KIPP University Prep High School

Hello, families, friends, teachers and any honored guests present, and welcome to our graduation ceremony for the class of 2021.

Congratulations y’all, we did it. My name is Maria Chipres and

I’m proud to say that I’m a firstgeneration, undocumented student, going to college on a full-ride scholarship. KIPP has provided me not only with doors to open, but the skills necessary to open them as well. The International Baccalaureate program is not for the weak and even though my classmates and I complained and struggled for those two years, it didn’t kill us. We won because we’re sitting here today.

Yes, it came with headaches, breakdowns and sleep deprivation, but we made it through. Like the typical immigrant story, my parents and I came here with absolutely nothing but the clothes on our backs, a small bag, and their dreams of a better life. I did not let the doors close on me. I worked hard to make my parents proud and if it weren’t for them, my life could have gone down a different road. My family kept me grounded and I look at where I am and where started, and it’s amazing what a couple of years can do.

I’m lucky enough to be standing here on this stage, graduating not only during a pandemic but as valedictorian of this class, and I say this with great pride. It was not easy writing thousands of word essays, making graphs for a math essay, or conducting a lab for biology, when just years ago I could barely speak English. More and more Hispanics

are getting the chance to earn a higher education and it’s vital that we continue to grow as una raza to make the changes we want to see in society. I’m not another statistic; I’m skewing the script.

COVID has taught me to expect the unexpected. Change and adaptation is something that most of us have learned this past year and a half and it’s something I believe we should take with us during these next few years. We have to be aware of our surroundings and be prepared to take on what life throws at us. Wherever we end up going, we must adapt, we need to learn from others, grow from obstacles and change for the better.

We should go into life being openminded, opening our arms to new people, trying new foods, making new memories, seeing new places – and just overall having amazing adventures, because we deserve it!

We deserve to enjoy our youth, but we must also be responsible enough to know the difference between enjoying life and endangering our future for a couple of “fun” seconds. We’re going to mess up and that’s a fact, but it’s the way we pick ourselves up again that makes a difference.

We’re KIPPsters at heart and I know personally, I’m going to take our seven character traits with me throughout college and life.

Grit, zest, self-control, optimism, gratitude, social intelligence and curiosity were key traits since 5th grade and as cheesy as they might have been, they really paved the way for the 10-year-olds that we were.

Grit taught me to finish what I started and do it in the best way possible. Zest taught me to put a little spice in everything I do; I have to enjoy everything I do. Self-control – well that’s pretty self-explanatory. I’ve learned to be patient, whether it’s with others or myself, but it’s also taught me to advocate when the time is right. Optimism taught me to look at the cup half full. Not everything in life will be convenient, but we have to make do with what we have. I am also super grateful for everything that I have both earned and been given in life. Thank you to my teachers, to my parents, my friends, and everyone who saw the light in me and pushed me to be my best. My gratitude to you all, thank you. Social intelligence has been very useful in how I communicate with people both in school and work. Especially work. People can be difficult, and I know this because I can be too, but we have to cooperate and be better as a society. Why socialize if not to better ourselves? And finally, curiosity.

Inquisitive is a word I’ve always loved. The want for more. Sort of like ambition, but no. Ask questions, look for answers, that’s what life is all about. Now that we hit the state of liminality, we must brace ourselves. This is only the beginning and the best is yet to come. I wish you all nothing but the best in life and

I’m so grateful for what KIPP has gotten us through. Despite a global pandemic, we really did this.

Honestly, y’all don’t know how proud I am of y’all and I say this with all my heart. I love you seniors so much! I love and appreciate our teachers and staff, and all the hard work they’ve been putting into our education not only throughout our high school experience, but previous classes and more classes to come. And a huge thank you to my parents. Los quiero mucho. I’m going to miss you all, but this is not it. And with this final goodbye, I truly hope that you find satisfaction in life, in your career, in your job, in the Army or Marines, in your partner, friends and family. Thank you for contributing to my high school experience. I hope I have contributed to yours as well. Once again, thank you and congratulations.

Maria Chipres is the valedictorian of KIPP University Prep’s class of 2021. After graduation Maria is headed to Hamilton College in Clinton, New York on a full ride through the elite Questbridge scholarship. She will pursue the liberal arts curriculum and is torn between psychopharmacology and becoming an author.