An Olympian and businesswoman encouraged graduates from the Bermuda High School for Girls to follow their dreams and never give up.

Hazel Clark, the director of global sales and business development at the Bermuda Tourism Authority, was guest speaker at the school’s graduation ceremony on May 23.

Ms Clark, who represented the United States in the 800-metre track-and-field event in the 2000 and 2004 summer Olympics, shared with students what she learnt from her many wins and losses.

She said: “There were lots of losses along the way, but you can’t avoid that.

“How you respond is what will differentiate you from being great and from being mediocre, and BHS young ladies are not mediocre.

“A bad moment is only a failure if you don’t learn from it.”

In her final graduation speech before retiring as the head of school, Linda Parker congratulated the 18 students for their hard work and wished them luck in their future.

She said: “You have consistently been tenacious, lively, caring, kind-spirited, charitable and socially conscious young people — set the world on fire with your ambition and drive.

“You are the leaders who will make changes, both large and small, in our society.

“Whether that change is on our island or in the world, today is the start of a new life for all of you.

“As my last group of BHS graduates, you will always remain close to my heart.”

Students from years 4, 5 and 6 greeted and applauded graduates before the event.

According to a BHS spokeswoman, graduates will be pursuing degrees such as accounting, health science, law and politics at universities in the United States, Canada, Britain and Europe.