SAN BENITO — Maverick Raven Reza said when he goes off to college in the fall, he plans to wear his purple and gold school colors with pride.
He and about 740 other San Benito High School seniors received their diplomas last night at Bobby Morrow Stadium.
As class valedictorian, Maverick said it was an honor and a privilege to be a speaker for “such a pinnacle moment” in his and his classmates’ lives.
“This is a moment which we will not easily forget as we leave taking different paths in this journey called life,” he said during the ceremony. “Just by being here, I see in every single one of you the willingness to accomplish great things.”
Prior to Maverick’s speech, salutatorian Ariel Raine Garcia addressed her graduating class.
“I’ve never been one to stick by quotes,” she admitted to her peers during her speech.
However, days before the graduation, she came across one she said she will always remember.
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it,” she said.
Ariel recalled first hearing the quote while “in the midst of a full blown breakdown” of what’s to come in the next chapter of her life.
“We all feel pretty lost, but the most important thing to do is make sure we like what we do,” she advised her classmates. “It’s all about competing with yourself to be a better person.”
San Benito High School Principal Maria Isabel Marichalar-Solis wishes her Class of 2019 graduates well in all of their endeavors.
She said one of her favorite happenings during graduation ceremonies is seeing each student walk across the stage and smile with pride in their “great milestone accomplishment.”
“I’ve seen how excited the seniors have felt about graduation these last few weeks,” she said. “My message to them is to continue putting effort, dedication and commitment into everything you do and great things will come back to you.”
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nate Carman’s final words of advice to the graduating class is to pay attention to the moment “because it’s the only time it will happen.”
“The next time you see these kids, they’ll either be in the workforce or in college so this will be their last opportunity to see them as high school students,” he said before the ceremony. “I think its exciting knowing this is the last time they’re being recognized as high school students and are ready to go out into the world.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
• About 740 graduates
• 127 graduates received scholarships
• Valedictorian — Maverick Raven Reza
• Salutatorian — Ariel Raine Garcia
• Class motto — “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
