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Making His Point: Joel Cibrian congratulates himself after successfully completing four years at Willow Glen High.
Photograph by Chad Pilster
Willow Glen's high school graduates face the future with hope and humor
Presentation, Willow Glen and Broadway schools say goodbye to this year's crop
By Jessica Lyons
A cluster of blue caps and gowns huddled together, off to the side of Bram Hall park in Willow Glen last Wednesday, June 8. Family members and friends of the Broadway High grads filled rows of fold-out chairs and most of a grassy incline. Blue cardboard stars hung from the trees. Someone hit "play" on a stereo and Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" started up, drawing whistles, whoops and applause from the audience. Slowly, 121 students in matching robes processed under a canopy of balloons--some solemn, some smiling and some "raising the roof" with their hands.
Evoking Henry David Thoreau, principal Susan Votaw addressed the graduates. "Every man and woman here tonight heard a different drummer and has stepped to the beat he heard," she said. "Know that we wish you the best life has to offer."
In less than one hour, all 121 students would stand and move their tassels to the right side of their caps--a simple gesture but a milestone achievement for the class of 1999.
A continuation school for students who drop out of San Jose Unified School District high schools for reasons including attendance problems and pregnancy, Broadway's challenge is to keep kids in school. For some of these students, receiving a high school diploma seemed next to impossible. But in the words of Broadway High graduate Jessica Mata, "This is only the beginning."
Sixteen-year-old Tiffany Logian, receiving her diploma from the GED program, told her story at the graduation ceremony.
"I entered Broadway's GED program at the age of 16," Logian said, addressing the crowd in the park. "I passed every part of the test but math. So I decided to give up. At age 19, and with a child, I returned to Broadway to conquer my math and graduate once and for all. I am living proof that you can turn your life around, overcome your weaknesses and achieve your dreams."
Logian, a Willow Glen Rotary scholarship recipient, will attend San Jose City College in the fall. She's going to study dental assistance and plans to be a dental hygienist.
At press time, neither Willow Glen High School nor Broadway High School had compiled the results from senior exit surveys, determining numbers of seniors who will be attending college, joining the military or entering the work force after graduation.
In other parts of the Glen, however, returning to school next August or September is a given.
Every one of Presentation's 62 graduates will attend a two- or four-year school in the fall. Twenty-six percent will attend a UC campus. "We usually send everyone to college--that's our goal here," said Sister Stephanie Still, a spokesperson for the all-girls high school.
Presentation's graduation in the gym on June 5 was a bittersweet ceremony, says Laura Madamba, a recent grad.
"I was really excited and happy to finally be graduating, but I was sad that I wouldn't be coming here anymore," Madamba said. "I'm leaving a lot of people behind--friends and a lot of great teachers."
Madamba heads south to University of California at San Diego in the fall to study biology and English.
Amajali Jindia will also attend UCSD in the fall, and says her education at the all-girls school prepared her for life after Presentation.
"I've talked to graduates who are in college and they say you don't have to worry about a lot of things--especially English papers--because Presentation has started you out," Jindia said.
As Willow Glen High School seniors wandered the Rose Garden in red caps and gowns prior to their graduation ceremony on Friday, June 11, emotions ranged from nervous to excited to barely concealed indifference.
"I'm ambivalent about the whole thing," said Selina Rodriguez, adding that graduation is really just another greeting-card holiday, like St. Patrick's Day or Valentine's Day. "It's pointless. It's our capitalistic system they're just trying to palm it off as a big deal. But it's also good to bond with my family, I guess. It's meaningful to them, but not to me."
Next month, Rodriguez leaves for Europe. If she decides to return to the states, she says she'll go to the Rhode Island School of Design and study playwriting or dramatic literature.
Senior Jeff Ramirez says he's heading back to Willow Glen High School following graduation for the annual Grad Night Party put on by the Parent's Club. Then, after a summer internship at NASA working with flight simulators, he will attend Berkeley in the fall. But right now, he says, he's feeling fine. "I'll probably be nervous when I'm walking across the stage and then I'll be fine again."
Janette Najera will be at the Grad Night party, too. She plans to attend San Jose State University and study broadcast journalism in the fall. She's not ashamed to admit she's proud of herself today.
"I feel like I've accomplished a goal, and I'm looking forward to the future."
Graduation '99: More photos from local high school graduation ceremonies.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
