Family and friends showered well wishes and tears on the robes of graduating seniors across Boulder and Broomfield counties on Saturday as the teenagers hugged those who helped them achieve the milestone.
Hundreds of students accepted diplomas Saturday from Boulder Valley School District — Centaurus High School graduates at the University of Colorado Boulder Event Center and their Broomfield High School counterparts doing so at the 1stBank Center.
Graduating seniors were also celebrated Saturday at Peak to Peak Charter School, while Nederland Middle/Senior High also honored those who were moving on.
Keeping up good grades in college, excelling in their careers and paying rent on time are all important, Centaurus Principal Daniel Ryan said, but he stressed the importance of enjoying life.
“You need to remember to have fun,” Ryan said. “Life can be tough and, believe me, the challenges never stop. However this is your world, this is your life and you absolutely deserve to be happy.”
Ryan praised this year’s senior class as one that brought a level of kindness to the school that “at time feels lost in today’s world.” He is impressed by the way students treat each other, their enthusiasm and sense of fun.
“Most of all you have brought a sense of fun and enjoyment of life that has made our school and community a better place,” Ryan said.
Keeping up good grades in college, excelling in their careers and paying rent on time are all important, he said, but he asked the class to focus on enjoying life.
“You need to remember to have fun,” he said. “Life can be tough and, believe me, the challenges never stop. However his is your world, this is your life and you absolutely deserve to be happy.”
Centaurus graduate Jessie Weise, who has wanted to speak at her high school graduation as long as she can remember, said the school provided a unique community that was more like family than classmates and teachers.
While classroom instruction is important, so were the lessons learned outside the set curriculum, she said.
“I learned honor, dedication, hard work, pride and the true meaning of family,” Weise said. “Our teachers have taught us so much more than history or math or science. They’ve taught us to be good people. Our peers have given us more than companionship. They have taught us to love people we don’t necessarily like.”
Standing at crossroads
Boulder Valley School District Superintendent Rob Anderson echoed sentiments felt around the 1stBank Center — his pride in student’s accomplishments and excitement for who the graduates will become.
“You’re about to enter a world that needs your talents, your leadership, your care, your courage,” Anderson said. “The Broomfield High class of 2019 will make a difference in this world.”
As seniors, Jillian Martin and her classmates have heard “what do you want to do? Who do you want to be?” on repeat.
Now, as they stand at these crossroads, those answers are soon to take shape.
“Some of you have known since the second grade, and some of us have changed our minds every day since the second grade,” said Martin, who graduated summa cum laude Saturday.
If 13 years of classes, electives and extracurricular activities have not inspired them to pursue a certain path, that’s OK.
“It’s up to us to go find where our curiosity leads us,” Martin said.
She quoted a Dell Technologies study that cited that 85% of this year’s graduating class will go on to fill jobs that have not yet been created.
“Twenty years ago there were no apps to develop, no artificial intelligence to build, followers to influence or Ubers to drive,” she said. “Looking forward, it is exciting to imagine the possibilities that lie ahead.”
When she first came to high school Angel Chavez remembered standing out — both in the way she dressed and her English that needed improvement — but the environment allowed her to grow and find herself.
Not everyone gets to complete their journey with a diploma, she said, and while she and her classmates worked hard, they are also fortunate to be born in this country. Saturday, she became the first in her family to graduate high school.
“My parents experienced tremendous losses and hardship,” she said. “They were not able to finish school in Mexico, but they knew America was the place for dreams to come true. My parents risked their lives to give me more than they had.”
They taught her to take nothing for granted and that she was privileged to receive an education.
Angelica Bustamante de Chavez, who only made it to the 10th grade in her school in western Mexico, struggled not to cry as she hugged her daughter.
“I’m so proud of her because I saw every day, every single day she’s working so hard,” said Bustamante de Chavez, who came to the United States in 2000.
Chavez said even though her parents may not understand everything about her going to college, they have done everything in their power to help her get there. She plans to attend the University of Northern Colorado. Ultimately she’d love to travel, be a museum curator or possibly study law.
Her passions lie in art history along with social justice issues, particularly for minority populations.
“I thank her for risking her life for me because if she didn’t cross the border, if she didn’t make sacrifices, I wouldn’t be here today,” she said.
If you goWhat: Boulder Valley high school graduationsWhen/Where:Fairview High at noon Sunday at the 1STBANK Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane., BroomfieldBoulder High at 7 p.m. Sunday at the CU Event Center, 950 Regent Drive, BoulderJustice High at noon Wednesday at the Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road, BroomfieldArapahoe Campus at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Fairview High School auditorium, 515 Greenbriar Blvd., BoulderBoulder Prep at 9:30 a.m. Friday at The Chateaux at Fox Meadows, 13600 Xavier Ln., Broomfield
New Vista High at 10 a.m. May 25 at Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder
