June 16, 2006

Farewell to high school life

Graduation time for Silver Creek, Mount Pleasant, Evergreen Valley

Students bid farewell to high school life

By Daniel DeBolt
Staff writer

It’s that time of year again when teenagers realize adulthood is just a few steps away and parents face the reality that their sons and daughters may soon leave the nest for the road to independence.

A shower of confetti covers the Mount Pleasant graduating class of 2006 at the conclusion of the school's graduation ceremony on June 8 at the San Jose State Event Center.

As the senior classes of Mount Pleasant, Silver Creek and Evergreen Valley High Schools graduated last week, valedictorians gave speeches, parents watched, some cried, and students were handed those long awaited diplomas.

“We are no longer the bright-eyed, fresh-faced teens we remember from freshman orientation,” said Desiree Sanchez in her speech at Evergreen Valley High School’s graduation ceremony as the student-at-large. “We are young men and women of the next generation.”

Not all of the students graduated. At Silver Creek, 15 were held back by the exit exam. All of the seniors at the three schools, graduates or not, had to overcome obstacles.

Evergreen Valley High School
At Evergreen Valley High School valedictorian Smita Mohan remembered her big obstacle. During her sophomore year the school went from four small schools to one large one because of financial troubles in the district.

“Everything used to be close knit and tight,” Mohan said about the way the school was organized her first year.

Things ran smoothly, there were core classes, interesting subjects and she made close friends with people she would never be in the same classroom with again over the next three years.

“With life, things always change and the promises were broken,” Mohan said in her graduation speech. “There is, apparently in our case, a second time for everything as well. We were built then rebuilt and now, we face something completely different from what was originally intended—what was originally promised. The evaluation of this outcome, I leave to you. But I can say that we accepted, adapted, and grew more than any other graduating class of our time.”

Evergreen Valley principal Tom McDonough said his students achieved a high level of academic success despite the fact that their school was “turned upside down.” Evergreen Valley High School students got the highest API scores in the district, and one in three students took advanced placement exams. Of those with passing grades in the classroom, none failed the high school exit exam.

Evergreen Valley High School Valedictorian Smita Mohan and graduate Chandana Batchu following the graduation of the school's 2006 class. Photo Courtesy Chandana Batchu

“A school can get pretty wacky in a hurry,” McDonough said. “That didn’t happen here, and that really is to their credit.”

A student must have a 4.0 grade point average all four years to be called a valedictorian. Evergreen Valley High had five valedictorians; Amy Chew, Charles Doan, Alexander Han, Ban Hoang and Smita Mohan.

With all of the pressures and distraction of high school life, one might wonder how it’s done.

“I ask myself the same question all of the time,” said Mohan.

Mohan said she’s learned that stressing out about grades just isn’t worth it. And yes, she did have time for a social life.

Mohan said her parents, who came from India, placed an importance on her education and took an
interest in her academic success.

“From where they are from in India everything just comes out of your pocket,” Mohan said. “Here everything opens itself up to you. You can get books, teachers, for free. If you can get good grades, why not get good grades?”

Mohan will be attending Johns Hopkins University in the summer to study Biomedical engineering. But before heading off to Maryland, she will be taking a much-needed break.

“Every other summer I had work to do,” she said. “Now that that’s all over I just want to kick back and do my own thing.”

Silver Creek High School
At Silver Creek, Tammy Nguyen and Vivian Mai were honored as valedictorians.

Both will be attending the University of the Pacific, where Mai will be majoring in political science and Nguyen is majoring in pre-pharmacy.

A Silver Creek graduate gets festive during the school's graduation ceremony on June 8.

A hundred other students were recognized at another ceremony for their academic achievements ands scholarships received.

“What truly impressed me is these students have drive to achieve and maturity,” said Silver Creek Principal Thelma Boac, who just completed her first year at the school. “We have some seniors who have gone through great odds with a great deal of obstacles. We have a caring staff who takes care of these seniors as if they are their own children in order to make sure they succeed and reach their potential in spite of the great odds they have to overcome.”

Still, 15 Silver Creek seniors were held back by the exit exam even though they had passing grades.

“Every school was grappling with the situation and still is,” said Boac, regarding the exit exam. “There are still a lot of concerns regarding who may not be able to graduate. It is a concern to all of us.”

Boac hopes that those who graduate are a positive influence on the world.

“I’m hoping that what they have learned here at Silver creek they will carry on throughout the rest of their lives, sharing the light that shines in them with whomever they meet, letting them know what spirited and wonderful young people they are,” Boac said.

Mount Pleasant High School
At Mount Pleasant, Y-Nhy Duong and Kevin Chung earned the distinction of being valedictorians.

Mount Pleasant valedictorians Y-Nhy Duong (left) and Kevin Chung (right) are both headed to UC Berkeley after their graduation from the school.

The following is an excerpt from Duong’s speech about his struggle to succeed in high school:

“Lotus seeds may have the innate gift of blooming, but its growth depends on its environmental surroundings,” he said. “In my sophomore year, I witnessed an extraordinary individual graduate valedictorian and was accepted to Harvard University. At that moment, I became driven to achieve the same result. Denying myself any other goal, I tried to follow her path: comparing myself to her, wondering if I were good enough. I did not want to gain an identity for myself, but live up to the accomplishments of others.”

“After having my 890th visit to the office, requesting for advice, the counselors and principal not only did not put a restraining order on me, but cultivated me with their thoughtfulness and insights. Mrs. Ornelas, Ms. Velez, and Mrs. Stanley watered me the conviction of self-worth, teaching me that people do not find love in what will bring them honor, but they receive honor by excelling in what they love. My environment also consists of my wonderful teachers, classmates, and friends, supporting and persuading me that it’s okay to enjoy every moment as it lasts. Because of the people that surrounded me, I have learned to grow and pursue what I love… I have found my passion in the area of neurobiology, a degree of which I will obtain at UC Berkeley.”

In conclusion, Duong said “If we can wake up each morning and be excited to pursue what we’re doing, if we can allow ourselves to make another smile, to make a difference, be proud, for that is the definition of true success.”