Calipatria grads onto next journey
CALIPATRIA — During their graduation ceremony, all 84 Calipatria High School seniors were instructed by their principal Joe Derma to reach for a bag hidden under their seats.
To their surprise, each Calipatria graduate found a rock that was hand-picked during their trip to Catalina earlier in the year. This would act as the basis for Derma’s congratulatory speech to his students Friday at Veteran’s Field here.
Derma advised each member of the Class of 2017 to continue with their lives in the similar fashion as a rock, staying solid academically and resilient to any troubles they make face in life.
With a majority of the class being under the advisory of Derma since middle school, the principal expressed he was confident in the future of his long-time students.
“They’re a unique, strong class. It was an honor and privilege knowing them for eight years,” stated Derma, who also proudly noted during his speech that school earned the honored distinction of a Gold Ribbon School and was recognized as a Title I Achievement School thanks to this year’s class.
Followed were speeches from class Salutatorians Sarai Plata Ramos and Norma Damian Vilchez and an address from Valedictorian Elena Castro in which she explained her love for Calipatria High and how it shaped her as a person.
“I’m glad that this chapter in my life is finally over for me and I’m glad I get to graduate with this class because through everything, we all became one,” stated the valedictorian, who plans to attend the University of California in Los Angeles to study psychology.
Castro was also part of the Highest Honors in her class, along with classmates Rodrigo Del Real, Jazmin Juarez-Alvarado, Sarai Plata Ramos, Victor Ortiz, Norma Vilchez and Danielle Flores graduating with a grade point average of 4.0 and above.
Castro’s classmate Erika Escobar is also prepared for her next step in life’s journey, with her sights set beyond graduation.
“I’m excited for high school to be over but I feel like I’m ready to take on the next chapter in my life” said Escobar, who plans to take a different route in life than her classmate Castro and serve in the U.S. Air Force, as she has been inspired by her sister to do so.
“From the experiences she’s shared with me, I felt like that was something that I would like to pursue ever since the eighth grade,” explained Escobar on her sister’s influence to join the military.