The Valedictorian of the Prairie View High School graduating class of 2019 began his very engaging address with a quote from Sponge Bob SquarePants.
Only, I didn't write it down thinking that I could easily Google it to find just exactly what was quoted and not rely on my hearing which was even worse because of the acoustics where we sat in the CU Events Center at Cameron's graduation exercises on May 24th. When I did Google it, I had NO idea there was such a plethora of quotes from SBSP. The Internet is full of them! So, I will just leave that part of my report out and move on to some other great things about this graduation exercise.
The first and most important was that Cameron graduated 7th in her class of almost 500 students! YEA, CAMERON! WAY TO GO!
What an impressive graduating class with 92% who DID graduate out of the potential that COULD graduate.
There was a significant number of graduates first in their family to get a high school diploma. The Valedictorian was one. Tony identified himself as a Mexican-American. He gave a great speech, was humble in his accomplishments, and talked about his family's sacrifices coming from Mexico determined that he would receive the best education possible. Tony lamented that popular opinion is that people coming to this country are not education-oriented. That is a myth he said he will work on to eradicate, because the American Dream of believing in someone is still very much alive among his family and friends.
It was noted that 5% of the graduating class are going into some branch of the US military.
Two graduates were totally handicapped and received enthusiastic assistance from the senior class president and several other students to push their wheelchairs across the platform to receive their diplomas.
Two girls were visibly pregnant and two girls were carrying infants that looked just about as big as a doll. Cute, too.
The student body president had literally counted how many days they had spent together in high school--664 in four years-- and shared some of his memories of those many days among his classmates.
Their class had the same principle for all four years, and she was "graduating" with them to move to another job on her career path.
This class had also been the guinea pigs who learned how to go to school during off hours of the day. Later they had to get used to a school week of only four days--Tuesday through Friday--when that program was instituted. What changes they had to accommodate just to get to school!
Thirty-seven year old Social Studies teacher Kara Bosworth with a Masters in Education told the audience that when people ask her WHY she teaches, she tells them the students are her life. Chosen by the class as teacher of the year, Ms. Bosworth admonished those nearly 500 kids to understand that life requires hard work. "But," she said, "it's worth it!" Other advice she gave them: love what you do. Be passionate about it! Show compassion and gratitude. "Fight for what you want, " was her closing statement. She got thundering applause.
Roberta Thimmig, President of the Board of Education, gave this homely and very needed advice: "Write a thank you note to those who have helped you along."
Then in speaking directly to the whole audience, she said, "These graduates will determine what history is yet to be written. Each has to do his/her own writing to determine what their history will be. I'm asking them to use this guideline: DO NO HARM--to yourself, to others, to the environment. In fact turn that thought around and DO GOOD!"
And the whole thing was over!
The next day we had a small family gathering at Brice and Judy's home to celebrate Cheyenne's graduation from UC Denver the week before and Cameron's graduation from Prairie View High School. Good food! Judy and Cheyenne prepared another of their spectacular feasts. Homemade pizza. Fresh cut pineapple--and as a Fillipina believe me Judy KNOWS how to spiral cut a pineapple. Plus platters of other fresh fruits, as well. Three giant double crust fruit pies. Grilled French Bread ham and fancy cheese sandwiches. Pasta salad, etc. etc. I ate too much.
So, I guess it's a good thing that the next family high school graduations don't happen for another few years.
Momma G has to recover!
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