June 17, 2005

Mt. Pleasant valedictorian heads to UC-Berkeley

“Keep in mind that we have not just graduated from high school,” said Mt. Pleasant High School’s valedictorian Sarah Danvi Castillo Kabiling at the schools 40th annual graduation ceremony on June 9. “We have in fact graduated from adolescence into adulthood.”

Mt. Pleasant Valedictorian Sarah Kabiling

While she agrees that her parents will remain a stabilizing factor in the years ahead, “it is actually the choices we ourselves make, and the decisions we arrive at that will eventually matter,” she added. “As an old adage goes, the ball is now in our hands.”

Despite her newfound independence, Kabiling was quick to thank her parents for standing by her in all her ups and downs—sheltering her, believing in her.

“My mom is my greatest mentor, because she showed me how one can struggle and succeed. Her kind heart and love for the community has helped me realize how each and every person around you helps shape who you are.”

She also thanked the teaching staff at Mt. Pleasant for helping to “mold me to become what I am today,” which is an exemplary student who earned departmental awards in mathematics, social science, foreign language and English as well as a Bank of America plaque for science and mathematics.

Kabiling did not forget to thank her friends for the fond memories and the pure joy of friendships. One of her favorite high school memories is competing in the “Battle of the Tribes 2005,” where Filipino clubs from Mt. Pleasant, Milpitas, Piedmont Hills, Santa Clara, Overfelt and Silver Creek high schools competed against each other.

“Although Mt. Pleasant placed third, it was so much fun,” she said.

Moving forward, Kabiling plans to attend UC Berkeley. Once there, she will either double major in mechanical engineering and music or major in mechanical engineering and minor in music.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new friends from different walks of life,” said Kabiling. She likes the way her acceptance letter from Berkeley puts it, “The sound you hear is the world opening up at your feet.”

When she graduates with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, she plans to get a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in business administration.

Her motivation to get a good job stems partly from a desire to finance her younger brother’s college education. She would also like to save money to start a scholarship foundation of her own.

Concluding her valedictory address, Kabiling quoted Abraham Lincoln. “Be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

“It is not the choice of whether your path is toward college or career, but the ability to persevere along that path,” said Kabiling to a graduating class of 400 seniors. “We may part ways following our different paths, but we shall not truly be apart because we will always be drawn together by our common memories of Mt. Pleasant.”