For every young adult who received a diploma during Mt. Madonna
Continuation High School’s commencement ceremonies, their
respective homeroom teacher composed a snapshot biography capturing
the essence of that student’s character. Full article
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For every young adult who received a diploma during Mt. Madonna Continuation High School’s commencement ceremonies, their respective homeroom teacher composed a snapshot biography capturing the essence of that student’s character.
It’s one perk of attending a school with 200 students, where smaller classrooms and close relationships bolster academic success in youth confronting personal challenges, outside adversity and learning obstacles.
Standing amid the bustle of supporters doting on 55 MMHS graduates Tuesday evening outside the Gavilan College Theatre, extended family and friends surrounded Felisha and Yevette Renteria.
“We’re separated right now because of a housing situation,” said their mother, Joanne Renteria.
Beaming with pride, she was on the verge of tears when she added,”we hope to live together soon.”
This family is no stranger to trying circumstances, as Felisha, 19 explained “we’ve been moving around our whole life.”
Adding to that struggle is the absence of Joanne’s husband and father of her daughters, who has been incarcerated for nine years.
While the two sisters won’t be reunited with their father for another three years, both said their dad has been supportive and writes them letters.
“I wish he could be here too,” Felisha added.
Topping everything off was the uncertainty of graduating for Yevette, 18, who found out one week prior to commencement she’d be receiving a diploma.
“To see them being successful, despite the obstacles, despite the setbacks that they face daily is really rewarding,” said Joanne Carollo, an independent study teacher at MMHS who worked closely with the Renterias. “The sisters have put in a lot of time and effort. Nothing was given to them. Even with their work – they motivated each other.”
Coincidentally and without mutually conspiring on it, both sisters have mirroring aspirations of transferring to San Jose State University to study child development; Felisha being interested in cosmetology as well. Both will attend Gavilan College in the fall.
Besides dealing with makeshift transportation methods and living scenarios, Carollo said the girls always had the “resilience to go on” and were among the first students to get their paperwork submitted for scholarships and college enrollment.
“Once they got started, they took off,” said Carollo. “They made my Tuesdays.”
The siblings are but two amid myriad inspiring success stories at MMHS this year, evidenced by each teacher who lauded accomplishments and barriers surmounted by students. Staff members delivered thoughtfully crafted statements resembling the tone of a close friend or mentor, displaying insight gained by looking past the surface to limitless potential waiting to be tapped into.
“Jesse Barbosa would also like to thank the ‘haters,'” said teacher Jamie Cohen, “for telling him he couldn’t make it – because that gave them him the chance to prove them wrong.”
Of Jesus Rodriguez, “his friends call him Jesus,” said Cohen, pronouncing the name like the Biblical figure. “Jesus will not doubt be doing something very interesting 10 years from now.”
Rashonda Butler, a teacher who will not be returning to MMHS next year, described Stephanie Alatorre as “more gifted than she realizes.”
Turning and addressing Alatorre directly, Butler told her, “You are capable of doing more than you think.”
The stories continued to pour in, from Rocio Rodriguez, who was inspired by her daughter; to Enrique Padilla, the first in his family to graduate; to Tricia Monique Garcia, who wants to study recording and production in the music industry.
“‘Graduation is not optional.’ These words from A.J.’s mom helped him to realize graduation was a requirement, and he had to do it this year,” said Carollo of Salgado Alexander Mariscal, who goes by A.J.
Not only did Mariscal graduate, he plans to attend San Jose City College and study English or creative writing. He hopes to become a well-known poet one day, Carollo said.
From the very beginning of ceremonies – when students Riley Rhodebeck and Nathan Padilla performed an original song on acoustic guitar – to when Campos pointed out, “Michael Mora is the son of one of my former graduates. That tells you how old I am,” the event had the feel of a family gathering.
Art instructor Rick Charvet said he labored for a day to write a haiku for each of his five students, a feat that entailed strategically pinpointing the pithiest possible synopsis of each personality in a 17-syllable poem.
“Brittney Robledo,” he read, “Cre-a-tiv-i-ty!/Homebody dreams sewn floor to roof/Trees dance; loves Jackson.”
Of Salvador Velasquez, the student who drew the illustration for the cover graduation of the program:
“DaVinci move over/Realistic faces drawn/The koi fish rejoice.”
And of Adrian Espinoza:
“An engine humming/Eloquently tuned goals now/Dreams grow like bamboo.”
As audience members later filed out of the auditorium and formed clusters around the brand new graduates, Joanne Renteria reiterated how proud she was of her daughters.
“It’s overwhelming. They’ve been through a lot,” she said. “They pulled it off. I knew they could.”
