East High: Bakersfield.com

Proud Mother Of Andrew Orozco

I am so proud of my son Andrew Orozco. He has grown to become a young man that I am so blessed to have as my son. He is working and has enrolled in College. He has plans for his future and is headed in the right direction. I can't believe how fast the years go by. I remember when he was in a walker and now...he is a licensed driver and driving a car. On the left it is my son and his bestfriend Sergio. I 'm proud of you guys.... We love you son. We are very Proud.

Love your Mom and Stepdad,

Danny and Angie Marrujo

YOU DID IT, CARINNA!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

Tomorrow I will be one of the proud parents in the stands at East Bakersfield High School. My daughter Carinna Certuche is graduating with The Class of 2007. Carinna has had tremendous obstacles to overcome, and for that I felt the need to post this. At age 16 Carinna gave birth to a baby girl, Lisette, who is now 1 year and 3 months. During that time, Carinna missed alot of school. She was to the point where we didn't think she was gonna graduate with her class, due to loss of credits. Carinna didn't let that keep her from having the determination to succeed! In the last 8 months she has held a part-time job, attend night school & high school - and be a MOM. Recently, she participated in the Dance Recital & the Powder Puff game.

On June 11th, she will start attending Maric College to be a Medical Assistant.

CONGRATULATIONS, Mija! YOU DID IT!

I LOVE YOU & AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!

Waiting on the World to Change

Graduation Speech 2007

Good evening parents, teachers, and fellow students and welcome to the East Bakersfield High School class of 2007 graduation. My name is Alexandra Maxwell and I stand before you today as a member of this diverse, aspiring, and all around outstanding class.

As I began to think of the many ways the 2007 graduates mold to the theme of “Waiting on the World to Change” I found that Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, best described the power our class holds when he said, “We have become not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different dreams.” East High has come to represent a beautiful mosaic in that we have diverse students that culminate into a beautiful piece of art, which glorifies our differences.

While some may question the term mosaic, I think it exemplifies the distinct benefit of acquiring an education at such a diverse high school in that we are able to create an environment that welcomes students from all different backgrounds, with different beliefs, while not attempting to mold them to one standard, but rather accenting their diversity. This capacity has impressed us with the importance of tolerance within our society.

Furthermore, as a generation that has experienced the technology age, the largest government surplus yet largest deficit, and times of peace and times of war, we have developed an agility to adapt to situations easily, allowing us to not just take life as it comes but recognize the abilities we have been endowed with to overcome challenges.
In the future we will be put in situations where these two abilities will be called upon and although it may seem trivial to experience diversity in high school; these experiences will affect decisions that may forever change the world.

So today, class of 2007, I encourage you to not only recognize these unique traits you have been entrusted with, but to reflect upon them in your future choices. We have had the opportunity to experience diversity as never seen before in the United States, establishing us as one of the most powerful generations to come, and this experience has not come without sacrifice, hard work, and understanding. For this reason we will be the generation to change the world.

I would like to leave you with a quote from Paul McCartney’s song, written for the 8th 007 movie, Live and Let Die. “When you were young and your heart was an open book you used to say live and let live, but in this ever changing world in which we live in, makes you give in and cry, Say live and let die,” I take these lyrics to mean that you must be alive to change, and leave the past as a positive memory. I urge you to remember this line in your daily life for it represents the underpinnings of our total educational experiences here at East High. We will shape the future of the America in which we live.

I can confidently say that this shape of America will be strongly influenced by this mosaic of different backgrounds, resulting in a tolerance of each other and our cultures, alive to change and united in the goal of freedom and justice. Thank you.

This summer, Alexandra will be traveling through Europe. In the fall she will be attending Wellesley College in Boston, MA, with an emphasis on Philosophy. In high school, she participated in Forensic, School Site Council, Cheerleading and was an elected officer of the student body all 4 years. In our community, she was part of the Mayors Youth Council, Jim Burke Ford Dreambuilders, Junior Achievement, Great American Clean-up and many others.

Jack Johnson puts it best

Graduation Speech, class of 2007

Good Evening, its an honor to speak to you tonight. “Maybe it's up with the stars, Maybe it's under the sea, Maybe it's not very far, Maybe this is how it's supposed to be.” Those were lyrics written and sung by my favorite musician Jack Johnson, and well, I felt compelled to share then with you tonight because as a graduate on my departure from high school I have had countless questions run through my mind these past few weeks. And these were not your usual “what are we doing this weekend? Or did we have any homework?” type questions, these were the life determiners, like what am I going to do next year? What college will I attend? Once I am there what do I want to pursue? We must now ask ourselves who it is we want to be…maybe the answer is up with the stars or under the sea, but I believe that it is not very far. I believe this because one thing is certain, and that is East High has pointed us all in the right direction.

The song continues, “Looking forward as we rewind, Looking back is a trap sometimes, Being here is so easy to do, if you want to.” As I look at the scoreboard as a East High student for the last time I am looking forward to what lies ahead. We will all be stuck with memories from high school whether we like it or not, but being here, at East Bakersfield High School, is so easy to do when you want to. This school has filled us with an amazing amount of opportunities to make memories, whether it be on a sports team, an academic or community service club or group, or somewhere in the arts, so there is no doubt in mind that I will not forget East High. Later in life it may take a bit of fishing, but I will not forget my friends, my teachers, or this campus, and I know your memories will not be forgotten either. This is why we must cherish the past, but not get trapped in it because with a few blessings we have many years ahead of us.

We have all worked hard for these diploma’s, but let us not be complacent. I know each and every one of you has a dream, I know not everyone can throw a 70 yard Hail Mary to win the super bowl, but let us not shoot too low quite yet. I dream to become a doctor one day, and I know that each of you has a similar dream in mind. I say our goal should simply be to not let our dreams be dreams. We have the foundation under us, so why not rise up from it? We have a new picture to look at ladies and gentlemen, and it is looking beautiful. Its beauty is in that it is left for us to paint, so let’s paint a picture that the world will not forget, just as we will not forget the mark we left here at East Bakersfield High. In the words of Bob Dylan “If you want to keep your memories, you first have to live them.” We have all lived out ours here at East, I wish you the best of luck living out new ones in the future. Thank you all, its been a blast, and let’s change the world class. May God always bless the Class of 2007.

Oh, the wacky memories

Good evening teachers, students, family, friends, and graduating class of 2007. Throughout our lives, every one of us accumulates mass amounts of one particular thing. This one thing brings us joy, sorrow, smiles, and tears. It affects how we see the world and even the choices we make.

What is this thing? Memory. Many of my fellow students will forever remember me as the enthusiastic and almost over-zealous weather dude here at East Bakersfield High, but I will always remember so much more than just the wacky things I’ve done here at my high school. There are faces and events that I have experienced here within the past four years that are forever etched into my soul, and I know this is true for each and every graduating student today. Let me bring back the memories of my first day here at East Bakersfield High school as an example.

I remember starting school on a Thursday because my family and I had been slightly late in returning from a trip overseas. I met the sweetest woman as a counselor who registered me for the best classes I could possibly take, and even took the time to introduce me to my first period teacher. By that time, however, it was already second period, so she showed me to my next classroom and I was on my way. The moment I walked through the door, I experienced a step into an absolutely new phase of life. I saw faces I had known for years and some I have never seen before, but I can swear to you that every single one of them must have been smiling at me because, no matter how new the situation was to me, I felt completely comfortable. That is East Bakersfield High school.

Fast forward time a small amount and come around to my sophomore year. I had moved overseas for a semester to study, but I returned for my second semester again at East high, and once again, I was welcomed with open arms and loving hearts. Not only did I make a substantial amount of friends all over again that year, but I realized so much about life and the unbreakable bond between loved ones, and no matter where I go within East high, I know I can be comfortable with any given person within the entire campus. And through the last two years, I have come to realize that I will never have shame or fear of telling others that my high school is East Bakersfield High school, and I will always love my peers and the staff.

When the ceremony tonight is through, groups of friends will reminisce together about the good times we’ve lived: the misfortune each of us has run into, the silly things we’ve done, and the many laughs we’ve shared over the years. Of course, we also will come to discuss our plans for the future and the directions each of us will take in the time to pass. Yet, we should all keep in mind that all of our memories from East high will still hold strong in our hearts and effect our choices as young adults. And we must always remember to learn from those experiences, but with all the memories we all may share here tonight, there may be a presence of the less pleasant thoughts.

Our former students who are unable to join us here tonight, the heartbreak that a high school student is bound to live, and the knowledge that these are our last moments as students of East High. But don’t let this make you sad; we are all a family here. And as your brother, I am here to remind you that no matter what happens or how much time passes, you can never break the bond with your family, and we will always be here for one another. The support which any of us gives to you now will always be available, and a helping hand will always be laid out from your East High family.

So, my friends, as the final word from your brother here and now: never forget your past here at East Bakersfield high, and take these experiences forward into life to become the most successful and positive human beings that you possibly can. Thank you and congratulations class of 2007!

Congratulations Kristen 2007 East High Graduate

What a great accomplishment in your high school music career! Kristen Dawn Torres has been first chair flute and section leader since her sophomore year. She has participated in jazz band, orchestra, marching band, and Honor band of Kern County. She then went on to be the drum major her senior year. Kristen will be graduating with Honors, the Louie Armstrong Music Award, she also auditioned and received the McGregor Music Scholarship and the Thelma Rae Self Music Scholarship. She will be attending Bakersfield College and plans to transfer to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. As your parents, we couldn't have asked for a better student and daughter. "Oh, the places you'll go."

Mom & Dad