West High: Bakersfield.com

Congratulations graduates of West High School

Graduation Speech, Class of 2007

    I would like to welcome everyone to this special occasion and congratulate all of the graduates who have worked so hard to be here tonight. It's been a long, tough road and a journey worth while. Thirteen years to be exact... maybe a little longer for some of us. But, the important thing is that we're here and we've made it. But a lot of us wouldn't be here if it weren't for those special people in our lives, whether thy are teachers, family, or friends. The ones who pushed us and made us belive that we're worth more. Those who grabbed us to keep us from falling. When we wanted to give up, convinced ourselves that we just weren't ready for this world. They didn't hesitate to provide encouraging words.

    After thanking God, first and froemost, mine personally, among a few others, is my mother who has been the driving force in my life since day one. She nevver turned her back on me no matter how hard it got, i don't know how i could've made it without her and all the comfort and support that came from her arms. She always tells me that when i make it to the top to make sure i give her her alkalades. So, here is the first of many. this goes for all the parents and inspirational figures. Our class would not be here if it weren't for you.

    From this day forth we will no longer be seen as seniors in highschool, but as mature adults who must learn to take on new responsibilities. I would love to say that after this commencement, all of our hardships will come to an end. But reality is that they are only beginning. Now is the time for us to prove ourselves, to make use of all the things West High School has taught us since our freshman year. Because life doesn't end here, life doesn't get put on hold, there will be so many more obstacles lying ahead of us. Waiting to pounce at any second; to rob us or our goals, our dreams, our happiness, our determination, our aspirations, the fight that lies within us that forces us to keep striving, to keep believing. We will not give up and we refuse to settle and become another statistic. Silentepidimic.org reports that every 29 seconds a student will drop out of highschool, making up 1 million a year and 1 half of those being minorities. We've already beaten the odds, we've taken chances, and run the right risks to have it all pay off right here, right now to show we ARE the generation that will make the difference.

    There are some of us who are honors students with 4.0 g.p.a, then there are those who are athletes, many of us are on our way to trade school. Although we are all unique, we are still somewhat similar. For if you scratch all the grades, froget about all the clubs we were members in, and disregard all the events we've participated in, and were to simply strip us down to what we were truly made of inside our hearts, looking at us as a whole instead of us as individuals, you will see pride, you will see power, you will see honor, you will see confidence, you wil see a West High Viking... committed to academic achievement, committed to personal excellence, and committed to a lifetime of success.

    There is an old proverb that reads "only fools despise wisdon and instruction." "Take firm hold of instruction... She is your life. Incline your ear to wisdon and apply your heart to understanding." Our generation will not love simplicity, but will struggle. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.." well class this is our time, our year to shine bright the brilliant colors of green and gold. We will persevere fro "the race is strong." And in the end we will be able to stand tall. We will shout and warn the world to look out, for we are the graduates from West High School, and the proud class of 2007; we are on our way to a bright and liberating future thanks to all of you. Thankyou.

D'Amber Collins competed in a contest at West High School and was chosen to be the speaker for the class of 2007. She plans on attending California State University Northridge after high school and majoring in psychology.

What are you going to do to improve our future?

Well, here we are. Congratulations Class of ’07, you’ve made it through high school. Now it’s time for phase two. You see, high school is like the hill before the mountain. Once you get over it, you feel great. But then you see that mountain, looming in your path. It’s bigger, the paths are rockier, and everything becomes more intimidating. It’s incredibly daunting, and it’s okay to be scared, but don’t let it stop you because there are many challenges that you will have to confront.

           There’s the challenge of furthering your education. Whether you choose to attend a college or university or a vocational or technical school, there will be bumps in the road either way. There’s the challenge of deciding on a career path. There are those like my sister who have known since the fourth grade what they want to do for a living. There are those who think they know, but will end up changing their mind. Then there is the majority, completely and utterly undecided about what they are going to choose. Whichever category you fall under, you are likely to run into plenty of obstacles. Then there’s the challenge of the future. 46 years ago, John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” In the near future, we will no longer be students; we will be the leaders of America. How will we address problems such as an increasing national deficit, global warming, and stem cell research? It will be up to us to tackle these issues and face them head on.

           So how do you want to be remembered? Are we going to go down in the history books, or will we simply be a footnote? Are we going to be the ones to decrease the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, the ones to design solutions for social security and universal healthcare, the ones to find cures for juvenile diabetes, cancer, and AIDS? Or will we be known for apathy and total self-indulgence? These issues are not going away. It isn’t a question of whether we will have to deal with them or not; it’s a question of when and how. I know that I want to help change the world, even the smallest piece at a time. For me, that probably means volunteering my time and money to various charitable organizations. But what does it mean for you? What are you going to do to improve our future? It’s a question only you can answer, and I challenge you to think about it.

           To reach distant places, you have to take the first step. Once again, congratulations class of 2007 for getting this far. Just remember that a challenging journey lies before you, but never be afraid to keep moving forward.

Can't Hide That Graduation Feeling!

Throughout the life of your child, you learn to stand by and watch. Sometimes it hurts to watch -- for different reasons. When my daughter Morgen Dang was little, it hurt to watch her fall down. As an adolescent, it hurt to watch her make her own mistakes. But then, how else does one learn? Now that she is about to graduate from West High School, there isn't enough kleenex to soften the hurt of letting go.

This picture pretty much sums it up for her. She and her friend Nici Mills had just met with their new counselors at Bakersfield College to map out a plan of where to go from here. They parked nearby on the bluffs and took in the beautiful panoramic view. After a year of ever creeping "senior-itis" they were euphoric at the newly found freedom that comes from moving forward.

Her father Alex, Aunt Alice and I are naturally very proud of her. In a year when many skate through with easy classes, Morgen chose to continue a demanding schedule of AP physics, economics, statistics, psychology, Spanish and English. She is a mediator on the West High Conflict Mediation Team. She received MVP on the varsity swim team. She received scholarships from the Bakersfield Chinese Women's Club and Mayor Harvey Hall. Morgen also graduated from the 2007 Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Program and is a Presidential Scholar for Bakersfield College.

When asked what title she would give to this picture, only one word would suffice. Yippee!

MY oldest is on her way

Justine Jasmine Velasco is graduating from West High School on June 1, 2007. Justine is the oldest of our four daughters. She's had it a little rough, since as parents we were making decisions about the important things for the first time.

She has always done her best in school. She has taken multiple AP and Honors classes during her four years in high school. She has maintained an average GPA of 4.425. She is graduating number two in her class.

Throughout high school she has performed in school plays. She attended the Shakespearean Festival in Utah the past two years, volunteered at the American Cancer Society's Discovery Shop, and has been involved in various school organizations, such as Roots N Shoots, Conflict Mediation, Drama Club, Vegetarian Club, Academic Decathalon, Science Bowl, Math Field Day, and the Physics Olympics.

Over the summer of 2006, she tutored summer school classes, and attended COSMOS. COSMOS is a UC math and science program. She has been published in Who's Who among High School Scholars for the past two years, and also in the National Honor Roll. She is a lifetime member of National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation. Justine will be attending the top public college in the nation for engineering, UC Berkeley, in the fall.

Justine is a good role model for her younger sisters. Her family is very proud of her accomplishments.

Raiana Maldonado

My daughter, Raiana Lynn Maldonado, is so deserving of recognition for her accomplishments during these past 12 years. Every report card Raiana has received was of Honor Roll status or above. She attended Amy B Seibert Elementary School and received the Scholarship Award which is awarded to one 6^th grade girl and boy each year for outstanding academic achievements throughout their time at Seibert. At Thompson Junior High she received "Student of the Year" for outstanding academics and citizenship.

Now a graduating Senior at West High School, Raiana has been involved in many activities. She has maintained honor roll while taking Honors and Advanced Placement classes and been involved in ASB, cheerleading, prom committee, was a peer mediator, and an announcer for the boys' varsity baseball team.

More importantly, Raiana is a beautiful person with great character. She is a loving daughter, sister and friend and strives to always "do the right thing." She has remained dedicated to doing the best she can in all her endeavors.

Raiana will be attending CSUB majoring in biology and hopes for a career in research. There is no doubt in my mind that she can accomplish all her hopes and dreams with her continued hard work, dedication and her positive attitude and I am so blessed and proud to be her mom.