The morning of June 30 was filled with anticipation as members of the the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) Class of 2025 gathered to take their seats for the University’s 374th Commencement ceremony. It was a poignant moment that celebrated their accomplishments and marked the beginning of the next phase of their professional lives.
Among them was 31-year-old Jamaican-born Tashauna Holmes, HSDM Class of 2025 president, who served as the School’s Class Day speaker, where she shared that success and service aren’t mutually exclusive and that true impact begins when one shows up with empathy, courage, and commitment to change. She said:
- Advertisement -
“As we enter a profession that grants us not only titles, but trust, we have an obligation to use our skills not just to elevate ourselves, but to uplift others,” she said. “We can build thriving careers and compassionate communities. We can pursue excellence and promote equity. We can earn well and serve well.”
Holmes grew up in the quiet, rural community of Johnson in St. James, Jamaica, and could never have imagined that one day she would stand as valedictorian of Harvard University’s 2025 graduating class. Her journey – from humble beginnings and early culture shock in the United States to the pinnacle of academic excellence is what the American Dream is all about.
She is a proud alumna of Montego Bay High School for Girls and Herbert Morrison Technical High School, and attended Miami Dade University in Florida in 2012 before moving to University of Florida in Gainesville, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Holmes plans to pursue private practice in Miami, Florida while remaining dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others.
