SALINAS VALLEY — Nearly 500 students from both Soledad and Gonzales celebrated the end of their high school journeys last Saturday.
More than 280 seniors graduated from Soledad High School, while another 207 graduated from Gonzales High School, receiving their coveted diplomas.
The two schools presented multiple ceremonies each on June 12, allowing for spacing among the graduates and for the families watching the in-person graduation, as well as a special drive-thru ceremony option to allow for maximum distancing.
Gonzales High School Principal Jer Soriano opened his welcoming message to the graduates with a discussion of perseverance.
“Many of you have persevered through economical and personal hardship,” Soriano said. “Whatever life threw at you, you persevered. Many of you were persevering without knowing the actual definition, but you were living it.”
Both Andrea Garcia and Ana Maria Guerrero-Campos delivered Gonzales’ valedictorian address, and Emily Villegas and Aiden Cervantes gave the salutatorian address.
“I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors, Class of 2021,” Soriano said. “Go forth and take everything that you have learned so far from your parents, teachers, instructional aides, counselors, academic counselors, district, site administrators and classmates. Remember where you came from.”
Soledad High School Valedictorian Crystal Garcia opened her speech by thanking those who helped the graduates and by recognizing the unusual year her peers went through.
“Our class had it like no other, as most of us did not get to experience any of the senior activities that we normally would,” Garcia said. “Despite our high school years being cut short and all of the different challenges we have faced, whether it be with Covid, online classes or mentally, we made it to where we are today.”
Garcia went on to note the difficult task for graduates, as they had to determine where to go next in life.
“It is up to us to figure out how we are going to get to where we want to be and what sacrifices we are willing to make moving forward,” she said.
SHS Salutatorian Angelique Canchola also reflected on the unusual recent history, calling March 13, 2020, the loudest day on campus as students celebrated an early beginning to Spring Break, and how TikTok memes about the pandemic became true and schools remained closed.
“It has been a huge adjustment from the lives we are so used to living,” Canchola said. “As we have seen during this pandemic, things can change in an instant. No life should be lived with regrets, so I am here to advise you all that whatever it is you want to do in life, just do it.”
