Class of 2020: Harmony Magnet Academy
Harmony Magnet Academy 2020 Graduation Speeches
Speaker: Christopher Rodriguez Escamilla
The roaring ’20s, as we had called it at the beginning of the year, was supposed to be the best time we as seniors would experience. This year, however, the whole world was affected by a very unique case. It was something that we didn’t expect would change our ways of living. I understand many of us were waiting to walk across the stage as our name was called out to receive our diploma. Although this might not be how it turned out, we must not lose hope and look forward to what life brings ahead.
I’d like to begin by thanking my family, who have supported me throughout my life and education to continue forward and pursue a better life. To the faculty at Harmony, who even though I wasn’t able to meet all, I thank them for each and every day they walked into campus to provide us with a tremendous education and pushing us to do our best, even on the days that we didn’t want to learn. To my fellow classmates, I want to congratulate all of you, including myself for making it through all four years, although it might’ve felt like it went fast, do not forget the memories and the relationships you made. Our time at Harmony should not be remembered by grades, popularity, or favorites, but by our relationships. Relationships are where we get to influence, impact, and change people’s lives. leave those with whom you cross paths with a little more happiness and hope. As Mr. Alcantar would put it, “The story is connected, and the story is beautiful.”
Everything we do and go through happens for a reason even our mistakes. We all make mistakes in life, it’s part of being a human. We should not let that define who we are but rather learn from it. In the end, whatever road you take, there will come obstacles that you will have to overcome, just like Mrs. Fields essays or Mr. Blackwell’s DBQ’s, no matter how difficult they may be to understand and write, there is always a way to go through with it. I wish you all the best, whether we crossed paths or not, I hope the decision all of you make is for the best.
Speaker: Gabriel Ramos
It’s an honor and a privilege to stand here amongst you all. We stand here in the final moments of this four yearlong adventure of ours. So much has happened during this time, possibilities made reality by so many incredible people across AOE and APA and everything else, individuals with us still and some not.
First and foremost, I want to thank the amazing staff of Harmony Magnet Academy‒the instructors who put in more effort than can be said about other institutions. Teachers like Mr. Alcantar, who repeatedly attempted to make math genuinely interesting to learn. If I am given permission to speak for the majority of us, you tried your best Mr. Alcantar. The “naggy” English teachers who just wanted the best for us, who didn’t want us to make fools of ourselves when we inevitably procrastinate on a ten-page essay and write it in less than an hour before the deadline. And finally, wholesome teachers like Mr. Wheeler, who I can safely say we all miss dearly, along with his daily mantra.
Thank you to all the parents. Some of us here, including myself, might not appreciate you all the time. But, in all honesty, sometimes you make it pretty dang hard to do so from my own experience and from what I’ve heard from others. Jokes aside, your support is the foundation of your child’s success; in academics and sports and everything else we did, you were there for us, so thank you.
And finally, we should take a moment to truly recognize the achievement of the students themselves. What we’ve accomplished here is more than can be said for most, a fact recognized through the simple realization that this graduating class is substantially smaller than it was four years ago. And for all of you who struggled through and made it, I commend you. Those of you who had an easier time, well, that’s no less commendable.
The friendships and connections we made might last a lifetime, or they might not; in either case, we’ll carry those people somewhere within us. Every person shapes you in some way or another, and for that I am grateful to all those who’ve had an impact on me.
I stand before my fellow students at a precipice and, if you’ll allow me the use of a tiresome metaphor, a crossroads. I can’t be entirely sure what will happen in the future. Especially now in the middle of this international crisis that irrevocably affected our final months together. To some, this might be an omen of what’s to come: a time of struggling not of our own culpability. Nevertheless, we must face the challenge and the consequences of this unfortunate luck.
But I say we accept that reality in strides. Though we might not compare to older generations who lived through war and extreme poverty, this will be our own challenge and trial in itself.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, live long and prosper Harmony Magnet Academy Class of 2020. Congratulations.
Speaker: Heriberto Vasquez
Hello everyone, my name is Heriberto Vasquez or Beto as many people know me. In high school I played soccer and tennis. I was also a part of clubs like MEChA, CSF, and French club. I may not have been as successful as others however in every activity I learned something and grew as a person.
While my achievements have been seen and recognized, it is also important to note that everyone of my classmates has also been successful in their own paths. I know many of us have had sleepless nights trying to study, starting projects that should have been started weeks before, or maybe even trying to finish our AR books. On top of school work, these past four years have also brought problems outside of school; whether it was the sickness or passing of loved ones, arguments with our families, or other upsetting issues.
Even in the dark moments, I can most confidently say that we made some very fun memories. Like grad night, oh wait.. At least we had our senior prom, wait… Well we didn’t get either of those but I know we had many enjoyable moments like freshman ignite, the mentor conference, and our mock interviews. OK, those weren’t the only “fun” memories. We can remember how great it was when the speakers at Harmony stopped working half way through assemblies, or walking all the way to Strathmore for PE, but I think we enjoyed more things like being led by the band to the rally for rivalry week and the countless laughs we had with friends during lunch. The past four years went by very quickly. It felt like yesterday that we walked onto the campus for the first time.
Nevertheless, all of this would have not been possible without the support of our counselors Mrs. Arias and Mrs. Roche. I would also like to thank all teachers. Especially those who have always shown that they care about us (Dr. Nelson, Mrs. Silva), and even if it was in a tough way, Mrs. Edwards. I would also like to thank Mr. Brown, Mrs. Edsberg, Mrs. Garza, and Mrs. Nevarez who also helped us a lot on our journeys. A shout out to our janitor Arturo and other maintenance people who helped keep our school clean.
I would also like to thank all of my friends. Thank you for making me laugh when I’m not smiling and helping me become a better version of myself. I love everyone one of you guys but I want to give a special thank you, from the bottom of my heart to my best friend George who I met on my first day of preschool and now we’re graduating high school together, we did bro!
Lastly I want to thank my family, who has always given me their unconditional support and guidance. My older sister, Eli, and brother, Miguel, who have always taken care of me and been the best role models, thank you. Thank you to my little sister, Brianda, you fill my world with laughter. The biggest thank you goes out to my parents. To those humble people who came to a new country to give me and my siblings a better life. Gracias papá y mamá por sacrificarse todo los días, trabajando en los files o donde sea para que yo tenga algo de comer. Gracias Pa por enseñarme el valor del trabajo duro, y gracias mi madre hermosa por enseñarme a tener modales y ser cariñoso, aunque a veces fuera a chanclasos. Gracias por siempre creer en mí y gracias por siempre motivarme. Los quiero mucho y quien diría, lo logre.
Thank you!
Speaker: Juan Manuel Ramirez Leon
Today, a day many of us were anxiously waiting for, I would like to give thanks to God first. I’d like to thank the parents, and teachers. We are the class of 2020, a special year that just sounds cool when you say it. If only the year was going as fantastic as it sounds. Regardless of what is to come, we are here today on this special day. One that came by quicker than we imagined. It feels like just yesterday when we first walked up and down the stairs of Harmony. When we went to our first class. The first football game. Some had the first girlfriend. The second girlfriend. The third. The figuring out that maybe they were the problem. We’ve endured many setbacks in our lives. It’s certainly been a tough year. One that has brought changes we never imagined going through, but bridges burn, tables turn, we live and learn. Looking back at our long 4 years of education, I see that we’ve come a long way. It was in those 4 years that I learned math, English and most of biology. That the story is connected, the story is beautiful. Being 1-0 is all that matters regardless of the scoreboard. And as I stand here today I’d like to say that I see many outstanding individuals who will most certainly change the world. I hope that every single one of you keeps growing educationally. Just like street poet Snoop Dogg said “If you stop at general math, you’re only going to make general math money.” However, I don’t want to get your hopes up too soon, we’re probably going to be broke for the next 8-10 years. As street philosopher Drake once said, “Oh well, guess you lose some and win some long as the outcome is income. You know I want it all and then some.” I want to leave you with this. Obtaining material success will always be what motivates us. I ask that all of you follow your dreams and chase success. Strive to be the best, but remember to keep your feet on the ground. Most importantly I’d like to say that it was a pleasure to be a part of this diverse and loving community. Thank you!
Speaker: Lauren Leyva
Good evening Class of 2020, family, faculty, teachers, and loved ones, my name is Lauren Leyva. I am honored to be with you here today as a valedictorian for our nationally distinguished Blue Ribbon school, Harmony Magnet Academy. I would like to give a profound thank you to the outstanding people who have made it possible for me to be here today. Thank you Mr. Brown for your leadership, Mrs. Edsberg for your dedication, Mr. Alcantar for your motivation, and Mrs. Edwards for your support. Thank you, teachers and faculty, for encouraging me to strive for excellence and for caring about my academic success. I would like to thank my graduating class of 2020 for all the cherished memories. I would like to say a special thank you to the Sisters of the Love of God who have guided me in strengthening my faith and to be a diligent student. I would like to thank my entire family, my parents, and my sister for supporting me wholeheartedly since the beginning. Every day, you have encouraged me to learn all I can, inspired me to challenge myself, and to give thanks to God for all of the blessings. Dad, Mom, Leena; you have been my cornerstone through every obstacle I have faced these past four years.
Although our graduation today is different from prior years due to the current pandemic, that has interrupted our senior milestones: prom, grad nite, and has altered our commencement gathering, we as a class have accomplished and will persevere. With the increasing level of concern that has been presented in all of our lives, we must overcome. COVID-19 has caused suffering and pain to many families across the country and the world. My heart and blessings go out to your loved ones. I want to thank the frontline responders and all essential workers for your selflessness and dedication. Innovation and impactful adjustments are underway in this time of disruption. We must utilize COVID-19 as a catalyst to create a positive shift for the future, not only within us but to also work in reliance with one another. COVID-19 has created challenges. And it is up to us, the future, our class of 2020, to discover, redefine, and be the change that is needed to overcome this pandemic.
We were built to go forth to the future. If we promise ourselves to be too enlightened for fear, too noble for anger, be strong enough to stand up for others, and to live in faith, our future will shine. Always know that the world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is within you. Thank you.
Speaker: Meera Kashyap
Hello, my name is Meera Kashyap, an Academy of Engineering student. First and foremost, I would like to congratulate each and every one of the Class of 2020 students for successfully graduating after more than twelve years of school. It is a rite of passage we should all be proud of.
Writing this valedictorian speech is an honor. It is an opportunity that I would have never achieved without my family, friends, teachers and guidance counselors helping every step of the way. And I thank them.
Where did the years go? How did we arrive here? Well, do you know the mythology behind the Phoenix? For the Phoenix to be reborn, it goes on a journey to look for aromatic spices and herbs.
We followed a similar path in our years of high school. During freshman year, we barely registered that we were high schoolers at all. Still stuck in our middle school years, we were between the transition of pre-teen maturity to teen maturity. Sophomore year and junior year, we started getting behind the pedal (literally and figuratively) and maybe dipped our toes into the waters of AP classes for the first time. Senior year, we were veterans. We knew the ins and outs of this school and were on more comfortable terms with the teachers and faculty.
Throughout all these years we found these spices and herbs in the form of moments. Moments where if we weren’t moaning about schoolwork or AP exams, we would be crunching time during brunch and lunch, furiously scribbling/typing away for work that would be due the next period. Moments where we would stay after school to study, but it would somehow morph into a social gathering where we would stuff ourselves with food from the Dollar Store and El Portal. These were the years we experienced being teenagers‒happiness, angst, and all.
There were just a few herbs left to collect in our senior year, when suddenly our time together was cut short ahead of Spring Break 2020, when life threw small embers at us--embers that rained down worldwide, affecting every student within its reach.
COVID-19 introduced a whole slew of problems. As a result of social distancing, many of us were tasked with having to care for our siblings and parents, taking jobs to support their family finances, and sharing computers for time to do Zoom meetings.
We had meticulously used our boughs of herbs to fashion a nest ‒ a depiction of the culmination of our efforts and memories. In one spring break, the ember landed in our nest, going up in a torrent of flames. The climax, all seemingly for naught.
We were unexpectedly burned by circumstances outside of our control. It threw us for a loop, shook us up, and slammed us down, asking mockingly, “What are you going to do now?”
Well, what are we going to do now? We are graduating now, but how do we know we will do well in the future? The answer to that is perseverance. A pandemic such as this emulates the twists and turns of life. We don’t truly know what life will bring us. Realistically, it portrays the macrocosm of what we deal with. In the microcosm, we have tests, part-time jobs, extracurriculars, etc. that we all handle on a day-to-day basis. This is just another challenge within the same vein if you view it as such.
By the end of this, we will rise from the ashes stronger than ever singing the haunting music of our troubles and triumphs. The fire that engulfs us only provides a gateway into the beyond‒a new journey of life that will unfold.
Every time we are burned, we learn, and grow from it, so that our next resurrection is more powerful and prepared than ever. And we will keep doing that. Finding herbs and spices during our journeys, being engulfed in flames, then spreading our wings to soar again.
So Class of 2020, be proud and feel accomplished from where you stand. You all are one of a kind and if you can survive a disaster like this, you will be golden. I wish you all good luck for the future and to have faith that you will succeed in life.
Speaker: Neha Reedy
If there is one thing that high school taught me, it’s to never be afraid to ask for help. I always thought that needing help was a bad thing, because if I couldn’t do it on my own, then I must not be as strong as I thought I was. But, during the past four years, I have learned that people aren’t meant to carry the weight of the world all by themselves. It’s just not realistic.
This is why I would like to thank my counselor Ms. Elizabeth Arias. I can’t even put into words the amount of support she has given me through the times when I thought I would fall and never get back up. I have never met someone with as much compassion and empathy for other human beings; she truly changed my life. And, as for my teachers, I would like to thank Dr. Nelson for never making me or the rest of my peers feel alone. Thank you to Mr. Blackwell for always making me laugh and sparking my love for history. Thank you to Mrs. Berry for making me a better artist each and every day. And thank you to Ms. Jones for motivating me to break out of my comfort zone.
Lastly, I want to thank my family for always pushing me to my best. I don’t think I would have achieved as much I did in high school without them believing in me.
I am grateful for Harmony Magnet Academy - for providing me with a great education, great teachers, great staff, and great resources. I can confidently say that I am ready for college and whatever else the world throws my way.
Principal’s note
Welcome parents, students and honored guests. We are here to celebrate an end to one thing and the beginning of another.
I would like to acknowledge those who have made this dream a reality. First our PUSD administration team, Dr. Stuemky, Dr. Bukosky , Dr. Rohrbach and our Superintendent Nate Nelson; The PUSD Governing Board. The advisory boards, business partners of Harmony; the city of Porterville; the pathways office, Cindy Brown and her pathway staff; the current administrative and classified staff at Harmony who work out the day to day details. Last but not least our faculty who has shown exceptional effort in preparing our students to succeed in both college and career. Your commitment to excellence is evident. We are grateful for your’ dedication.
Students during this time of many transitions you have endured much. Your testimony will be that many of the activities you looked forward to were a casualty of COVID-19. But the story does not end there. The sun will rise again and time will heal all wounds. Your legacy will be the pursue happiness, a new beginning and a welcomed future. You are well prepared moving forward and all challenges it will present. You have prepared yourself as a leader to speak with confidence, present ideas and perform when it matters most. This is what you have been trained for …. to think critically on your feet when the pressure is on or when you must solve real world problems. Do not waver from your vision or your hope; stay on mission; dream big and embrace your opportunities even when it gets tough. You can achieve anything, if you are willing to sacrifice and give your best effort day after day. But more importantly believe you can. If you pursue your dream and are inspired to do so … there is nothing beyond you. We never lose: we win or learn. … Fight On!
It’s an honor and a privilege to stand here amongst you all. We stand here in the final moments of this four yearlong adventure of ours. So much has happened during this time, possibilities made reality by so many incredible people across AOE and APA and everything else, individuals with us still and some not.
First and foremost, I want to thank the amazing staff of Harmony Magnet Academy‒the instructors who put in more effort than can be said about other institutions. Teachers like Mr. Alcantar, who repeatedly attempted to make math genuinely interesting to learn. If I am given permission to speak for the majority of us, you tried your best Mr. Alcantar. The “naggy” English teachers who just wanted the best for us, who didn’t want us to make fools of ourselves when we inevitably procrastinate on a ten-page essay and write it in less than an hour before the deadline. And finally, wholesome teachers like Mr. Wheeler, who I can safely say we all miss dearly, along with his daily mantra.
Thank you to all the parents. Some of us here, including myself, might not appreciate you all the time. But, in all honesty, sometimes you make it pretty dang hard to do so from my own experience and from what I’ve heard from others. Jokes aside, your support is the foundation of your child’s success; in academics and sports and everything else we did, you were there for us, so thank you.
And finally, we should take a moment to truly recognize the achievement of the students themselves. What we’ve accomplished here is more than can be said for most, a fact recognized through the simple realization that this graduating class is substantially smaller than it was four years ago. And for all of you who struggled through and made it, I commend you. Those of you who had an easier time, well, that’s no less commendable.
The friendships and connections we made might last a lifetime, or they might not; in either case, we’ll carry those people somewhere within us. Every person shapes you in some way or another, and for that I am grateful to all those who’ve had an impact on me.
I stand before my fellow students at a precipice and, if you’ll allow me the use of a tiresome metaphor, a crossroads. I can’t be entirely sure what will happen in the future. Especially now in the middle of this international crisis that irrevocably affected our final months together. To some, this might be an omen of what’s to come: a time of struggling not of our own culpability. Nevertheless, we must face the challenge and the consequences of this unfortunate luck.
But I say we accept that reality in strides. Though we might not compare to older generations who lived through war and extreme poverty, this will be our own challenge and trial in itself.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, live long and prosper Harmony Magnet Academy Class of 2020. Congratulations.
This story was originally published June 17, 2020 at 12:00 AM.