4 High Schools Graduate 380 In 1 Day; Subway Study Buddies Graduate Together As Co-Valedictorians

Shakshi Patel and Johanyx Rodriguez studied together and bonded over sandwiches at a local ​“Subway.” Tuesday they walked together as co-valedictorians, praised for their diligence, intellect, and unusual study habits.

Patel and Rodriguez were among more than 380 students who attended high school graduation ceremonies at Floyd Little Athletic House on Tuesday.

Rain forecasts prompted the ceremonies for High School in the Community; Metropolitan Business Academy; Engineering and Science University Magnet School; and Hill Regional Career High School to take place at the indoor venue.

Valedictorians from all four schools made speeches breaching hard-hitting topics, from immigration to the uncertainty of the pandemic.

HSC Graduates 51

“This class has undoubtedly been one of the most resilient classes to walk these halls,” said Rodriguez during her valedictorian address to the 51 members of the graduating class from High School in the Community.

The school focuses on building leadership skills in students, many of whom study public policy or social justice issues. According to the staff Dream Director Christian Shaboo, HSC is a ​“small school where young people can do big things.”

Dressed in teal robes, Rodriguez recalled climbing Mount Washington in 20-degree weather, attending the Black Lives Matter protests, coming together to plan a makeshift prom in two weeks, and finishing high school during a global pandemic as examples of the resilience of her peers.

Rodriguez heads to the University of Rhode Island to study molecular biology. She and Patel have been friends since the first day of freshman year.

Matt Brown, a former building leader at the school, said of Patel and Rodriguez: ​“They will be forever known for their intellect, their drive and their study habits.”

During her speech, Patel spoke about the comfort and safety she found in the diversity of HSC. She thanked her parents for coming to the country as immigrants and helping her see a better version of herself.

“I want every immigrant child and parent out there to know they have support,” said Patel. ​“Push forward and keep learning to make the world a safer and better place.”

Patel aspires to become an immigration lawyer. First, she will be heading to University of Connecticut to study political science. She credited her success to an ability to appreciate the small yet beautiful moments in life.

ESUMS Graduates 78

Also at the Floyd Little Athletic House on Tuesday, steel drums and smooth beats added up to a cheerful graduation for 78 navy-clad STEM students from the Engineering and Science University Magnet School (ESUMS).

ESUMS, which also draws from multiple school districts, aims to prepare its graduates to ​“imagine, investigate, and invent” in a variety of math- and science-related fields.

After speeches from commencement speakers working in the biomedical engineering and technology industries, valedictorian Shankara Siddartha Abbineni spoke about the bittersweet uncertainty of life. He joked that uncertainty manifested in everything from the switch to online learning to the ​“devastating extent of the toilet paper shortage”.

“I’ve always wondered what the Z in Gen Z stands for,” said. ​“Now I know: Zoom.”

Abbineni will be heading to Yale next year to study computer science and economics.

Salutatorian Aiden Perales also gave a speech to the class, quoting his chemistry teacher, Nicolas Carrasco: ​“Life is beautiful, wherever you end up.”

Perales will attend Johns Hopkins next year to study biology. He credited his success to the hard work and support of his parents and his dedication towards never giving up.

At the beginning and end of the ceremony, two steel drum players turned out tunes ranging from Earth Wind and Fire’s ​“September” to Justin Bieber’s ​“Peaches.”

After the event, students gathered outside for school-themed sweet treats.

Career High School Sends Off 157

Like Abbineni, the valedictorian and class president at Hill Regional Career Magnet School is also heading to Yale. Hasfa Fazl plans to take the pre-med track by studying the history of science, medicine, and public health or sociology.

She and her classmates were given opportunities during high school to focus on health sciences and entrepreneurship.

In her speech to her school’s class of 157 purple-robed graduates, Fazl talked about the friendships and bonds that she had built with her classmates and teachers.

“The grade wasn’t really that important,” said Fazl. ​“It was connecting with people and putting a smile on their faces that mattered.”

Although Fazl credits her success to God and her family for bringing her where she needs to go, her vice president Sergio Carrion has a different opinion.

“I credit her success all to her,” said Carrion, prompting Fazl to shake her head and laugh.“She works so hard.”

Fazl’s teachers share Carrion’s sentiment. Cynthia Scheetz, a teacher at the school who assists with the Robotics club, said that Hazfa was an ambassador for the Yale simulation lab during her junior year.

Kimala Williams, the Class of 2021’s adviser, said she is proud of the way her students embraced changes in both learning and the venue for their graduation.

“I hope they realize that there are no limits in pursuing their dreams,” said Williams.

99 Pass Metro Finish Line

The class valedictorian at Metropolitan Business Academy — which offers programs in allied health and science, digital arts and technology, law and political science, and finance — celebrated more than just her academic success. For Lesly Gonzalez-Benitez, graduating was a triumph for all undocumented students like herself who have found ways to embrace their identities despite hardship.

“Your status does not define you,” said Gonzalez. ​“It will not bring you down but empower you to succeed.”

Gonzalez-Benitez outed herself as an undocumented student in her sophomore year, a decision which met some resistance from her parents. From there, her journey advocating for other undocumented immigrants began, which she recounted to the class of 99 graduates in dark blue robes.

“I became fed up with the idea that those who are undocumented have to live in the shadows,” said Gonzalez-Benitez.

During high school, Gonzalez-Benitez attended a fine arts program at the local Educational Center for the Arts. There, she worked on art which explore issues like immigration and detention centers.

Students also listened to poet Reginald Dwayne Betts give a keynote speech about his incarceration at 16 and journey to graduating from Yale Law School.

“I was the first person in my family to go to prison,” said Betts. ​“Then 12 years later, I was the first person in my family to go to college.”

Betts’ advice: You don’t need to know what is happening tomorrow to care about it.

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