2021 KPS Loy Norrix Graduation

so so so foreign oh say can you see with the first light of dawn what we held so proudly in the last glow of twilight whose bright stripes and shining stars through the dangerous struggle the bombs exploding in the air gave proof for the night our flag was still there? oh, say, that starry banner still for the land and home of the brave Lift up every voice and sing, let our rejoicing, our eyes high as listening heavens, let it resound loud like a troubled sea, sing a song full of faith that the darkness of the past has taught us to sing a song full of hope that the present has brought us facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us move forward until victory is one.

Good evening everyone and welcome to the Loin Orcs

2021

graduation

ceremony. I'm Chris. aguinaga, the proud principal of loy

norrix

, so when I started the speech I wondered where do I begin with this group of young people, this graduating class has had quite a wild ride, an action-packed first year, followed by a second year of maturation. Junior year was cut short due to the pandemic and a remote senior year. I don't think a graduate, a tutor, a teacher would have imagined the journey the class of

2021

would have gone on, but here we are closing the chapter on part of that journey. and my conclusion, the class of 2021 will be fine, honestly you all have overcome a chapter in history that will probably never be repeated at least in my lifetime, but you got here today and you will be fine.

Spend a good amount of time thinking about how untraditional your high school experience has been, but why focus on everything you've acquired? Your experience going from in-school exams one day to remote learning in a few weeks. He experienced waking up in the crack. From sunrise to turning around and turning on your Chromebook for class, you experienced the great debate about cameras, the great debate about sports, the great debate about vaccines, and let's not forget the ultimate debate about masks and what's wrong with all these things in common. Everyone has been presented with obstacles. in your direction neither your parents nor I would have ever dreamed of imagining when we were in high school and those obstacles those sudden changes have made adaptable and flexible young people ready for the next chapter of your journey after high school while my experience in high school was Pretty vanilla, yours has every flavor you can imagine, with gummy bears with chocolate sauce and whipped cream on top, so class of 2021, what I want you to remember today is that you've been through what you have passed during your journey to high school.

It made them stronger and better prepared for a complicated world compared to others. Take those skills and do great things. Remember you will always be Lloyd Norris' Knights. Thank you. It is now my honor to confer candidates for high school

graduation

. Dr. Wright Chowdhury distinguished board members. family and friends as dean of students of lloyd

norrix

high school, I solemnly attest and confirm that the students who will be presented to you today have completed all requirements for graduation established by the public schools of the state of Michigan and Kalamazoo on behalf of the principal aguinaga, the faculty. and to the staff of lloyd norrix high school I recommend that these candidates receive their diplomas now we will begin our procession eliana rubin harmonía holt april garcia treyton allen ahmad al-jawni joseph bynum kohler gregory biggs gabriel lucas amy ava rose apollo ava elaine anglin aaliyah bledsoe davis adrian Elizabeth Buckley Michael Bradley Cost NTE MAYA REED CRAWFORD Sophie Paulette Decker Jo Seph Aaron cole leah gene house lander amazing nicholas alexander freeze i'm going to do the name first like below yes welcome faculty principal sir christopher aguinaga superintendent dr rita wright chowdhury family friends and donors from kalamazoo promise as graduates we want to share this moment to bring everyone Together they have We have been through our educational process, many people who have helped us throughout the process on behalf of the class of 2021.

Thank you very much for helping us. We couldn't have done this alone. Thank you director, Mr. Christopher Aganaga, for keeping us all. safe at home and staying together on this learning journey a special thanks to kalamazoo promise donors for delivering and giving students the financial hope of a better education and future. I want to personally thank my dear mother who supported me throughout my education. my nursing education I want to thank my friends who possibly influenced me and made me laugh at the same time. I also want to thank my teachers who are truly like second parents.

Yes, they may drag you down with a two-week overdue assignment, but they only want the best. For you, I have gang knowledge that the dial will carry into my adulthood and for the rest of my life, like being more responsible with time management and memory. I had it on my back. Oryx is chatting with Coach Duckett. He told me he could do anything. but I must make the right decisions this was in my first year I decided to make good decisions and think before acting this conversation with coach duckett influenced my first years at loya norix I valued education to start making good studious decisions another memory was Being in English class and his young man had come as a class speaker, he spoke about nursing and information on different programs to enroll me in Homer Striker MD medical school, that was the moment in my life when I took the first step to being really motivated to really experience nursing from that day onwards I developed a passion for nursing, not only am I able to help people but I am also able to connect with the people I serve at all times.

I didn't know the young man's name if he had done it. him in front of me, I would sincerely thank him. I am very happy to be here. I couldn't be more proud of my graduates and my classmates. We have earned the success to become graduates. I feel honored to be a student at loya norix I am grateful for the opportunity given by the donors of the kalamazoo promise I have the greatest respect for changing the lives of many students again welcome thank you for being here and congratulations class of 2021. lashley pinto orozo orizoco mm -hmm joe siraju joseph bengura jalen du bois taylor and cook keegan scott cameron kyra lane dilly eric dennis patrick davis lucas hardy figueroa sean michael flanagan jaden christopher freed zoe brenna flynn jack robert bruce ferguson jade sarah marie martin daniel michael demello matthew ryan dunham charmaine diaz gavin xavier campbell and yeah okay okay thank you scars are reminders of the obstacles we've overcome wear them proudly Ashton Kutcher I was born premature at 29 weeks 2 pounds 10 ounces so I have little scars all over the body, mainly because of my small nails that scratch me.

Once, thin skin or the chest tube I needed to help me survive my first few weeks. All my life I have thought of them as my mini battle scars, little markers to show my worth and how strong I am. Sometimes I remember that I have a small scar on my foot or I will trace the circle on my left wrist and it makes me smile because it reminds me that I went out fighting I was ready for anything prepared for a fight that I was not prepared for this year no one was no one except those people who keep jugs of water and dry food in their basements in case of alien invasions or zombie apocalypses maybe not even them this was a surprise a total surprise that shook our world and left our schools in shock The restaurants closed and closed by Sports reached half capacity and we had to adapt so quickly that trial and error was just part of the process.

We didn't have time to react in any specific way. We simply act on instinct. Now this year he has presented everything. of us with many difficulties have pushed to graduate to be here today we feel loss pain frustration and sadness in part because our experiences were taken away from us in general we have persevered we have adapted to what this world has given us instead of going backwards like so many others we decided that We would get up and carry on, this year has left each and every one of us with battle scars and when we needed that little extra help to survive, our companions leaned on each other and moved heaven and earth to keep our hearts beating and our The lungs in motion this year will always remain with us and our scars will inspire us to remember our challenges, but they will inspire us differently because they mean something different to us.

Not only did we get this bomb in our lap, it detonated, it exploded and the shrapnel hit us and we had to keep breathing. I am truly proud of each and every one of us for our perseverance and all the deep breaths we took. We have those who supported and loved us during these four years. To those who encouraged us to practice. and we came to our school concerts, but we wouldn't be here today without our hard work and dedication, not to mention our reluctance to stop fighting for our prominent futures, the ones we worked so hard to achieve, we are all here today because we made a commitment a commitment to our community, to our parents and teachers and, above all, to ourselves, instead of throwing in the towel when things got difficult, we picked up that towel and used it to wipe the sweat that dripped from our faces and hands. tears falling from our eyes we are resilient, that means that after being pushed and molded into what people thought we should be, we took the adversity that was thrown at us this year and used our knowledge and ambition to become the young adults we are , we don't let the world break us or tear us down, it's true that we have lost a lot this year, we didn't have the experiences we should have, we didn't get to be kids one last time before all the serious decisions began at the end of the day.

We did not give up, there is nothing we can do to change the situation instead of simply taking our lives as they could have been, we took charge of our results, we decided to let ourselves grow so we can continue with our lives and move forward, we notice it. the scars that cover us from the past year and we watched them fade as the college acceptance letters arrived or the peaches of the puzzle of our future fell smoothly into place we said no to the haters those who didn't believe in us we said no to preconceived notions of how we would become, we said no to our future being compromised by something we couldn't control and like those around me who called me a miracle baby when my mom brought me home for the first time after weeks of struggle.

People in the future will look at the class of 2021 in awe and know that we have come out of this year as fighters, that we have persevered and will continue to fight for our hopes and desires. I am so inspired, full of pride and moved by the work and effort we have put into this year and the last four years together the scars we carry with us will remind us of our struggle we know adversity we have looked it in the face and we know how overcome whatever the world throws at us no matter what the future holds, everyone should be proud of how our hardships have shaped us and know that the family you have here will always be your support for your future endeavors.

I thank all my classmates and teachers for everything. your love, support and acceptance I wish you all the luck in the world I hope each of you understands how incredibly amazing we are as we graduate after all the late nights lost in soccer games and coffee breaks. We are wonderful and unique in each of our ways. congratulations and good luck isabella louise ford eric cornell carriger iii noel flores devonte scott dunigan owen josiah edlufsen jonathan henry gruber sarah lillian gruber talia herbert angelique joceline garcia ashley marcela garcia danielle natasha hagen megan grace hybels gideon bogey liam patrick glendenin elena gross ellie haas jane christine haysteck hannah marie hindowski zuriel claviria joy journey heart mackenzie hanfland sophia marie hutton colton david heyer garrick joseph keegan andrew hughes nolan conway hughes evelyn irene hurley in tunis henderson brian lamont grayson jr chennai hoover edwards shadia mcmahon brady joshua hanley christian armand hartwell samuel patrick Ganey Solomon tyrell thrash juan santos hernández maite lopez chavez amari wesley jordan jackson i don't know now the first time you must uh congratulations jeremiah richard johnson hmm Elijah leonard regular dylan randall coss okay count austin hitchcock the fourth cameron kimbrough catherine helen cutsco daniellewis isaacson maya yasmine more ellie and lepley ashley marie kelch cara mitchell natalie elizabeth juriga haley and lankard lanetta lynn jones cody matthew klimchuk kevin Morales oscar Morales cerna luis morelos gabiero darian alexandra mowbray claudia ligman sydney nicole ketchum amber rose morgan cody ivy ailee kabumbo ava rose grass graphic grant william miller hannah marie mahoney madison leanne mcnair elder hernandez lillian marie mcginnis brandon isaac mendoza aaron race middleton genesia johnson danny christine murabito abigail rose mosher caitlin and moser kyle christopher new yen spencer james newman ava lock ivory ann marcinkowski maya suzanne milkey brian aurelio martínez hernández martínez anna christine morris moline nordmo carlos jesúsmorals lovers Aidan riley miller demarion johnson abraham conjo martina kanjo lusima kanjo caleb aaron miller and marie mansfield riley rose nelson jamari jackson davarian lamont mills daniel leon first the third brian keith martin jr yama more yasmine mosquera monteya isabella eileen pool kai neve jones jaime david masayas amariana tajinay marie russell lily teresa stickley zoe anna naylor the voice of evan daniel pollon natalie isis olinger three I'm going to introduce our next student speaker princess jamaria moop before we begin I would just like to give you the welcome everyone here i am so excited to give this speech and it is so lovely to see everyone sitting in the crowd in support of our graduates of 2021 my name is princess jamaria moop welcome dear guests parents of teachers thank you for sharing this milestone with the class of 2021 While we all know that coveting 19 has reinforced the importance of humanity and life, we have felt loss, pain, anger and sadness, yet through everything we have endured, I am so proud of us today, we made it, every one of you, yes, clap, each of you should.

Be immensely proud of yourselves, no matter your grades or what you did or didn't do, because at the end of the day, when we walk across that stage, we are all the same graduates who preceded the enduring greed 19 i along with the rest of the generation of 2021. We have been leading a double life and I don't mean that we are aliens or secret agents or even different people. What I mean is that we have been living as children and as adults our entire high school career, we were told. that we were too young for this but too old for that, it was frustrating and discouraging, sometimes it seemed like we were one or the other depending on the convenience of an adult, however, I have learned that this is not necessarily the case in 9th grade, it is for sure say it. that most of us were nervous, excited, anxious, elated or mixed up with all of that and more personally I was anxious and excited because I had just been accepted into camzy and didn't know what to expect, high school was going to be the era where that we define ourselves as people for the first time.

I remember being told that there are different ways people can spend their high school years. I would think there were three, but I remember two of them with four years of information. I can't hold it all in, all of them, oh we can't, and that makes me feel like I'm 30, but these two really touched my soul and I'll never forget them. We could be the doers. People who participate in extracurricular activities join clubs. They participate in classes. They jump after opportunities that present themselves. for themselves and make a name for themselves, in addition to being observed and recognized by many, another option was to be the observers, the people who watched from the sidelines and watched the doers do what they do, they did not participate or make themselves known.

He lived in the shadows finding contentment and simply going about his business and watching the makers make a name for themselves. What I found so moving when we were told about these options was that there were no negative options. I was told that for the existence of the doer to mean anything, someone had to be observing what needed to be observed if no one had been doing it now, it wasn't explained that way, but that's the beautiful part of high school. Seemingly simple messages or situations can be interpreted by an individual in any way they want, the fundamental idea in the progress of humanity is interdependence without people playing specific roles, we have no society, we have no advancement, we stay stuck doing things which are essentially meaningless if you win a marathon by yourself and not. one is looking, did you even handle it all?

Yes, what defines who we are is partly individual, of course, but it is our relationships with other people that will form and continue our legacy as we grew through our first year, learned school and some. from the staff and we learned which water sources were best for the areas of the school we had been in, as there were parts we had not yet touched and we developed shortcuts to get to our classes, in some cases there were some opportunities for bonding that they created the link team events and at the football and basketball games there were so many events that gave us a freedom we had never seen before and it was so liberating for me I was already in love with the high school experience during these events we faced To the two worlds of youth and adulthood as we would be for the next three years we had the choice of taking freedom and doing what we wanted on impulse or using our freedom to fulfill the purpose of the events of which to attend.

Constant war between children and adults is a conflict that would be difficult to overcome, but what a necessary conflict it is. Sophomore year felt like seventh grade to me and the fact that you weren't the baby anymore, but you sure weren't junior or Seniors either way felt like we were just existing, really the seniors had the center attention, the first years were babies and the third years received help in the college exploration process with things like Saturday. Tenth grade was relaxed enough for a person to really immerse themselves in high school activities since school was no longer new and there was nothing for tenth graders like there was for everyone else, that's when I made my choice, I decided to be a doer, like I said, my experience was split between two schools, Lloyd Norrix and Kamzi, 9th grade was mostly about me leaving my program because I'm shy by nature.

I was really focusing on trying to get good grades and that was it. Sophomore year, my confidence increased exponentially and I was ready to make my mark in Kalamazoo. I founded multicultural. student organization in kamzi to foster a community that is welcoming to all races and cultures and served as a U.S. ambassador abroad as part of the blue lake international program to spread cultural exchange across the music through these experiences I was able to form unique relationships with leaders of all kinds, both in Michigan and on a different continent, I learned that exposing yourself to diverse ways of living, speaking and thinking makes you a better leader and a catalyst for change , sharpens the ability to empathize with others with other points of view and such when making statements or decisions, which is a valuable quality that is often lost when someone keeps to themselves, especially when those people occupy class positions of power in 2021, what I ask of you is that you go and live a meaningful life. try and succeed fail and learn live and love what matters most, no matter what you end up doing as a career or what kind of family you end up having, keep seeking knowledge in any form, protect and preserve your humanity for the rest of your life as our ultimate The school year, high school career comes to an end.

I would like to congratulate the class of 2021. You don't have to solve a global problem to make a change. It may take a long time before you are ready or able to make the change. perfectly fine, just remember that to live a meaningful life all you have to do is seek knowledge while staying true to your humanity, progression of power, personality and prosperity, it all comes from knowledge, the class of 2021 will be known for its resilience , perseverance and hard work for a long time. I have long believed that our class will change the world for the better and reintroduce some humanity into our society for now, although the class of covet 19 graduates the class of 2021, congratulations, I am so proud of you tomorrow princess jamaria moop um today, to Come out, I'll let everyone have a seat, you can make yourself comfortable, the little rain won't hurt us, okay, good afternoon, Lloyd Norrix, friends, family, teachers and those who have laid the foundation to bring us here today without your patience. love and constant reliability we would not have reached this moment and for that we thank you and my colleagues, we will probably never share another moment like this again, so let's treasure this moment.

I would like to thank my mother and father, both kps teachers, aaliyah. kirk, my extended family, Miss Bowser, Miss McMillan, and all the other teachers who have pushed virtual learning forward with patience in their hearts. That same passion and commitment to service is valued and appreciated. Thank you for never abandoning us during these unprecedented times. showed us that the school is not just the building, but that it is the hard work that is inside and that sustains everything, parents and families, whether they remember having crossed a stage like this and having reached this goal or if the obstacles of life prevented them from arriving.

At this time, join your loved one in remembering and celebrating this significant achievement. I ask you to lend me your ears and allow me to speak my written words with each and every one of you in mind. I have titled this poem, Young Graduate, Alright, Young Scholar. grieving young spectator young leader young graduate young scholar young scholar you have made it this far through the ups and downs these four years have brought us you have set out to succeed our sacred spaces have been replaced by the Google Classroom camera and Zoom Meetings Out with the microphone , you know, the usual.

Our identity has been replaced by this colorful array of dots we saw floating around our screen. Getting kicked in and out of the classroom wasn't just a problem for the students. microphone on, can you hear me? Come on, Mr. Ward, if you asked me a year ago where I thought I would be, this would be far from my ideal vision, but I am breathing, I am alive and at peace to be able to live with me. my classmates on this day because some of us didn't make it young mourners young mourners we have lost many along this journey and so we honor the soul sitting in the afterlife as we continue his chapter without being able to cherish these golden memories with them I lost those who fought for their own mental freedom screaming inside but the words never seem to come out picking up the broken pieces oh I could tell a story or two it's funny because I still catch myself smiling behind my mask because that's exactly what I'm used to it even before we had to put them on, we wore a mask to hide like blue clues that mask who we really are.

My vision became a little cloudy, but I'm no longer struggling to catch my breath and I'm still wearing my physical mask. proudly young viewer young viewer this pandemic has opened our eyes to everything that is happening around us and that our society has decided to ignore, but we will not be blind or silent, we have accepted the injustices that this country has to offer, without distractions, without rules, class of 2021. We no longer needed a textbook to learn because this world has taught us that pages can be burned and stores can be lost within the margins and that history is what you make it, unless you invents in the class of 2021, it is our responsibility to rewrite it. these mistakes, whether you're fighting a pandemic or hoping the police don't shoot, reverse the narrative and be the hero who wished they'd saved you from the advancement of women and LGBTQ rights to the Black Lives Matter movement, it seems like Yes, George Floyd wasn't the only one who couldn't catch his breath, but our entire society couldn't breathe.

The list of names continues to increase as we get stronger. People are still being murdered in the street while justice tries to squeeze them out. come in but this change won't happen if we just cry through our television screens for the class of 2021 to come and be the breath of fresh air this country so desperately needs young leader young leader oh may their voices be heard from the deepest high to the lowest this world can hold let your light shine and go and surprise everyone who said you wouldn't be here today we as Americans are now the mixing bowl no longer the melting pot because each and every of ingredients matter, young graduates, let your mind, be the best tool you have in your possession, be honest with yourself so that you can guide yourself in the right direction, let it take you to places you never knew existed, maybeKraken open that textbook and depend less on the quiz and I'll tell you. once again because you probably got in the way and you might have missed it the tools you think you need are your brain so just reach out reach out and get it so it's all good now young scholar young mourner young spectator young leader our eyes have been opened and there is no turning back we must think with our hearts and be slow to react we must be the change we want to see in our recitation we must take what we learn and activate it in our life we ​​must speak even If they choose to ignore us we must carry the torch for those who came before us now is our time take a stand stand up this is the moment we have been waiting for we made our plate now let's eat We have made memories, mistakes and learned lessons alike.

It's time to get our notes. The real test is the fight. Now it's our world. Our path and our opportunity. Keep going. Young graduate, it is you who will have the last dance. Congratulations and thanks to the left. i don't think sierra ward leaves name monique mccoy satsuki nagahara addison josiah jada monique roberts michaela arielle patterson michael laroyce jr connor price eric ott mackenzie amber ott tegan riley kiera marie price blond james watkins jade sorrell poindexter tobias cole pixlr krista lee posthumus joseph john palowski dakota wayne page Aidan Ortiz ivan alexander padilla seth gabriel parsons jonathan arnell strickland madeline nicole sheehan kinsey ray should oliver randazzo navia ringo Aiden paul smith trenton michael snell carter allen shield gage eli tanner gavin linux pitman kalyn ivory white anderson derek jamar townsel d'angelo rustic Uriel Ricardo Ramirez Mackenzie and Sackett Melissa Diane Preston Shelby Nicole Celine Richardson Darius Dwayne Smith Andrew James Smith Breon Simone Richards Gisele Sandoval Leanna Denise Stratton Diana Esmeralda Santos Samantha Catherine Shafer Adrian Ellery Celitro Celitro Alexandria Elena Piedra Isaac Piedra Matt Matt Wooden Icholas Jalen Isaías Blanco Greta Rosa solomon benjamín sierra taurus tyrion joseph rafferty jonathan isaiah white nathaniel erin white lucas lennon santos pie david james wilson trevion antonio williams daniel john wood iv carson ann williams eric matthew smith rodrigo valdez martinez caitlyn irene rich wireman mattheward waltmeyer tajinay jakarli sims michaela michelle shanta e white josue isaiah wilson j alexander pollock avery jacqueline strand anna lena sankey peyton michaela wescott joshua walter schaefer parker john romelus silas paul warren Elijah river thompsonkimena vasquez joslin elaine zefenay alex m zajac eve elizabeth tyler chloe lynn wallace yes here vasquez cassidy gene yarber samantha rose vande pal laurel elizabeth wolfe lucinda eleanor wallace christina mary ward emerson grace wesselhoff david asher samuel ewell sierra elaine white journyla josean wilkerson yes shakila can go nzález as Educator graduation day is one of my favorite days, not only is it a time to celebrate academic achievements , it is also a time to celebrate the bonds formed with friends, teachers, and others in your school community, even if this graduation ceremony was not the one you dreamed of.

Since grade school, I hope you know how many people from Kalamazoo Public Schools and the community at large are celebrating you today. Many words of wisdom and encouragement have been shared with the graduates. I don't think anyone has said it better than our former president. barack obama if the world is going to get better it will depend on you and suddenly everything feels like it's at stake this is your time to take the initiative no one can tell you anymore you should be waiting your turn no one can tell you since this is how it's always been has done more than ever, this is your time to shape the world of your generation.

You have more role models, more roadmaps, more resources than the civil rights generation. Do you have more tools, technology and talents than me? generation, no generation has been better positioned to be warriors for justice and remake the world, so graduates, I say go out and reshape the world so that it becomes a better place, a kinder place, a more beautiful place , a more just place, a place that provides freedom, hope, opportunity, a place that uplifts and encourages and a place that teaches us all how to be the best we can be. I wish you happiness, success and joy as superintendent with the authority vested in me by the Michigan Department of Education and the public of Kalamazoo. school board of education I declare you a graduate, congratulations to the graduates of lloyd norrix high school and if we haven't said it enough tonight, congratulations to the graduates, the class of 2021, you all make me incredibly proud, uh , and at this moment we lift our ceremony.

Tonight, have a wonderful evening and I'm sorry, we have one more person who will be recognized as Janiece Turner.