Lompoc High School celebrates Class of 2022 for ‘grit and tenacity’ | Education

“Graduates, I think we can all concur that you’ve had rather a journey in the final four a long time,” she mentioned, pointing to the unprecedented issues encountered that include “relentless hours expended on Zoom.”

Irrespective of all of that, Pico inspired graduates “to are living in this minute and know you manufactured it.”

“You are right here since of your dedication to thrive, your distinctive presents to achieve ambitions and your dedication to navigate these choppy waters we connect with large faculty,” she stated. “One detail I’ve acquired about this class is that you do not give up. I assure this will serve you perfectly relocating ahead.”

In a shining example of that resolve, Lompoc Large College honored 2022 fantastic student Yanneli Santos ahead of her wander across the stage.

“Yanneli is an incredibly smart and hardworking young woman,” said college student counselor Maggie Fernandez who headed up the effort to select Santos. “She is listed here for the option to get an education and learning. Her dad and mom reside in Mexico but have been quite supportive of her tutorial aims from wherever they are.

“I’m beyond happy of how really hard Yanneli has worked, and she unquestionably warrants recognition for her attempts and sacrifices she is building to greater herself and pursue an instruction.”

Santos, 18, relocated back again to Lompoc from Jalisco, Mexico, three yrs back right after practically a ten years absent from the states. Santos was also joined by her sister, Itzel Santos, a mounting senior at Lompoc Superior who will graduate in 2023 with hopes to attend UCLA afterward. 

Santos recalled how brushing up on her English had included to the challenge of altering to a new lifetime in California with her grandparents — and absent from her dad and mom and minimal brother — but acknowledged that every little thing had served as a catalyst for results.  

“I was often just centered on my teachers simply because I required to make my mom and dad proud,” she described. “I’m significantly absent from them and they are producing sacrifices for us. Them not looking at us and us not viewing them can make me force additional to realize success.”

Inspite of the odds, Santos persevered and will head to Cal Poly in the fall to research civil engineering on a two-year housing scholarship.

Santos credits her possess tough do the job, engineering classes at Lompoc High, and her uncles — who have labored in design their whole lives — for inspiring her to abide by her desire to make significant factors.

“It really is genuinely fascinating that [uncles] can build items wherever folks reside — and airports,” she said. “Being part of that is definitely fascinating.”

Following faculty, Santos said she programs to open a development organization in California, shut enough to still see her family members on a normal basis. 

“I am very pleased of who I’ve turn into and in which I am headed,” she claimed. “Civil engineering is just not likely to be straightforward, but I am likely to make the most of it and make my relatives and every person right here happy.”