Mr. Randazzo:
Congratulations, graduating seniors! As you stand at this crossroads, you may not have had an opportunity to fully appreciate the milestone you have achieved. High school graduation is an important first step into adulthood, and as someone who has been an adult for a long, long time, I’d like to humbly offer three pieces of advice:
All gas, no brakes.
You’ve built up a certain amount of momentum in your educational career without even knowing it. Avoid procrastination. Follow your passions wholeheartedly. Don’t take a “gap year” (my “gap year” was twelve years long!). Use your momentum to your advantage.
Work hard. Play harder.
You have a homework assignment that is due on Monday. Get it done on Friday night instead of Sunday night (or worse, Monday morning!). Then, spend the weekend partying like you deserve a break (because you do). Play is the reward for hard work, not an excuse to avoid it.
Embrace change, embrace failure.
Graduation is just one new experience in a life of constant change. Embrace that change. Don’t avoid it out of fear. We might also fear failure, but failure is not the end. Failure is the stepping stone toward success. Learn, grow, and persevere. Satisfaction comes from setting out to do something difficult, experiencing failures along the way, and persevering to achieve our goals anyway.
Congratulations, once again, seniors. I wish you a future filled with joy, fulfillment, and endless possibilities!
Mrs. Tolve:
Congratulations! You have put in a lot of hard work to reach this point, but the race is not over.
Take the time to celebrate and enjoy the moment, and when you are done, focus on the next stage of your life. Remember your goal is to be able to “stand on your own two feet,” to be able to take care of yourself while leaving the world a little bit better than the way you found it. At times it may seem tough or even impossible, but trust me, it isn’t. You have everything you need inside of you, and if you feel like you do not, surround yourself with likeminded people who can lend you a helping hand along the way! You’re going to do great! We believe in you! We need you! Best of luck in whatever you choose to take on next!
Mx. Shields:
Dearest Seniors, take positive risks. Explore, fail, and be open to mistakes. Know that you will change and so will the people and world around you – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Those changes may be difficult, confusing, uplifting, exhilarating, or a mixed bag of emotions. Cultivate relationships with others and yourself so you can lean on others when you need support and gather them to celebrate your joy. Sometimes the bravest or kindest act toward yourself or others is to say no, walk away, or just embrace.
Ms. Mitchell:
My kindness has opened doors that my hardwork and connections couldn’t. Never underestimate the power of being kind.
Ms. Herreros:
Congratulations! The longest four years of your lives have suddenly flown by. You have all contributed a memory in each other’s books of life and I wish you all the best and that you enjoy every second of this new chapter. Down the road you will face challenges that will allow you to endure and mistakes that will become life lessons. Even when things become difficult, remember that this is life shaping you into the best version of yourself. Never settle for less and always chase your dreams! Felicidades a la clase de 2023!!!
