A large crowd of well-wishers raised loud celebratory congratulations to 200 Early College High School seniors graduating from high school Wednesday at the Cadence Bank Center.
Principal Kathleen Burke and the top student speakers spoke of a group that chose a more difficult than necessary high school path, achieved academically and grew together as a close-knit family.
Senior Isabel Ramos welcomed the Class of 2025 as well as school staff members and the assembly of family and friends.
“I know we’ve all heard the phrase, ‘It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it,’” she said.
“There were mornings we didn’t want to get up, subjects we swore we’d never understand and moments when quitting felt easier than pushing through, but we pushed anyway. Deep down, we knew that getting here would be worth it. This moment is the proof.”
Valedictorian Eli Salmeron focused his speech on the important relationships he and his peers built in four years of high school and encouraged his classmates to make the most of the last time the Class of 2025 would be together.
He specified a friend, Kayslyn Vo, who gave him support his freshman year and led him to other friends. Those are the people, he said, that he has held dear in good and bad times.
“Never take these bonds for granted and remember to show them appreciation,” he said, encouraging classmates to mend broken relationships and leave high school with friendships intact.
The top-ranked graduate also praised parents and other family members in the audience and directed seniors to show their appreciation with a round of applause. “Your sacrifice has brought us all here to this point today,” he said.
“I love that I was able to have happy, sad, angry and exciting experiences with the Class of 2025,” he said. “There is no experience I would take back because it was all worth it to see you all here graduating today.”
Salutatorian Ashley Anais Yescas recalled the fear she felt at the start of her freshman year at Early College High School, shared a breakthrough lesson and urged her classmates to embrace the exciting unknown future.
“I know I struggled a lot throughout my freshman and sophomore year,” she said. “Every day felt like the end of the world. During that time, I couldn’t imagine how high school could be enjoyable.”
In time, Yescas said she began to accept that she couldn’t change the past and should focus on the present. “I know it sounds obvious, but for me it was a breakthrough.”
Quoting from the Phoebe Bridgers song Smoke Signals, she said, “The future is unwritten, the past is a corridor.”
“As we stand here today at the threshold of that unwritten future, it’s easy to feel a mix of excitement and a touch of uncertainty,” she said.
“We’ve learned, we’ve grown, and we’ve stumbled. Like I learned in those tough freshman and sophomore years, every ending is a new beginning.”
“Don’t be afraid to step into the unknown,” she said. “Embrace the uncertainty. It is in those uncharted territories that the most remarkable discoveries are made.”
Burke praised the close-knit, high-achieving class. “You chose a hard path, and you conquered it,” she said. “Many of you held jobs, gave up (traditional high school experiences), all to pursue something greater. You didn’t just endure it. You owned it.”
A week ago, a large group of the class earned associate degrees from Central Texas College. Eventually, that figure will be about 70 percent of the class, the highest in Early College history. They also amassed more than $10.2 million in scholarships.
Senior Ngone Lo closed out the ceremony with an original poem. It ended this way - “And beyond the stars is where we all will leave here like the mighty Lions we are and achieve such marvelous things.”
ECHS graduation photo gallery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720326280670