Davies grads: Overcome obstacles, realize dreams
Class of 2018 saluted at Stadium Theatre
WOONSOCKET — Akash Shah, a senior class adviser at William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School, wanted to ensure that the Class of 2018 would not let fear prevent them from achieving their goals.
To emphasize this point, Shah referenced the rise of one of the most successful hip-hop recording artists and someone whose music is listened to by virtually every graduating senior – J. Cole.
Shah said J. Cole’s dream was to one day be an artist signed by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. Cole made a CD and waited two hours in the rain to present the music to Jay-Z, but when he tried to hand the disc to Jay-Z, he was rebuffed.
At this point, Shah said, Cole had two options: to give up music forever, because he was rejected by his idol, or to continue to pursue his dream. He chose the latter.
“If J. Cole gave up after he was initially rejected, you wouldn’t know who he is
today,” Shah said. “J. Cole didn’t let fear get in the way of his personal calling.”
“You can’t let fear prevent you from achieving your dreams…” Shah told the graduates during Monday evening’s commencement at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket. “The secret to life is to fall seven times and get up eight.”
“I wish you nothing but the best as you begin the next part of your journey. Find your passion, chase your dreams, and never give up,” he told the seniors.
Davies Director Victoria Gailliard-Garrick said as an educator with more than 40 years of experience, she’s constantly asked by people outside of her profession: “How can you do this job?”
“My response has always been this is not a job or a position, it is a mission,” Gailliard-Garrick said. “People that choose education as a profession are committed, dedicated, and enjoy working with children and young adults. The field of education, especially for teachers, can be somewhat challenging, and my colleagues in the audience would probably agree. It is challenging because times have changed, the way we educate our learners have changed.”
“In my eyes, you are all superstars … I see greatness in every one of you,” Gailliard-Garrick said.
“Every now and then, a graduating class comes along that strives to reach that height … Class of 2018, you are truly a class that has demonstrated that you have values and that you are committed to pursuing an education,” Gailliard-Garrick told the graduating seniors. “The teachers often spoke highly of you as a class that’s motivated in having the thirst for learning. They were so right.”
John Quinn of the Davies Board of Trustees said he understood that earning a high school diploma wasn’t always easy, but he was on stage to thank the graduating seniors “because life has thrown you many curveballs.”
Recently, he said, those curveballs for Davies seniors included senior portfolios, senior projects, and mandatory work-based learning. But, he said, he believed the students’ personal determination, family support, faculty assistance, and strong leadership all contributed to meeting and exceeding those goals.
“Rest assured, Davies is on the map,” Quinn said.
“We’re here tonight to launch new seniors into the next phase of their life,” Quinn said. “You have achieved much and you have much to achieve. Make the most of it. Davies has given you the tools needed to succeed.”
Valedictorian Daniel Reyes said it was a night four years in the making, but one that didn’t come easily, with times of immense stress and plenty of late-night studying. For Reyes, his was an especially challenging academic experience, saying while he was being lauded on Monday night for being named the top of his graduating class, he did not start as a “good student.”
“I would make excuse after excuse to always be absent. In almost all subjects, I was below average,” Reyes said. “Clearly, I had to try harder, but I was content with just passing by … It was not until the end of elementary school that I be- gan taking school seriously.”
Describing his younger self as a “problem-causer” who was stubborn, violent, and aggressive, Reyes eventually pushed himself to “do better and chase after my dream.”
“These high school days went by in a flash … Four short years all ending in a few moments,” he said, before telling his fellow seniors: “Whether you’re going to work or continue education, never doubt yourselves.”
Salutatorian Samuel Avila described Monday evening’s graduation ceremony as “an amazing milestone that we have all accomplished and we did together. Everyone here in their cap and gown has gone the long road that began our freshman year.”
“This is a moment that no one can ever take away from you,” he said.
“While each graduating class deserves their recognition, I especially feel honored to be a part of the Class of 2018,” he said, before later adding: “Now we take these experiences that we’ve had over the years to teach the world around us … From CNAs to electricians and everything in between, we are more prepared than ever to reinvent the world.”