Once a Spartan, always a Spartan
Strathmore graduates 63
Sixty-three seniors moved their tassels from right to left Wednesday night at Spartan Stadium during Strathmore High School’s commencement ceremony.
Students were dressed in the school’s red and blue cap and gowns and shined brighter than the stadium’s field lights and all the stars in the sky.
The shiniest star of the night was Valedictorian Teresa Alcantar.
Alcantar, who gave her speech to a crowd that packed every inch of the stadium’s bleachers, said she will always remember her time as a student at Strathmore High School and will miss everyone she met there.
“The saying that high school is one of the best times of our lives and it goes by in the blink of an eye is completely true,” Alcantar said.
Eric Morales, who gave the welcoming speech, said even though the school’s Class of 2018 have completed an important part of their lives, he noted that it is also important to keep in mind that high school is just the “beginning of our lives.”
“We need to be confident and stay focused on the next steps we take after today,” Morales said. “I am proud of myself and of my fellow classmates. I want to wish the best of luck to everyone in the graduating class of 2018.”
Litzi Morua, one of the school’s pathway completers, said she can’t believe she’s finally graduating from high school.
“The reality is starting to hit me because as I leave high school I am going to have to become an adult and move onto a different chapter of my life,” Morua said, adding that she plans on attending California State University, San Bernardino and major in biomedical chemistry.
Deeana Valero said she feels “life is really hitting me in the face.”
“But I am ready, I am glad because I am tired of high school,” said Valero, who has plans on attending Bakersfield Barber College.
Palona Luna, who plans on moving to Dallas, Texas with her sister and attending a junior college there, said her last year of high school was an exciting one.
Denise Valle, who earned a slew of awards such as being a lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation, a Seal Bearer and a Future Farmers of America (FFA) scholar, said she can’t wait to start the next chapter of her life.
“It feels wonderful,” said Valle, who has plans on majoring in criminology at California State University, Fresno with a goal of becoming a public defender. “It’s like a bigger part of my life is ahead of me.”
Itzel Solorzano said graduating from high school is an amazing feeling.
“I miss everybody that I went to school with and I know we are going to have a really good journey in front of us,” said Solorzano, who plans on becoming a registered nurse.
Alcantar said she wishes all of her classmates good luck in their future endeavors and to never forget that once a Spartan, always a Spartan.
“As we seniors move onto bigger and better things, we will always remember we are all Spartan born, Spartan bred, going to be a Spartan until the day we are dead,” Alcantar said.