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At Alta Vista High School’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, June 5, each graduate didn’t just get to walk across the stage and receive their diploma, they also had a chance to share a personal message with the assembled crowd of family and friends.
As each student came forward, a staff member read remarks from that student. The graduates shared their post-high school plans, thanked the people who helped them most, reflected on their high school experience and offered inspirational quotes.
One student shared that she “never loved a school the way she loves Alta Vista,” another reminded the crowd that “at the end of the day, you are your own motivation.”
Compared to a traditional high school graduation, Alta Vista prides itself on its personalized ceremonies and celebration of what students overcame to complete high school. Staff members announced the individual scholarships and awards that students received, and a slideshow played before the ceremony with childhood photos of the graduates.
In total, 29 students graduated from Alta Vista this year. The school serves as an alternative campus for the Mountain View Los Altos High School District, where students often transfer when they fall behind on the credits needed to graduate.
School board President Esmeralda Ortiz told the students that they chose a different path to reach graduation, and that this was something to be proud of.
“Sometimes the traditional classroom setting just doesn’t work for everyone, but here’s the thing: Education is for all of us,” Ortiz said. “It’s about finding the format that works for you, finding the motivation to keep going, and realizing that you enrich any space that you’re a part of.”
Ortiz praised the students for making a choice to take control of their education and push through even when things were tough.
“It wasn’t easy, but you showed up, you stayed committed and now you’re going to walk across the stage today with a high school diploma in hand,” Ortiz said. “That’s an incredible achievement.”
At Thursday’s ceremony, two students were chosen to give speeches, in which they offered advice to their fellow graduates and shared about their high school experiences.
Zane Arica opened up about the hurdles he faced in reaching graduation, including being homeless and experiencing mental health challenges. Arica told the crowd that he didn’t want pity, but rather for people to understand that they have the power to make a difference in their own lives and find personal fulfillment.
Countless times, Arica said that people offered him support, guidance and mentorship, which he said made his achievements possible. Arica urged his classmates to reach out for help, rather than trying to tough things out on their own.
“We’re all blessed with a surplus of empathy,” he said. “I don’t want anyone to perpetuate cynicism in believing that you have to do everything alone. Reach out, display vulnerability, know that you’re human.”
Fellow graduate Ja’Meer Cooper shared a personal story with the audience. He spoke about how, back in 2015, he had made a promise to his great-grandmother that one day he would graduate from college, become a professional football player and take care of her.
Last month, Cooper got the news that his great-grandmother had passed away and began to lose hope. He questioned what the point of graduating would be if she wasn’t there to hear his name called. But at her funeral this past weekend, Cooper said that he gathered the motivation to push through.
“With emotions racing, I came to the conclusion that I would finish, because I knew that’s what she would want,” Cooper said. “I promised her that I would handle my business and do as I promised.”
Cooper encouraged his classmates to continue to push to defy the odds, no matter how difficult things get, and to surprise themselves with what they’re able to accomplish.
Principal Suzanne Woolfolk told the Class of 2025 that they would be remembered for breaking through academic ceilings that they may not have even realized existed.
She noted that this is the first graduating class in which some students will be going directly to four-year universities. Alta Vista has adjusted its course offerings in recent years, so that students are able to earn the credits necessary for university admissions.
Woolfolk thanked the students for being willing to share their joys and successes, as well as their difficulties, with school staff. She recounted some of the “firsts” that students experienced during their time at Alta Vista: Their first “A” in a high school class, their first time consistently coming to school and their first heartbreak.
“All of these firsts have built up to you becoming the graduate sitting before us today, and we are so proud of your individual journeys,” Woolfolk said.
Check out this year’s list of Alta Vista High School graduates and read our interview with Zane Arica, one of the graduating seniors.
For all of our graduation coverage, go to our central graduation page.
