address, Washington admitted she was uncomfortable with public speaking or speaking up generally. “Public speaking is not my thing,” she said. For most of her high school career, she kept her head down and concentrated on her schoolwork, Washington said. She was focused on getting straight A’s and maintaining a top-class rank.

“When I think of valedictorian I think of an outspoken, confident leader,” she said. “Not the quiet, back-of-the-class kid who can barely read aloud the slides of a presentation she wrote, That’s not valedictorian material. But here I am.”

Washington wagered that this is a familiar feeling among her peers -- the imposter syndrome. “You may look at the people around you and see their qualifications and talents and all that you don’t think you have,” she said. “But despite everything you made it. We’re all here because we’ve earned this. Never forget that.”

The Class of 2024 of St. Charles which boasted 368 members earned nearly $30 million in scholarship offers. Thomas Stone High School is set to graduate at 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 28. CCPS is livestreaming all graduations at www.ccboe.com and on its Vimeo and YouTube channels. Go to https://www.ccboe.com/quick-links/graduation-2024.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).