Sequoia Pathway 2021 Graduation
Sequoia Pathway Academy graduate Farrah Ballou said senior year was difficult. "I’m really proud that we pushed through," she said. Photo by Brian Petersheim Jr.

Graduates at Sequoia Pathway Academy were encouraged Friday night to consider their own legacy as they stepped into a new phase of their lives.

Wearing purple caps and gowns, and gold sashes, 19 seniors celebrated their achievement in a demanding year during commencement exercises in the school gymnasium.

“You graduates have persevered through the most difficult school year in history,”
assistant principal Sherry Corbin told the Class of 2021, then quickly getting to the heart of her message to the graduates.

“My question for you tonight is what legacy will you leave?” she said, passing along a few tips for them to ponder. She advised them to support the people and causes important to them, to reflect and decide what is most important in their lives and to pursue their passion.

“Leaving a legacy is an important part of your life’s work,” she said. “A legacy develops from a life dedicated to self-reflection and purpose. You’re going to leave a legacy, no matter what you do. It isn’t a question if they will, it’s how they’ll remember you. What kind of legacy will you leave?”

Campus director Lee Bryan said it was an honor to get to know each and every one of the “fine young men and women” in the senior class.

“As I look over the students, I see so much potential,” he told the graduates and their friends and family sitting in the bleachers. “I see futures that are bright and I see young men and women who have been equipped to go and be productive citizens.

“I’m reminded of a quote by C.S. Lewis and it goes like this: ‘You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.’”

He encouraged the students to think about the outcome in life they desired for themselves, and then decide what they can do from here on to achieve it.

“I wish I could stand up here and reassure you that everything will go according to plan,” he said. “I will not lie to you. It always doesn’t go the way you think it should. However, you always have the opportunity to start over.

“Please note you don’t always have to get it right,” he continued. “You won’t always get it right. As you learn from your mistakes and you grow into a better person because of it, it’s a win. You are winners, no matter what anyone has told you or what anyone tells you or what anyone will make you feel, you are winners. You have got this. I’m excited to hear great things from you.”

Sequoia Pathway 2021 Graduation
Salutatorian Cara Krathwohl addresses her fellow graduates during Friday’s commencement exercises at Sequoia Pathway Academy. Photo by Brian Petersheim Jr.

‘I’M INSPIRED BY YOU ALL’

In her address, salutatorian Cara Krathwohl acknowledged the “chaotic” times brought on by the pandemic, but said it was among a set of circumstances that brought classmates together.

“These four years have been fun because of the great friends I’ve had here but no true high school experience is complete without a little teenage drama,” she said. “Another good thing that came out of Sequoia Pathway Academy in the past three years is that the whole student body is like a close-knit family. When we, as the student body, felt that losing our math teacher last year was unfair, we stood together and protested against the injustice we felt was put into place by the previous administration.”

“I want to congratulate all the seniors who are graduating because you guys made it through high school and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for all of us,” she said, adding her gratitude for teachers who ensured her education was not boring.

Krathwohl was among members of the class who dressed up their mortarboards for the occasion. Hers was decorated with teal feathers. Others were livened with flowers, but the most creative decoration, perhaps, was the wooden beach chair and pool rising from Rocco Prentice’s head.

One of the highlights of the evening was guest speaker Dawn Demps, Ph.D., who dropped out of high school at 16, then earned her high school diploma 15 years later, by then a mother of two children. As a double major, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies and Social Sciences, and went on to earn a master’s degree in Social Justice Studies and then a doctorate in Education Policy and Evaluation from Arizona State University.

She started by sharing that she visited the school a week earlier to meet with students and hear their stories.

“We’re up here, we’re asked to inspire the young, but I’m inspired by you all,” she told the class before getting real with them.

“I’m going to keep it 100 with you. It’s going to get harder. It’s going to get harder,” she said. “In life, our struggles either reveal, they heal or they kill.”

She advised the graduates to surround themselves with people who challenge them.

“Recognize those people in your life who support and help you upgrade your goals,” she said. “If you look to your left and you look to your right, and you’re the smart person in that group, you’re in the wrong line. You should not be the smartest person that you’re with. You should not be that most aspirational person. You should be looking for people who have even higher aspirations than you, so you can be inspired by them and you can learn from them.

“But also the people, like your family members and your friends who are supporting you,” she added, “recognize them. We don’t get anywhere in this life by ourselves.

She ended her speech by imploring the 19 graduates to understand and share the feelings of others as they navigate life.

“Lead with empathy,” she told them. “Now a lot of people say lead with love, and I think love is great, but it is possible to love without empathy. And love without empathy is empty. Because if you can’t see the world through somebody else’s eyes, you’re not really going to give a care. And when they stop serving your needs … you’ll walk right over them.

“We live in a world full of people that unfortunately don’t have a lot of empathy. So, I ask you to lead with that empathy.”

‘WE DID THE BEST WE COULD’

The graduates were called by English teacher LaCresha Mergerum to receive their diplomas.

Shortly thereafter, they moved their tassles from the right side of their mortarboards to the left, then threw their caps into the air.

The school year was difficult in many ways, said graduate TJ Boyd, a Puma athlete.

“Sports-wise, it was tough,” he said after the ceremony. “Pathway has gone to the (football) playoffs and championship for three years in a row and we were about to do that this year again. We thought we were going to go all the way and win the championship, and then last minute, the night before our first playoff game, we got punched in the face, and we had our season cancelled because someone here had COVID.”

Academically, the year was a bit of a roller-coaster ride that ended well, he said.

“In the beginning it was really hard because you go from online, and then we did hybrid for a little bit then we’re back in school and we were excited,” he said. “Then we did hybrid and, then we were back in back in person. We just went from there. We had a really good year. We did the best we could.”

He said commencement was bittersweet.

“I’m excited that it’s the next step, college, but I’m also a little sad that it is over. Four years in high school, that’s all you know, going to school every day, and now it’s over. But I know there’s going to be a next step, bigger steps.

Fellow graduate Farrah Ballou also talked about the crazy year.

“It was really, really difficult for us,” she said, tears welling in her eyes, “especially with the coronavirus, not only here, but everywhere. It was really difficult for everyone. I’m really proud that we pushed through and that we made it this far. We’re thankful for everyone that supported us this whole way.

“We’ve been through a lot and I’m just really proud.”