A NEW CHAPTER
Attired in blue and white gowns, Vacaville Christian High School's Class of 2022 took its final steps on campus, received diplomas and prepared to go out into the world and conquer it.
For some, the educational journey at VCS was longer than others. Thursday's ceremony had a mix of students who had been at the school before they could even walk and those who had only been attending for a few short years. Nonetheless, for all the graduates, it was a journey filled with faith, friendships and preparation for the future.
In her opening remarks, Principal Terra Golden highlighted the momentous milestone for all.
“A graduation ceremony is always such a special occasion,” she said. “It is a culmination of years of hard work, the actualization of goals attained and the acknowledgement of successes achieved. So, it is only fitting that tonight we come together to celebrate the end of a road we have all walked together.”
Golden said the journey has not been without challenges. Unlike graduating classes of the past, VCS students had to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and all the obstacles that came with it. In the fall of 2020, VCS reopened its campus for in-person learning but with restrictions. When school resumed again in the fall of 2021, students returned to a year mostly filled with normalcy but with thorough cleaning of classrooms to adhere with the California Department of Public Health guidelines.
“There have been curves that have brought us to incredible heights,” Golden said. “There have been bends that have brought us through lows. There have been successes and there have been trials. We all remember navigating through COVID, but no matter the obstacle, we have soldiered on and come out stronger in preparation for this moment. I would venture to say that we have created memories that will be fondly remembered in the years
ahead.”
Student Council President Laura Everett said the ceremony was a commemoration of how far students have come and how much they have grown.
“The time that we've all been here at VCS, whether that's been since preschool in the EE department or from back in the fall of this year, has undoubtedly helped develop each of us into the people we are today, thanks to the formative environment of this school, and the care of those in the community around us,” she said.
Everett said she started VCS as “an extremely shy 9-year-old” but has grown into “a young lady with a foundation that's centered on God, who is speaking to hundreds of people.”
“I know that this degree of growth has only been possible through the experiences, education, mentorship and friendships I have been able to experience here at VCS,” she said.
Everett also praised her peers for overcoming obstacles.
“The challenges we've all faced, big or small, have helped shape us into the people we are today,” she said. “Whether these challenges have been passing a seemingly impossible test, playing our heart out in athletics or trying to each find our own path, the real victories against these challenges is the fact that we never gave up. From figuring out online school to coming back to full speed after a three month hiatus, we could not be stopped.”
Ben Davis, head of schools, recalled when
he knew that the Class of 2022 would be a memorable one. It occurred at the school's Spiritual Retreat, where the students created an infomercial denouncing animal abuse that featured the students dressed as animals and Sarah McLachlan's “Angel,” which received newfound popularity when it was used in a series of ASPCA commercials, playing in the background.
“When that song played, I had a feeling our seniors were going to be a special group this year,” he said.
Throughout the year, other talents became apparent.
“It has been a pleasure to get to know you as you've grown in your academics, your character and your faith,” Davis said. “I'm thrilled that we have this opportunity today to honor you, and I'm confident that the Lord has a special plan for each of your lives.”
The ceremony was also a showcase of the students' artistic talents, from the VCS Radio Symphony performing “Pomp and Circumstance” as the seniors walked to their seats to graduating senior Josiah Kim singing the national anthem to the VCHS Choir performing “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra to the Radio Symphony performing excerpts from Antonin Dvorak's “New Symphony.”
Salutatorian Joshua Giracca encouraged his fellow graduates to try to live a life without regrets.
“Don't look back knowing you could have done better,” he said. “Do better. Strive to be better now. As we venture forth into our new lives, we have a divine opportunity to do just that. It won't be easy, especially in a world as corrupt as the one we live in, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to.”
Valedictorian Kaden Connelley delivered a humorous address talking about how much has changed in the last four years from “arguing with Ms. (Danielle) Black about how much homework she should assign in freshman English to arguing with Ms. Black about how much homework she should assign in AP Lang” to “(taking) up considerably less space in the hallways” despite being four years older.
Still, Connelley said plenty has stayed the same. He summed it up by quoting a lyric from Drake, whom he referred to as a “celebrated street poet and philosopher”: “Started from the bottom, now we're here/ Started from the bottom, now the whole team here.”
“Class of 2022, we're all still here, and we're all this close to finishing out this monumental journey,” he said, “a journey that is legally required of us by the California compulsory education law!”
Connelley's parting advice was to “Continue to pursue your talents, and I think you'll make good things happen.”