Being the top two of a 1539 student graduating class is quite an achievement. For Software Engineering majors Dara Benyacar (‘24) and Wafa Berri (‘24), the reward is being named Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively.
“It feels pretty good,” said Benyacar. Likewise, Berri found the honor “really surprising and really great.”
Throughout her time at Tech, Benyacar felt support from her fellow students and, looking back, those connections loom large. “The sense of community at Tech is really high for such a big school,” she said. “[It felt] unique to be working on something super difficult, but to have these peers that you’re working on it with. I really enjoyed the people that I met, and they made it fun.”
On the road to success, Benyacar and Berri also encountered obstacles, especially during the pandemic. “Starting out remote learning…that was pretty difficult for me,” said Benyacar. “It did feel kind of isolating. Once I got in person I kind of overcame that.”
For Berri, it was Tech’s overwhelming breadth of choices. “The hardest part of Tech was just figuring out what you’re doing,” said Berri. “It was really great, it was just stressful at times.”
Reaching the top of their class was not a personal goal. “I was never gunning for the high, high scores,” said Berri. “It was just the work that led there.”
Benyacar had a similar attitude. “I didn’t go into Tech saying ‘Oh, I’m going to be valedictorian,’” she said. “What happened happened.”
For underclassmen seeking wisdom, Berri advised that they “go with the flow, [and] don’t shoot for the stars.” She further recommended that students seek out objective viewpoints when navigating life at Tech. “It’s just so important to discuss with students outside of just elective fairs,” said Berri. There were also other opportunities she wishes she had prioritized. “If I were to redo this all I would definitely take advantage of the internships, [and] the clubs,” she explained.
For Benyacar, the secret to a positive experience at Tech is to accept imperfection and enjoy the ride. “Try to enjoy it,” she advised. “Amidst all the stress, I look back and think of my fond memories. You have to believe in yourself. You can do it. I’ve done really bad on some exams, it’s just what you make of it. It’s a great school, it offers so much, so take advantage of it.”
Both Benycar and Berri followed their curiosities as Tech students. Benyacar expressed her enjoyment of “learning in general,” pursuing interests and classes that extended beyond software, and explained that she is “going to do the same thing in college.”
Similarly, Berri explored different topics throughout high school. “I didn’t just keep myself in software,” she said.
Benyacar and Berri are currently attending University of Chicago and Macaulay Hunter, respectively, with a hunger for higher education. Benyacar is eager to “meet new people, from maybe even more backgrounds…it’s going to be a new environment, new people, new types of classes, and I’m excited for that.”
For Berri, college is an opportunity to take charge of her life.“I’m looking forward to the independence of being able to build my own schedule,” she explained.
Berri closed her graduation speech with a piece of advice for her peers, “It’s ok to be scared, it’s ok to not have everything figured out, and it’s ok to be a little lazy. All that matters is that you keep moving forward.”
Similarly, Dara reflected on what she enjoyed at Tech in her speech, proposing, “Amidst the rigor and the course load, it was these moments with our teachers, our friends, that really gave us a chance to bond, shine, and grow.”
