The valedictorian for the 2020 graduating class at Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) says meeting people from different cultures is one of her fondest memories of her time at the Gretna-based private school.

Andrea Heide is from Chihuahua, Mexico and she's been an international student at MCI for the past two years. She says she made the decision to finish her schooling at MCI after growing bored of going to the same school back home every day since kindergarten, as well as her sister and other family members, are alumni of the school.

"Initially I didn't think I was going to come here, but last minute I thought I'd give it a shot," she explained, admitting she faced some difficult mental and emotional adjustments in the first few months. "But once I let myself get out of my comfort zone I really found amazing friendships and I learned so many amazing things that I didn't think I would."

Heide says she's most enjoyed meeting other students from many other parts of the world and getting to know their backgrounds.

"You can often find similarities with their stories," she said, adding it felt like a whole new world when she first came to the school two years ago. "I've travelled, but when you've lived in the same country for all your life and then you go to different countries, you realize there are more people on this earth. You know it, but then you actually experience it. It really opened my eyes."

With graduation day upon her, Heide says it feels unreal to finally be at the moment she's thought about her whole life.

Today, Heide along with 13 of her peers will accept their high school diplomas in a ceremony that will wrap up a week of celebrations at the school.

As for the future, Heide says she has her sights on becoming a nutritionist.

Heide said she was glad to have been able to perform in MCI's 2020 musical, Annie before the school year was suspended.