Alyson N. Buchino Autumn Geer Abigail B. Hernandez Andrew M. Wolf
“Thanks to all my teachers
for encouraging,
suppor�ng, and helping me
this year. I will especially
miss Mrs. Adriance and
Mrs. Ramsdell.”
“I thank all of the friends I
have made here, and all of
the teachers for helping
me through the rough
�mes. Because of them, I
am a stronger person.”
“Nothing in my life will
ever ma#er unless you
do it with passion,
drive, and that you will
do whatever it takes to
become who you want
to be.”
“This day, the next, a
hundred years, it’s
nothing! It’s a
heartbeat.”
-Loki
Bailey S. Jackson
Nicole A. Anderson
Brett M. MacNeal
Alyssia Perez
“I'll make it to the moon if I have to
crawl.”- Red Hot Chili Peppers
“ I am happy and thankful to be
here this evening. I would like
to thank my family, friends, and
teachers for the
encouragement and making
this moment possible because I
never thought I would make it
so far. Finally, we made it class
of 2015! Happy Birthday
mom!”
“I am glad its over, its
been a very long road.
I am so happy to close
this chapter of my
life.”
“Dream as if you’ll live
forever, live as if you’ll
die today.”
Gradua�ng but not pictured are:
Angel L. Carter: “Thank you to all of the amazing teachers who made it possible for me to achieve greatness through gradu-
a�ng. You are all wonderful and I will miss you a lot.”
Aus�n J. Taylor: “Perfec�on is blind, but greatness takes �me.
Seniors, we made it!!!”
Breeanna M. Nufer Dequarion M. Brown Brookelyn Skillman Brandon W.P. Parsons
“I never thought this day
would come, but I am
happy that it is and I’d like
to thank my son for being
my mo�va�on for wan�ng
to finish.”
I just want to thank
everybody at Portage
Community High School
for helping me succeed.
You guys encouraged me,
built me up, and you were
my founda�on!
“Th-Th-Th-Thats all folks!” “In all my perplexi�es and
distresses, the Bible has never
failed to give me light and
strength.”
Gradua�ng but not pictured are:
Bradley M. Ailes: “Fake it �ll you make it.”
Brian K. Lang: “You know what they say, not my chair, not my problem.”
Mossiyia C. Sterling
Curtis D. Marshall
Christian B. Rogenski
“I finally made it! Thanks to everyone that
pushed me, even all my teachers who could-
n't remember my name lol. Thanks also to my
family and friends.” “I would like to thank my
brothers, family, and
teachers for not giving up on
me even though I wanted to
give up on myself. Without
y’all I could not see myself
making it, thank you.”
“I just wanted to say thanks to all the
amazing teachers I had the pleasure of
mee�ng. I am grateful for all you have done
to help me graduate; don’t miss me too
much, I feel the good �mes coming.”
Gradua�ng but not pictured are:
Dennis J. King: “I want to thank all the teach-
ers that bent over backwards to get me my
work all the �me so I would pass my classes.”
Elaine N. Huse: “ If there’s empty spaces in
your heart, they'll make you think it’s wrong,
like having empty spaces, means you can
never be strong, But I’ve learnt that all these
spaces means there's room enough to grow.”
-Ernest Hemingway
Life isn’t about waiting Life isn’t about waiting Life isn’t about waiting Life isn’t about waiting
for the storm to pass. It’s for the storm to pass. It’s for the storm to pass. It’s for the storm to pass. It’s
about learning to dance about learning to dance about learning to dance about learning to dance
in the rain. in the rain. in the rain. in the rain.
Delorena M. Carlton Dominic S. Jacobs David M. Cox Dakota Lask
“I am so happy to have
finally graduated. I s�ll
cannot believe I made it this
far. It seems only
yesterday I was a
freshman. Thank you all so
much and I will miss you.”
“Always remember that you
are zero percent what peo-
ple think of you and one
hundred percent who you
are.”
“I would like to thank my
family and friends for their
undying support over the
last 3 years.”
“I thank all my friends and
the staff at Community
High for helping through
school. Life is rough, but
nothing is impossible.”
Gradua�ng but not pictured are:
Elizabeth Gallegos: “Thanks to all the
Community High staff and also Krista for giving me the opportunity to make this happen. To my family who also helped me to
get through this, I love you. I did it, 2015!”
Jordan S. McIntosh: “There’s nothing but space and opportunity.”
DeAundrea E. Harris
Dustin L. McCoy
David A. Pinto
“I would like to thank everyone who will be
at gradua�on. This wouldn't have been
possible for me if I didn't have the
encouragement from all of them. Also con-
grats to everyone walking with me, and
good luck to you all in your life’s journey.”
“I live my life a quarter mile
at a �me. For those ten
seconds or less I’m free,
nothing else ma#ers.”
“I wanna thank my mother for pushing me to
do good in school and also the staff and Miss
Pa#y and Miss Krista. Without them, I
wouldn't be geCng my diploma. They
helped a lot.”
Gradua�ng but not pictured are:
Alannah A. Needham: “Thank you to CoHS for giving me a second chance.”
Jasmine Muhammad: “I never would have thought I’d be gradua�ng thanks to friends, family, and teachers for helping me
through these years and all your support and encouragement. Congrats to class of 2015! Hugs and kisses!”
Deoneis L. Riddle Jalen E. Hooper Justice L. Pyle Eunique F. Glover
“Just stay humble, the
nega�ves will always
fade with �me. Life is ten
percent what happens to
you; the other ninety
percent is all aCtude.”
“Thank God for my son,
because he mo�vated me to
get my life back on track.
Now I can show him to never
give up, if you fall, then get
back up.”
“I would like to thank my
family, my friends, and
my teachers for making
my gradua�on possible. I
never thought I would
make it this far. I am also
very thankful for my
counselor, Miss
Krista.”
“I would like to thank
everyone who helped me
get to this day, especially
my family and those who
are like my family to me.”
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Don’t wait for the perfect moment.
Take the moment you have and make it perfect. Take the moment you have and make it perfect. Take the moment you have and make it perfect. Take the moment you have and make it perfect.
----Zoey SaywardZoey SaywardZoey SaywardZoey Sayward
Jaylan L. Whitley Kelsey A. Thompson
Justice M. Anderson Emily H. Dopson
“I would like to thank
my family, friends,
soDball and volleyball
teams, coaching staff,
and teachers for
making this day
possible.”
“So proud of how far we
have come. Some of us may
not have imagined this
coming, but here we are.”
“Everyone worked so hard to be right
where we are, but this is only the start
to a longer journey.”
“Not all treasure is
silver and gold, mate.”
-Captain Jack Sparrow
Gradua�ng but not pictured are:
Joshua E. VanOstran: “I’m glad I’m done and don't have to come
back! Thanks to everyone who helped me get here.”
Krista Erskine: “I had my mind set on dropping out because I didn't
feel like I was meant for school and I didn't care to graduate, but I’m
here because I was lucky enough to have such a wonderful counse-
lor, and because my parents always push me to do be#er and to
keep going. Thank you mom, dad, and Krista for helping me so
much along the way; I wouldn't care to be here if it weren't for you
guys.”
Rachel E. Bolton Matthew W. Clark Sierra K. Stevens Sydney E. Willi
“I never thought I would
make it, but the dedica�on
and mo�va�on I have this
year is unlike me any other
year and I finally made it.”
“I would like to thank
my friends and family
for helping me to get to
this point in my life. I
am very thankful for
everyone’s help here at
Community High.”
“We have all been dreaming
of this moment, and now we
can begin our journey into
the new chapter of our
lives.”
“Don't say that you don't
have enough �me. You have
exactly the same number of
hours in the day that were
given to Helen Keller, Gan-
dhi, Michelangelo, and Al-
bert Einstein, so now it’s
our turn to somehow do
something amazing.”
Kasey L. Perry
Taccarra K. Bailey
Michael A. Carlton
“You've been given this life because YOU
are strong enough to handle it! Don’t let
anybody tell you different. Thank you to all
the CoHS Staff for a great experience,
family, and friends. I love you all!” “Good luck to the class of
2015. We finally did it, and I
wish all the best in life and
future. May God bless
everyone. I would like to
thank everyone that believed
in me and supported me
through my struggle.”
“There is nothing outside of yourself that can
ever enable you to get be#er, stronger, richer,
quicker, or smarter. Everything is within.
Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of
yourself.”
You were given You were given You were given You were given
this life because this life because this life because this life because
you were strong you were strong you were strong you were strong
enough to live it. enough to live it. enough to live it. enough to live it.
Stop looking back.Stop looking back.Stop looking back.Stop looking back.
You’re not going that You’re not going that You’re not going that You’re not going that
way.way.way.way.
Tetchiana N. Anderson Randy L. Sivley
Tristen J. Gunnett
Tyler E. Tramel “You’re only born with a li#le
spark of madness, and you
mustn't ever lose it.”
- Robin Williams
“ I am so happy to be
gradua�ng, it has been a long
and tough road but I did it, and
now I am ready for the next
chapter in my life.”
“With a li#le elbow
grease and God’s
blessing, anything is
possible.” “Courage is not the
absence of fear, but rather
the judgment that there is
something more important
than that fear. Life’s too
short not to take chances.”
Gradua�ng but not pictured are:
Selena Yanez: “First of all, I want to thank CoHS and all the teachers and counselors I got to
work with to get my work done and pass my classes. I also want to thank my family. Good luck
class of 2015; achieve your goals!”
Shane L. Huver: “Thank you to all the people that supported me so I could get to this point.”
Travis J. Morren: “You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate
who will remain loyal to the end.” -Bob Marley
Trevian D. Lewis: “No more waking up at six AM!”
Haley Templeton John M. LaClair-Helmuth
James Neal Chris Noel “I would like to thank my family,
boyfriend, and teachers for making
my gradua�on possible. Without
your support and encouragement, I
would not be here. Congrats class of
2015! We did it!”
“I would like to thank my recruiter
for kicking me in the bu# when I
needed the mo�va�on.” “I would like to thank
Krista, Mrs. Swank, my
mother, father, and also
my grandmother for
believing in my being
able to graduate. I
would also like to thank
Susie, Kimo, Kahea, and
Maile for everything
that they have done for
me in the past few
months.”
“I'm hankering for a
chunk of cheese.”
Go confidently in the direction of your Go confidently in the direction of your Go confidently in the direction of your Go confidently in the direction of your
dreams; live the life you’ve always dreams; live the life you’ve always dreams; live the life you’ve always dreams; live the life you’ve always
imagined.imagined.imagined.imagined.
----Henry David ThoreauHenry David ThoreauHenry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau
Luke T. Peebles Nicholas T. Rance Breanne T.D. Lemmer Andy Pena
“I want to say thank
you to all the staff.
Without this school
I wouldn't be
making it to this
day.”
“Here’s to the real start! I
am love and I will splooge
it all over you!”
“It’ll be alright.” “Thank you to my
amazing mom who has
given me so much
support throughout my
high school years. With-
out you I wouldn't have
made it this far.”
Academic Top Ten
1. Deoneis Riddle
2. Sierra Stevens
3. Tristen Gunnett
4. Tyler Tramel
5. Jalen Hooper
6. Nick Rance
7. Sydney Willi
8. Dennis King
9. Brian Lang
10.Christian Rogenski
Academic Excellence Gold
Cords
Brad Ailes, Nicole Anderson,
Alyson Buchino, Angel Carter,
Emily Dopson, Autumn Geer,
Tristen Gunnett, Jalen
Hooper, Dominic Jacobs,
Dennis King, Brian Lang,
Curtis Marshall, Brandon
Parsons, Andy Pena, Kasey
Perry, Nick Rance, Christian
Rogenski, Brookelyn
Skillman, Sierra Stevens, Tyler
Tramel, Josh VanOstran,
Jaylan Whitley, Sydney Willi,
and Andrew Wolf.
Michigan State
University Journalism
Honor Cords
Dominic Jacobs
Nicole Anderson
Brian Lang
Jalen Hooper
and Andrew Wolf
Spi�ire Student News Staff: Nicole Anderson, Mike
Carlton, Autumn Geer, Tristen Gunne#, Jalen Hooper,
Dominic Jacobs, Brian Lang, Brandon Parsons, Josh
VanOstran, and Andrew Wolf
EFE/EFA: Tyler Tramel and Dus�n McCoy
Teenage Parents: Jus�ce Anderson, Tetchiana Ander-
son, Taccarra Bailey, Rae Bolton, Elizabeth Gallegos,
Eunique Glover, Abigail Hernandez, Baley Jackson, Da-
kota Lash, Brianna Lore, Bre# Mac Neal, Breeanna
Nufer, Randy Sivley, and Selena Yanez
So�ball: Brad Ailes, Rachel Bolton, Mike Carlton, Ma#
Clark, Jalen Hooper, Dennis King, Breanne Lemmer,
Brandon Parsons, Andy Pena, and Brookelyn Skillman
Volleyball: Brad Ailes, Alyson Buchino, Jalen Hooper,
Shane Huver, Breanne Lemmer, Jordan McIntosh, Jas-
mine Muhammad, Chris Noel, Alannah Needham,
Brookelyn Skillman, and Sierra Stevens
A�er School Program: Mike Carlton, Delorena Carlton,
Dre Harris, Jalen Hooper, Brookelyn Skillman, and
Jaylan Whitley
Outstanding Art Student: Deoneis Riddle and Emily Dopson
Outstanding Science Student: Tyler Tramel and Brookelyn Skillman
Outstanding Spi�ire News Contributor: Andrew Wolf
Most Improved Behavior: Andy Pena and Kasey Perry
PBIS Award: Tyler Tramel and Brookelyn Skillman
Most Improved Academic Behavior: Tyler Tramel and Rachel Bolton
Outstanding Math Student: Deoneis Riddle and Rachel Bolton
Outstanding E2020 Student: Deoneis Riddle and Brookelyn Skillman
Outstanding PE Student: Deoneis Riddle and Breanne Lemmer
Scholar Athlete Award: Jalen Hooper and Sierra Stevens
Athle3c Leadership Award: Jalen Hooper and Brookelyn Skillman
Outstanding Social Studies Student: Brian Lang and Rachel Bolton
Outstanding English Student: Bradley Ailes and Emily Dopson
Most Improved A4endance Award: Ma4hew Clark and Abigail Hernandez
Best A4endance: Nick Rance, David Cox, and Sierra Stevens
I, Alyssia Marie Perez, leave my ability to never give up as well as my effort to all Community High students.
I, Baley Jackson, leave my ability to get good grades and be here to all students at Community High.
I Jasmine Muhammad, leave my blessings and happiness to all my friends: Rasheen, Dearia, Diamond, Makayla and Alyssia, I love you guys.
I, Josh VanOstran, don’t leave my swag because I need that to get all the ladies.
I, Abigail Hernandez, leave my ability to go to school even when things in your life are complicated to all teen parents. If I did it, you can do it
too.
I, Alyson Buchino, leave my smile to the future students of Community High.
I, Andy Pena, leave my wise words to all the students.
I, Andy Wolf, leave ten dollars hidden under something in the journalism room…. to whomever finds it.
I, Angel Carter, leave my posi�ve outlook and courage to Anessa Read.
I, Aus�n Taylor, leave my ability to stay on task, complete all my work, stay focused, and graduate to all my friends at Community High.
I, Autumn Geer, leave a reminder that nothing can hold you back, not even yourself, and hope that those words give you peace throughout
the year to those who s�ll have the long journey ahead of them.
I, Bradley Ailes, leave my ability to tolerate students to all community high teachers.
I, Breanne Lemmer, leave all my crea�vity for you to pick through to find yourself.
I, Bre# MacNeal, leave my decisiveness, wisdom, and live humor to any and every person trying to succeed in life.
I, Brian Lang, leave my legacy as a good student and school skipper to the kids who need some more experience in life.
I, Brookelyn Skillman, leave my ability to be incredibly awesome, loud, and quirky to all the staff.
I, Dakota Lash, leave my ability to do mass amounts of work in a short �me to all Community High students.
I, David Cox, leave my humor to the future students of Community High.
I, Delorena Carlton, leave my posi�ve aCtude and ability to always see the posi�ve outcome to the rest of Community High.
I, Dennis King, leave my swaggy ways of coming late and leaving early and s�ll gradua�ng to the class of 2016.
I, Deoneis Lee Riddle, leave my mo�va�on and success to my li#le brother, Isaiah Erskine.
I, Dequarion Brown, leave my ability to work, travel a long distance to get to school, and s�ll manage to graduate to all future students.
I, Dominic Jacobs, leave my posi�ve aCtude and ability to overcome all struggles to all students who struggle too.
I, Dre Harris, leave my ability to get along with my peers to all Community High students.
I, Elizabeth Gallegos, leave my ability to be on �me, pass all my classes, and a#end KVCC to Community High students.
I, Emily Dopson, leave my ability to procras�nate un�l the end of the term and s�ll pass classes while doing it to Amanda Lagrow.
I, Eunique Glover, leave my wonderful counselor Miss Krista to all the new kids.
I, Haley Templeton, leave my love and ability to get through high school to all Community High school students.
I, Jalen Hooper, leave my love for everyone to the underclassmen.
I, Jaylen Whitley, leave my sarcas�c sense of humor to Dawn, who is always happy no ma#er what kind of day it is.
I, John LaClair, leave my mental tenacity and ability to push myself at the end of each quarter to future procras�nators everywhere.
I, Jordan McIntosh, leave nothing: you have to get it how you live it, on your own.
I, Jus�ce Anderson, leave my crea�vity and ability to overcome any challenge to all students that a#end Community High.
I, Jus�ce Pyle, leave my ability to keep my head through the stress and hard �mes to all CoHS students.
I, Kasey Perry, leave my ability to be a self-mo�vated and hard-working honor roll student to all the future graduates of Portage Community
High school.
I, Kelsey Thompson, leave my ability to show up for school and get my work done to students at Community High.
I, Luke Peebles, leave my ability to make Mr. Hinga smile every day to all of the hallway wanderers of Community High.
I, Ma#hew Clark, leave my ability to play soDball to all my teammates.
I, Mike Carlton, leave my ability to fall asleep in class to Community High.
I, Mossiyia Sterling, leave my ability to be on �me and report to all classes and finish all assignments to all future students.
I, Nicole Anderson, leave my wit and weirdness to those who remain in school once I'm gone.
I, Rae Bolton, leave my ability to come to school regardless of my life struggles and hardhips to all students at Portage Community.
I, Selena Yanez, leave my mo�va�on, no ma#er how hard life can get, to all Community High School students.
I, Sierra Stevens, leave my selflessness to the student body; may your journey be as great as mine.
I, Sydney Willi, leave my aCtude and hard-headedness to over achieve in everything school and life related to the class of 2016.
I, Travis Morren, leave my ability to be tardy but s�ll in school to my fellow students.
I, Treyvian Lewis, leave my ability to fall asleep in class and s�ll turn in
work to all Community High students.
I, Tristen James Gunne#, leave my strength to face my fears with courage
and grace to those I love and am leaving behind.
I, Tyler Tramel, leave my belt to all the people that can’t keep their pants
up.
I, Randy Sivley, leave my good a#endance in every class to Taylor Schmidt.
I, Taccarra Bailey, leave my ability to stay on track and graduate to all the
students of Community High.
I, Tetchiana Niara Anderson, leave my ability to make everyone laugh to
every future class clown at Community High.
Not pictured: Class Clown, Brett MacNeal and Jasmine Muhammad
• Congratula�ons you made it! As you move to the next chapter in your life have faith in yourself that you can achieve
wonderful things because we KNOW that you can. Good luck! Lots of love, Mrs. Treharne
• In life, we all have walls that block our path. Climbing these walls are what propels us forward. With each wall, you
become stronger, more confident, and more equipped for the world that awaits you. You have all conquered walls in
your lives to get to where you are today… Gradua�on. For this you should be proud. But another wall is on its way and
you must move forward. Approach it swiDly with the self-belief, self-reliance, and knowledge that you are ready for
anything….your future awaits you. Best of luck, Ms. Swank
• Eleanor Roosevelt said, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” We all believe in you,
now the only thing that remains is for YOU to believe in you. Start today. Fondly and with great love, Mrs. Thorpe.
• “Your �me is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your
own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intui�on." - Spoken by Steve Jobs,
dedicated to the senior class by Mrs. Rowlson :)
• “Every worthy act is difficult. Ascent is always difficult. De-
scent is easy and oDen slippery. “ from Mahatma Gandhi,
dedicated to the seniors by Mrs. Adriance
• Dawn encourages, “You are completely responsible for your
life, if you think circumstances can stop you. Realize that a
li#le courage and self discipline can put you past them.”
• Mr. Jasiak says, “Stay commi#ed to your decisions but flexi-
ble in your approach.”
• Seniors, the following sums up my feelings when I was working on my teaching degree. Keep this is mind as you work
toward your future: “In response to those who say to stop dreaming and face reality, I say keep dreaming and make reality."
Quote by Kris�an Kan, advice from Mrs. Relken
• Mr. Ballen�ne reminds you that, “Success is not measured by the things we collect or own. It is measured by the things we
leave behind. Life is a circle.”
• Mr. Vigil shares, “Seniors, I advise you to listen carefully the moment you decide to stop learning. You might be able to hear
the sound of closing doors.”
• Mr. Hinga says, “Congratula�ons to those of you who have discovered the benefits of applying yourself to be the best you
can be. That skill will pay huge dividends in the future. Others of you have chosen routes that will make your future more
difficult.”
• It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. Remember, you never lose if you try, you either win or learn
from the experience. I will miss you all
and your unique giDs and look forward
to what's next for each of you. Please
keep in touch! ~Mrs. O~
• Sharon says, “Be proud of your
accomplishments and don’t se#le for
second best...you have what it takes to
con�nue to be successful!”
• "It's not what you look at that ma#ers,
it's what you see." Quote by Henry
David Thoreau, dedicated the senior
class by Ms. Ha.
• Andrew Wolf will spend the en3re summer on Ne�lix in denial about the fact
that he has grown up before a4ending KVCC in the fall to study Photography
and Media Arts.
• Autumn Geer will con3nue working at McDonalds and start at KVCC in the fall
for, “who knows what.”
• Brandon Parsons has already scheduled classes at Great Lakes Bible College,
where he will study to become a pastor and missionary.
• Breanna Nufer is uncertain of her plans and is wai3ng to see what the future
has in store.
• Brookelyn Skillman hopes to become a car designer.
• Dominic Jacobs is considering a4ending KVCC, but he is not sure what to study.
• Dus3n McCoy wants to con3nue working and eventually become an auto mechanic.
• Jalen Hooper plans on working while a4ending KVCC and then transferring to Ball State to major in business and/or
communica3ons.
• John LaClair will enlist in the Marines.
• Jordan McIntosh hopes to find a lucra3ve career in the entertainment industry.
• Nicole Anderson plans to travel, preferably to Europe, before she se4les into an
adult rou3ne.
• Randy Sivley will enlist in the US Navy.
• Rachel Bolton wants to go to college at KVCC for criminology.
• Kelsey Thompson hopes to study cosmetology.
• Jasmine Muhammad wants to go to college at KVCC to get her prerequisites done
so she can transfer to WMU and study Pediatrics.
• Treyvian Lewis wants to travel all over the United States.
• Tristen Gunne4 wants to a4end KVCC and then transfer to WMU to study
history.
• Syndey Willi will a4end nursing school at Western Michigan University.
• Abigail Hernandez plans to study cosmetology.
• Ma4 Clark wants to a4end MCTI to learn how to become a mechanic.
• Nick Rance will con3nue working while a4ending KVCC to become an automo3ve technician.
• Jaylan Whitley will go to KVCC.
• Sierra Stevens plans to go to KVCC for 2 years, then begin her schooling to be an ultrasound tech.
• Andy Pena hopes to a4end college at KVCC and then move to California and become a billionaire.
• Alyson Buchino wants to a4end college at KVCC and get her own place.
• Dakota Lash will con3nue to work to support his family and possibly go to college later.
• Chris3an Rogenski wants to a4end college at KVCC to study psychology.
• DQ Brown wants to a4end KVCC, but he doesn’t know what he wants to study
yet.
• Chris Noel will a4end college at KVCC to study film.
• Alyssia Perez will con3nue to work while a4ending KVCC.
• Brian Lang will a4end KVCC to begin prepara3on for a career in culinary arts.
An
swe
rs:
1H
, 2
E,
3B
, 4
G,
5F
, 6
J, 7
D,
8I,
9A
, 1
0C
To the class of 2015,
I always enjoy this time of the year because it is the end of high school for each of you as well as an
exciting time as you plan for your future as young adults. I like to think back to the first time we met and all
of the conversations that we have shared. When you arrived, you all wanted a new start, but each of you
had a different story and all sorts of reasons for wanting to finish up at Community High School. All you
really wanted was another chance to receive your high school diploma. You also needed a place where you
had the opportunity to be yourselves, and I truly believe that our program has allowed you to do that. How
fortunate we have been to have had you in our student body!
I have really enjoyed this year, and I know it was simple for some of you and then for others it was not
so easy. Waking early to catch the bus to get here, finding child care,
working full time, and a lot of other things could have thrown you off
course, but you didn’t let them! I admire each and every one of you for
sticking with it and following through. You have all matured both aca-
demically and socially and you are on your way to the next chapter in
your life.
The other side of high school can be everything you can imagine,
you just need to put your best foot forward. I am sure it seems scary,
but keep in mind you have nothing standing in your way. At this point,
you have so many options in life. Don’t take the easy way out; you know
you have the drive and perseverance it takes to be successful. Look at
where you are today, be proud of yourself, and before you go, make sure
and thank those that helped you get to this finish line!
Produced by the Term 4 Journalism class
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