2021 graduates overcome obstacles, have hope for the future
Looking back, if 2020 demonstrated anything, it is to expect the unexpected and hold onto the positives in one’s life, which is what many 2021 graduating seniors are doing after witnessing the turmoil that 2020’s graduating class faced during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Houston-area high school and college graduates possess a very optimistic outlook for the future and moving forward with their lives, wherever that leads.
High school students had a year of uncertainty, but persevered through the turmoil of the continuing pandemic.
Kashmere High School graduates Nicholas McDermott, 17, Kayla Pineda, 18, and 18-year-old Alejandra Guadalupe Rodriguez are focused on their aspirations for future success.
McDermott’s current plans include earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science, teaching technology in a low-income community, and finally earning a master’s degree in school administration. The ultimate goal is to obtain his doctorate in education.
Starting the year virtually allowed McDermott to complete college applications and have more self-care, he explained, adding that his senior year was good with regard to extracurricular activities.
“I helped my peers with classwork and built better relationships. My senior year was what I expected it to be. I would have liked to have had (even) more student interaction both academically, socially and in extracurricular activities,” said McDermott.
Taking her education to the next level, Pineda will be attending the University of Texas and will major in business. With restrictions, and canceled festivities, she’s glad they got “to experience something.”
“I was disappointed that I wouldn’t have the full senior year experience, but I’m grateful that I was able to get a better experience than the last class. My advice for the Class of 2022 is to get your mind and self together for the upcoming year because time will fly faster than you think,” she said.
Rodriguez, who’s headed to Wellesley College to study aeronautical engineering or astrophysics, said online school was “hard to adjust to,” and decided attending in person was best for her. She later participated in Miss Kashmere and won, as well as competed in the JROTC district-level competition virtually. She also
“… I’m grateful that I was able to get a better experience than the last class. My advice for the Class of 2022 is to get your mind and self together for the upcoming year because time will fly faster than you think.” Kashmere High School grad Kayla Pineda
maintained position as No. 1 in the class.
“Coming to school allowed me to visualize my senior year,” Rodriguez said. “I was fearful that graduating on a stage would be impossible. I didn’t want my year to end without senior activities. I am forever grateful our school will have a prom and senior activities,” Rodriguez said.
Others have their eye on future endeavors, including Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) graduate Avery Noelle Garig, 18, who will be attending New York University, studying film and TV
production at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Garig decided to enjoy life “with a face mask or not,” she said. Garig said she and classmates took advantage of the opportunity to be in person, whatever the pandemic requirements ended up being.
“If that meant we had to mask up, that’s what we’d do,” Garig said. “In a strange way, I found the pandemic forced a surge of creativity to find a way to enjoy a year so different from the past. From creating virtual videos, auctions or lessons, it forced a new reality that went with my hobby of filmmaking.”
Garig’s theater involvement at St. Thomas High School (STHS) was limited, but they created Radio Plays, replacing their fall performance.
In March 2021, they returned to the stage with Godspell to a limited audience. She also adapted by offering her skills to the community.
“Because the new reality was virtual, I utilized my filmmaking skills. From creating a series of episodes for the STHS Roundup Fundraiser, student council campaigns to IWA’s History Assembly for our Foundation Day celebration, I felt called and excited to help,” she said.
Garig focused on making the year memorable.
“It wasn’t about finding our way around masks or restrictions, it was about embracing them, moving forward, and appreciating the little things even if they weren’t stereotypically how I envisioned the moments. You deserve to give yourself a chance to reach for your greatest dreams,” Garig said.
Another grad, Tori Jenkins, 18, attended the Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center and plans to attend a four-year college. She said the insecurity starting the school year affected her.
“It was hard going in not knowing and dealing with the COVID issue,” Jenkins said.
Once the year began, she regained her faith, and overall, the future looked bright on the horizon.
“It was different in the beginning with a little bit of time to catch up to, but I caught on around this time. (My advice) is to be prepared and always be on task, but to enjoy,” Jenkins said.
On the collegiate front, San Jacinto College - South Campus graduate Sadokat Khakimova, 20, has plans to finish her bachelor’s degree in computer science at a four-year college followed by getting a master’s degree in machine learning.
Khakimova said coping with online classes was challenging, even though she has previous virtual experience. However, participating in virtual activities with Phi Theta Kappa and the student government association allowed her to stay connected, she added.
“I participated in Emerging Leadership conferences, regional conferences, and hosted virtual book and hygiene donation drives that donated to the HAY Center,” she said.
Though the fear of not finishing school as successfully as she liked or getting the full student experience stayed ever-present, Khakimova said her last year ended as “eventful, productive and educational.”
“It always seems impossible until it is done,” she said. “I advise others to stay focused, do not let fears define you, and utilize resources available on and off campus. It’s important to meditate, self-reflect, and take care of mental health.”
For more, visit chron.com/grads.
“In a strange way, I found the pandemic forced a surge of creativity to find a way to enjoy a year so different from the past.”
Avery Noelle Garig
Incarnate Word Academy graduate