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In all, 51 members of Anzar High School’s Class of 2026 continued the joyful tradition of entering the graduation ceremony one at a time to their chosen theme music, their names shouted out by their friends and family as they shook hands and bopped down the aisle.
Once the students were seated, principal Angela Crawley, herself leaving the school at the end of this term, addressed them for the last time, offering a bittersweet reminder that they were “never meant to stay here.”
“From the moment you walked through our doors,” Crawley said, “everything you did, every class, every conversation, every presentation, every hard moment you pushed through was pointing towards this exact day. This is the finish line and the starting line. Let’s go for it.”
Saying that her greatest joy as a principal was not just directing the school but seeing students excel and reach their goals, she said she had reason to be proud. Among the class honors, 36 students completed Post-Graduate Service Learning, with 26 earning a burgundy cord signifying “with distinction.” Ten students earned the Golden State Seal of Merit, and another 10 earned the California Seal of Biliteracy.
In a joint speech, co-salutatorian Felix Io and class valedictorian Arlo Burk-Raymond tried to define what the “starting line” might look like.
“Regardless of whether or not you have a plan,” Io said, “we don’t know how our future goals or plans and dreams may change. With this in mind, we believe that while you plan for the future and reflect on your past, ultimately, you should be living in the present.”
“We want you to understand that change is inevitable,” Burk-Raymond said, “and that accepting it is a part of life. We all know how to change, so I hope we can all learn to enact change and, most importantly, adapt to the change around us and move along in the world.”
Speaking as a senior advisor, Anzar English teacher George Goldkind reminded the seniors that they all have the potential to do great things, and offered some advice.
“You need to remember this is just a reset,” he said, “A whole new cycle of your life. Any moment now, it’s coming. What’s coming? You are. Well, the new you. When you think about it, we’re all different people all throughout our lives.”
He went on to say that even though the path forward might not be clearly lit, he trusted the students to find their way and that their choices, far more than their abilities, define who they are.
“Remember to never be cruel,” he said, “and to never be cowardly. Remember, hate is always foolish, and that love, love is always a choice. Always try to be nice and never fail to be kind. Believe in yourself. Dream, try, do good. Class dismissed.”
Concluding the ceremony, Crawley exhorted the students, as they turned their tassels, to go forth into the world, overcome adversity and soar to excellence.
“Strive every day to be all you can be and to make a difference,” she said. “To be a positive force for changing your world, your nation, your community, and yourself.”
Bidding the students a final “good luck,” she invited the entire Class of 2026 to join her onstage for a group photo.
Following the ceremony, graduate Miranda Lopez said she was happy that she and her peers were moving on to something bigger, but sad to be leaving the school and all the experiences they had shared.
“At other schools,” she said, “you wouldn’t have the same chance to know all of your peers in the way that you do here. It’s small enough for you to recognize everyone and make meaningful connections with people we are going to remember for the rest of our lives.”
Heading to Gavilan College to study nursing, graduate Aneli Vargas said she was excited to be graduating and to move toward a career.
“I’ve been waiting for so long to finally go out there,” she said, “and find out just where my path in life takes me, what my future has waiting for me. My time at Anzar was really good, and I feel the school is part of me, my life and who I am.”
As she made her way through the graduation crowd, congratulating her departing students and posing with some of them for final photographs, Crawley reflected on the Class of 2026 and the last school year.
“They’re going to go so far in life,” she said, “and have so much fun. I’m so proud. Many of them had to overcome many obstacles, whether in their personal lives or in their academics. Seeing them push through has been amazing and inspiring. They are only going up from here.”
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