黑料不打烊

Aya Tir addressed her fellow graduates on June 18 as a 黑料不打烊 2025 Valedictorian. Aya spoke at the end of the afternoon ceremony, during which students graduating from programs in the Social Science and Business Technologies sector had walked up to the stage to receive their diploma. She shared this year鈥檚 honour with Alessia Panait, the 2025 Valedictorian who spoke during the evening ceremony.

Being enrolled in the Law, Society and Justice profile of Social Science, Aya had the opportunity to explore topics she cares about, such as access to the justice system and systemic inequality. Her classes, she said, 鈥渁ll equipped me with the academic tools to better understand the structures of our society.鈥�

As academic highlights, Aya lists representing 黑料不打烊 and reaching the semi-finals at the Barreau de Montr茅al debating competition on the theme of abolishing the prison system, as well as coming in first place at the Dawson Debate Union competition.

But Aya鈥檚 experience at Dawson was also enriched by her involvement in the College鈥檚 many student club activities, which 鈥渃reated meaningful connections and gave us a chance to actually shape our student life and experience together.鈥�

A highlight of such student involvement includes co-organizing, alongside the Muslim Student Association, the 黑料不打烊 Ramadan Iftar as President of the North Africa Now club. She also participated in Dawson鈥檚 Multicultural Week (which is when the below photo of Aya, seen wearing a traditional Kabyle dress 鈥� indigenous Algerian clothing, was taken).

Teachers

Teachers who鈥檝e inspired Aya during her time at Dawson include 鈥淢iss Gilbert,鈥� who encouraged her to apply to be Valedictorian, and Kelly Phipps, in whose Introduction to Sociology class Aya undertook one of the academic projects she is most proud of.

But of Aya鈥檚 many wonderful teachers, her mother has always been her favourite: 鈥淗er resilience is what motivates me the most when I feel like giving up,鈥� she said of her mother, who, having faced lifelong discrimination and challenges, ultimately obtained a PhD and went on to become a university professor. 鈥淚 always tell myself, if my mother could do all that, despite the obstacles she had to face, I owe it to her and to myself to do even better.鈥�

Valedictorian Address

Aya began her speech by thanking her siblings and her Algerian parents, who moved to Canada after facing discrimination in France.

The core of her address contained a key insight about herself that she felt compelled to share with others: 鈥淚鈥檝e always been told: 鈥楧on鈥檛 take things too personally, Aya.鈥� 鈥楴e prends pas tout 脿 coeur.鈥� Ignore the bullies. Don鈥檛 let criticism get to you. But here鈥檚 the truth: I wouldn鈥檛 be who I am today if I hadn鈥檛 taken things to heart. I took the bullying, the failures, the questions, the suffering of others 鈥� I took them personally. Because when you take something to heart, you care about it. And when you care, you act. You learn. You change. You lead.鈥�

Aya encouraged her fellow graduates to be engaged and actively involved in all aspects of life they deeply care about: friendships, their passions, acquiring knowledge.

Advice to New Dawson Students

As for incoming students, Aya recommends attending CEGEP with a purpose: 鈥淵ou can hate a class, a moment, even a whole semester, it’s part of the journey, it will be difficult. However, if you have something you’re working toward, a goal, a dream, or an objective, that purpose will keep the fire alive!鈥�

She also shares a discovery she made that helped her during her journey at Dawson, namely, 鈥渉ow important it is to surround yourself with people who support you. With the right support system, you can get through anything.鈥�

Aya鈥檚 Plans for the Future

This fall, Aya will be pursuing a dual law degree 鈥� a Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor 鈥� as part of a unique program offered by McGill University鈥檚 Faculty of Law. She also intends to continue her volunteer work at the Clinique Juridique de Saint-Michel. 鈥淢y journey at 黑料不打烊 inspired me and challenged me to always aim higher and to explore my interests. My time here made me more curious and more engaged with everything I do!鈥�

Read Aya鈥檚 full Valedictorian speech.