One of the keys to success is having a solid foundation, and some of this year’s graduates of Crescenta Valley High School said they believe their four years at their now alma mater have prepared them for their next chapter in life.
“Our struggles made us stronger,” said student speaker Ariel Amarkarian to her fellow 664 classmates Wednesday afternoon during the school’s commencement. “They prepared us for the real world. And the real world — that’s right now. Our experiences have prepared us for today and tomorrow.”
Senior class president Shawn Grinnell shared the same sentiment as his classmate, giving credit to the faculty and staff at Crescenta Valley High for giving him the academic tools to attend Cal State Fullerton, where he will study nursing.
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Graduates throw their mortarboards in the air at the conclusion of the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
(Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Xiamara Velasco Mayner flies off the stage after receiving her diploma during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
(Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Julie Lavarro takes a selfie with her fellow graduates while giving the Senior Address during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Nick Morgan arrives with a hula dancer on his mortarboard before the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
(Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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English teacher Derrel Furutani gives his annual high-fives to graduates going into the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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A mortarboard says it all before the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Nathan Nagaoka reacts after receiving his diploma during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Graduates make their way to the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
(Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Graduates make their way to the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
(Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Class valedictorian Luba Djoneva receives a hug from principal Dr. Linda Jung during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Sarah Milbrodt is happy with her new diploma during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Graduates Jun Lee and Han Lee take a selfie before the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Lily Miller adjusts her mortarboard with help of Ariel Amarkarian during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Travis Taylor works the crowd after receiving his diploma during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Elisa Nam gets excited about her diploma during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Nazeli Gharpetian gets a kiss from mom and GUSD Board of Education president Dr. Armina Gharpetian during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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The usual errant beach ball flies through the air during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Family members hold up a dated photo of their graduate during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Graduates assemble in the gym before the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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Family members and friends watch as graduates make their way onto the field during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
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The Charismatics Seniors close out the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony with “Alma Mater” and a falcon cry on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)
“Most of the teachers here are absolutely amazing and do everything in their power to help their students and prepare them for the next step,” he said before the ceremony. “Their end goal is always to get us ready for college and future employment. I feel very encouraged having them behind me and having their support.”
Grinnell admitted that he is nervous but excited about entering the next phase of his academic career and using the skills he learned at Crescenta Valley High at Cal State Fullerton.
“They have a great nursing program, and I was able to get a scholarship, too,” he said. “It’s 20 minutes away from Disneyland, so I can’t complain.”
Xiamara Velasco Mayner flies off the stage after receiving her diploma during the Crescenta Valley High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
(Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer)
Sitting next to him was senior class treasurer Makayla Rabago, who will also be attending college in Orange County at UC Irvine, studying criminology with aspirations of becoming a lawyer.
Like Grinnell, Rabago said it is scary to move to a different county, but she believes it is time for her and her fellow Falcons to explore the world.
“I’m probably more excited than anything else,” she said as she and her classmates waited in the gym before heading out to the field. “I think it’s time [to], no pun intended, fly the nest. I’m very excited to meet new people and have a taste of freedom. But I can definitely come back during the weekends and hang out with my mom and do some laundry.”
Class valedictorian Luba Djoneva, who graduated with a 4.622 grade-point average, did not get the chance to address her colleagues during the ceremony, but given the opportunity, she would have told them to follow their passions and not give in to what society wants them to do.
“In this day, a lot of people tend to look at society and what society deems acceptable and what they want you to do,” she said before the ceremony. “[My classmates] should look more into what they want and follow their passion and do what they want to do.”
Anthony Clark Carpio was a reporter with the Burbank Leader. He joined the Times Community News staff on New Year’s Eve 2012 and covered everything from the City Council to community events. He has a journalism degree from Cal State Northridge. Before reporting in Burbank, he was a reporter with the Huntington Beach Independent and a freelance reporter for the Pasadena Sun, the La Cañada Valley Sun and the Santa Clarita Signal.
