More than 500 soon-to-graduate Killeen ISD seniors stepped across the stage at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center extended ballroom Thursday to receive a purple and white braided cord symbolizing completion and a whole lot more.
Career Center Interim Principal Miguel Timarky recalled the days when the culminating event took place in the long, narrow Career Center commons area.
“Now look at us,” said Timarky of the packed space, filled with students who have completed professional certification in fields ranging from teaching to video game design, robotics, culinary skills, healthcare, welding and much more.
One of those seniors, Carlos Diaz-Torres, an education and training student reflected that failure is one of the greatest lessons learned in the rigorous, workforce-based high school.
“We learned the power of not giving up,” he said. “We learned that success doesn’t come gift-wrapped, but it comes in the form of late nights, tough feedback and moments you seriously think about quitting, and I had those moments.”
Failing, he said, is a sign you are on the right path.
“After failures, something shifts,” he said. “KCC taught us that failure is not the end of the road, it is a sign we are on the road. We didn’t just celebrate success, we studied it, we learned what to build it with and most of the time the answer was a lot of mistakes.”
Diaz-Torres said he learned the importance of working with people different from him and living a life of integrity.
“It gives us the tools to build something real, because every failure, every setback, every hard-learned lesson shapes you,” he said. “As we look ahead, the world might tell us we’re too young, too inexperienced, too uncertain.
“The truth is we have turned doubt into drive, turned fear into focus, turned failure into fuel, and we’ve survived senioritis so far,” he said.
“Let’s not doubt whether we’re enough, because we are. Let’s fail together, because failure is good and every step leading up to failure is a success. You are the author of your story, and the next chapter is yours to write. You don’t have to be fearless; you just have to be willing … to keep going.”
“Our students are more than just career-ready,” said Timarky. “They are innovators, leaders and problem-solvers. They represent the best of what is ahead for our communities and industries.”
KISD Director of CTE Patrice Robinson explained the multiple meanings of the cords the students received.
“We are here to celebrate your achievement, hard work and limitless potential,” she said. “Wearing a purple and white cord represents not just achievement, but transformation.
“These cords symbolize your growth, the skills you gained, the friendships you formed and the meaningful experiences you have had in KISD and in Career and Technical Education.”
Photo Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720326005603
