001thank you [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] commencement ceremony Independence Day is commencement family my name is Michael Flores and I will be your Master of Ceremonies today is a special day and one we are excited to celebrate together today's ceremony is being live streamed and will remain on a District's YouTube channel to view at your convenience it is so great that we can all be together today to celebrate the class of 2023 without further Ado let us begin at this time I would like to introduce Jocelyn Hernandez who will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance after the Pledge of Allegiance please remain standing for our national anthem will the audience please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and please remain
002standing while we play our national anthem place your right place your right hand over your heart ready begin I Pledge Your Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all please remain standing for our national anthem [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] thank you please be seated I would like to begin a ceremony by introducing John Hernandez as he will read the decorum statement I'm terrified good afternoon families this ceremony is both a joyous and solemn occasion please let us remember to be curious to those around us we need to be respectful to our seniors during the ceremony so no air horns or noise makers please remain seated while filming or taking photos and please
003remember to keep the recording device that chest level to not impede the vision of others seated around you please keep the Iowa or walkway open throughout the ceremony thank you John and now I would like to introduce our distinguished guest I would like to introduce and welcome Mr Brian O'Neill president of the Board of Trustees Ms Anne-Marie Randall Trejo Clerk of the Board of Trustees Dr Jaren freed assistant superintendent of Educational Services Mr Brad Jackson assistant superintendent of Human Resources Mr Lara coordinator principal of alternative education and our amazing graduation speakers we also like to welcome and thank our teachers administrators counselors our families and a wonderful School staff who have supported the graduating class of 2023. now please welcome our first senior class speaker Lexi Rocha [Applause] good afternoon fellow graduates my name is
004Lexi Rocha I am Gilbert High School's Poet Laureate this year as well as president of both GSA and Poetry Club today is a Bittersweet experience we receive freedom from an institution that has bound us for our entire lives we will say goodbye to many hopefully not forever and finally be faced with the reality that we are truly on our own Independence can be scary especially at first I have faith in you all though I have witnessed firsthand the incredible things that Gilbert students can do from rallies for social justice in the quad to organizing volunteer events for local charities this year has been a very unique experience for us all I would say that my high school career in its entirety has been pretty unique for me quarantine started about two months early I used
005to be a student at Oxford Academy and I did not like it there I decided to switch to homeschooling from there and my education remained that way for the first three years of high school I felt secluded coming from this complete isolation to Gilbert this year was jarring sure but I would not have had it any other way I would like to express extreme gratitude to the students and staff that have made my Gilbert experience so very positive Miss freeze Miss Hawley Mr Callan and Mr Dawson to name a few I made connections here that I will remember and forever and learned more here than my other three years of high school combined even if there was conflict one thing that I can be completely sure of is that we have all bonded as a
006senior class this group of people will never be together again some of you may be grateful for that but even still I urge you all to take in this moment you are all taking a great step forward as our very own Miss Bucher once said don't be afraid of change life can take you in New Directions that will surprise you and make you a better person if you're open to it be proud Gladiators thank you class of 2023 I wish you all the best thank you now please welcome Ashley Solis [Applause] good afternoon Gilbert and independent studies class of 2023 my name is Ashley Solis and I am a student representing independent studies I have been in independent studies throughout my high school career and I can say unequivocally that without independent studies I would
007not be where I am today as alternative education graduates I'm sure that many of you can relate to that end I would like to thank my teachers members of The Faculty the board of directors and this great graduating class of 2023 for the opportunity to speak to everyone and tell my story when I was younger I was a very social kid who took the opportunity to talk to anyone around me I was always called the social butterfly by my parents because I always wanted to be in a conversation whether it be with a kid my age or an adult who didn't even know me however when I was around four years old my mom got sick and my parents now would go to the hospital every few days and although not as frequent now we
008are still making regular visits to the hospital this constant travel to the hospital changed me throughout the years as I got older my social side slowly faded away as I got anxious to talk to people including teachers I struggled to ask for help even when I noticed my grades were slipping and while I was in Middle School my grades weren't the best and I rarely asked for help due to my constant anxiety and fear of teachers not wanting to help me I felt like a burden to them I left middle school with bad grades and the mindset of continuing to get bad grades in high school my parents noticed my struggles and wanted to help me overcome any problems to help me succeed in the future and when it was time to start high school
009my parents brought up the option of independent studies and encouraged me to join the program I immediately felt welcomed by the teachers and instantly knew they were going to try their best to make sure I succeed my teacher Mr okula who actually asked did I not mention him has been a major part of my educational success and he made me feel like I could succeed even through life struggles and even encouraged me to take breaks to make sure I had time to focus on my mental health so I didn't overwork myself instead of feeling like a burden to my teachers like I had in the past I suddenly felt like a contributing partner in my academic success the longer I stayed in independent studies the more comfortable I felt with the process which led me
010to have even more say in my educational and life goals I felt empowered to give my all and I knew that I had a willing and supportive teacher who would always have my back because of the flexible schedule and the encouragement to take extra opportunities I felt comfortable enough to take dual enrollment courses which means I was simultaneously taking my High School courses while taking and earning credits at a local community college this was an opportunity that I am grateful for being nudged towards in addition I was also provided the opportunity to attend multiple field trips in college campus tours which ultimately played a direct role in deciding where I will be going to college next year thanks to the help and encouragement from my teachers counselors and family I am graduating high school one
011year early with college credits and I feel Beyond prepared to continue my education in college to one day pursue my dream career all of us whether you attend Gilbert or independent studies have been through our own struggles and everyone here was able to continue their journey and overcome obstacles that life has thrown in our path congratulations to the class of 2023 I'm excited to see where our future brings us thank you and now I would like to introduce April matamortos [Applause] good afternoon parents families friends teachers and District board members we are gathered here on this special day today to celebrate this big accomplishment of the class of 2023. I am April Matt Immortals and I'm honored to be standing here with you with all of you today I wouldn't want to share this moment
012with anyone else just like Howard Schultz once said success is best when it's shared I am so proud of each and every one of us in all honesty I wasn't sure how to prepare graduation speech yeah here I am today sharing a bit of my high school Journey with you guys like most of you I experienced many setbacks that led me to sit in the classrooms of Gilbert High School before that I was nearly ready to give up on school I felt so excluded Walking The Halls of my home school I just wasn't able to thrive there I got lost in a stack of papers and books my mental health began to worsen and so did my grades and my Chrysler help were swimming in the sea with another 2 933 students then I was
013faced with the opportunity of attending Gilbert High School this was a big blessing in disguise for me walking through the gates of Gilbert felt like walking into Open Arms it took some time to get familiar with all the new faces But as time passed I discovered these were the people I needed to be surrounded with we shared similar stories and life circumstances that led us here for once I wasn't alone I was slowly restoring faith in myself again I am proud to say I'm in my graduation requirements five months earlier I climbed my way up with the help of the amazing staff of Gilbert so thank you to all my amazing teachers and staff for making me see the potential I have I thank God for all of you and I thank God for getting
014me through I especially want to thank Miss freeze you are truly the best and you have changed my life in ways I wouldn't have been able to do myself you're the best laughs last but not least I want to thank my parents who no matter how many times I let them down they never gave up on me and let me know that giving up wasn't going to be an option I love the community we've built within the borders of Gilbert High School this school has helped us all develop far more than just as students Gilbert has taught us the characteristics of Being Human I wish I wasn't in such a rush to grow up because because I wasted so much time worrying about when that time would come this school stopped that timer and let
015me and many of us enjoy each and every day now we will start a new beginning I hope you all find your hidden talent and make it shine Wayne Gretzky once said you missed a hundred percent of the shots you never take so don't be afraid to take the risk in life that will lead you to your full potential you all have what it takes to be someone amazing in this world and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us all we all deserve to be here congratulations class of 2023 thank you okay now please welcome Bianca thank you good afternoon families and friends who knew I would be standing here in front of all of you today reflecting on my first semester of high school I am at a
016very different stage than what I would have expected and as a completely different person over the course of four years through numerous friendships enrolling at various schools I have undergone several phages phases of self-discovery continuing every single day on finding who I am in the world at 18 I barely have any answers to life but I have learned that I will continue to discover them as I continue to grow older and wiser of the very few answers I have garnered in the past four years two of the most important ones are self-reliance and self-love you must do things for you you must be happy with yourself you must love yourself Embrace who you are regardless of what other individuals will think or say because in the end you are not living with those individuals you
017are going to be living with yourself your own individual do not let them restrict you from being yourself well loving yourself is only half the equation relying on yourself is a missing variable there's no one who will push you to strive towards your goals besides you through my integral final semesters in independent studies I was able to ascertain this crucial lesson I had the aid of my amazing teacher Miss Ariano but I also had to Aid myself in completing my own work there is no set lesson plan similar to life I had to work towards my own goals and rely on myself to complete them at the beginning of senior year I not I did not believe I was going to finish my required credits and the time to graduate with the class of 2023
018and frankly the lack of work great greatly concerned my administrators with their assistance I was able to begin to complete my work in person starting to see that if I do not do it no one will there were no outside forces besides me and my education in fighting that it was up to me I began to diligently complete my assignments in my tenacious pursuit to graduate my goals were accomplished and all necessary work was done in March almost two whole months before standing on the stage today my high school experience is very different from most beginning at a private Catholic School transferring to a public school and integrating into independent studies and ultimately reaching the stage of graduation though my secondary education was unconventional I have gained insight into seeing that doing the unconventional is
019how to be different the ability to stand out the quality of being remembered with this final sentence I say goodbye to my unconventional experience don't forget me [Applause] and last but not least please welcome Emily Martinez to recite her graduation poem hello I'm Emily Martinez and this is my poem for the class of 2023. it's called our final chapter when we were five they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up our answers were things and we're here now and over our senioritis because we did the work and successfully defended the years of study have finally ended we have grown these last four years and now the day has come to turn our tassels from surviving finals to surviving the pandemic we will say farewell to the people who taught us to
020read and write and as we walked on the field in our cap and gowns there shouldn't be any frowns as a wise teacher of mine Mr freund once said do it and like it we made our families proud as they sit here clapping for all but cheering for one our years of high school are finally done to the teachers who we've turned gray we just want to say thank you for leading the way because now some of us still want to be astronauts presidents and cowboys but that's our decision now and that's okay it's about our willingness to believe in ourselves just as Gilbert has believed in US oh time what has been done to us old time please be kind to us for it was always turn off your caps lock and now it's
021time to take our caps off but hey we graduated high school this is something we've achieved sitting in the chairs I thought about all my past events that had led me to the person standing above thee and as the end draws near and with a heavy heart I fear I'll miss the campus grounds the classroom and morning Rush Bell we'll always be schoolmates even though we may not know each other's names we all come from different schools but we're all here by the same fate so smile and yell hurray and hope all the things we learned will help us along the way with the wise words by the author from where we all started don't cry because it's over smile because it happened because after today our dreams and goals will lead the way and
022it all starts right here on our graduation day thank you [Applause] thank you Emily that was beautiful and now please welcome our principal to the podium Mr Jose Lara [Music] welcome welcome everybody welcome good afternoon parents Padres of familias caregivers students and staff welcome Gilbert and auhsc Independence to Gilbert and auhsd independent studies High School commitment ceremony for the class of 2023 my name is Jose Lara and I am coordinator of alternative education I would like to take a moment to thank ours Mr matsuda our superintendent the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees and cabinet for the opportunity to recognize our graduating seniors I would also like to take a moment to recognize the parents and caregivers of our graduating class who have supported our students over the course of the past four
023years especially during this last legular journey as we turned to in-person instruction caregivers parents give yourselves a round of applause let's give our loved ones in the stands thank you for your efforts families to get us all here these past four years six years in our district have them you have all demonstrated passion grit and perseverance you've completed your Capstone portfolios you showed in a historic way what a wonderful place Gilbert and independent studies can be as a school at Gilbert you won the Democracy School designation you have are part of everyone here in the audience is part of the largest over 300 graduates this year that we've had in over 10 years in our district give yourselves a round of applause the largest graduating class you have really embraced in the words of Cesar
024Chavez SI SE puede yes we can grit determination and I am confident that everyone here has a bright future ahead of me congratulations class of 2023 you did it graduates we have arrived at the moment you have been waiting for I would allow I'd once again like to introduce our dignitaries who will be presenting our diplomas to our graduates students please prepare to receive your diplomas Board of Trustees Brian O'Neill Board of Trustees Randall Trejo announcing the graduates will be teacher Miss Maribel arviso and teacher Mr Gil bonales please respect each one of our graduates and hold your applause until all names have been read will now begin the awarding of our diplomas I think so yeah I think you yes tasting is this one I don't know how to turn this on I don't
025know how to turn it on no sounds like it testing testing there you go John Hernandez Michael Flores thank you Jocelyn Hernandez bien Giorgio soyatt yes April Matamoros Emily Martinez Ashley Nicole Solis Lori Soriano Alexis Rocha Kathleen Soriano Gill Giovanni Sanabria [Music] David Walter Pena [Music] Ethan Carrillo Angelina Rosas Kayleen Keen Brian Guzman [Music] Amanda Hernandez Natalie Guzman Aiden pastrano Hannah Martinez Daniel striver well [Music] Julissa Perez Jack Gonzalez Samantha Velez Brad Elizondo [Music] Angel Castaneda Michael Cortez Jason Ellie Giselle Gutierrez Rodney Fairfield Kayla perea [Applause] Manuel ornales Samantha Perez Liliana Castro [Music] Laila Samora sapien Isis Rodriguez Ramos [Music] Jackie Perez Ochoa Jeremiah 2. Kaylee Nava Madeline Kim Alvaro Castillo Michel Flores Pena Julio Camarena [Music] Zachary Mallory [Music] Farhad Siddiqui Joshua Munoz Alan Navarro April Torres [Music] angel apollinar Leslie Ramirez [Music] Rebecca
026Gonzalez [Music] Dania Gonzalez Dominguez Lisbeth Flores Jacob Johnson Arlene Hernandez Fierro y Rodriguez Cambria Stone Angelica Torres Salgado [Music] Leslie Acosta Anthony Silva Daniel Cogswell Eric Sato Ramirez Alexander Vargas Figueroa Kelly Vargas Adrian Lopez [Music] Emily Padilla Aaron Juarez Aguilar Leslie Cruz Angel Reyes audelo [Music] Mia Fernandez Edgar Valdez [Music] Adrian piscino Tammy kanawati Nathaniel Kim Robert Caton [Applause] Sarah bergfeld Omar lagunas Zamora Raul Molina Badillo Oscar loessa [Music] hello Zilla olivo go ahead Michael henriquez [Applause] [Music] Emmanuel Morales Perla Rosales yeah bill Anna Juarez Dominic Wade Ashley Sanchez Ismail Morales Donna Rosas Sambrano David Alvarez Timothy Benitez Alex Sanchez [Music] Francisco Barajas Sarah Balon Melina Cisneros Evelyn Gallardo Analisa Gonzalez Alexis casares Kelly santibanes Monica Juarez [Music] Ramon via senor Oscar Mendiola David Roland Genesis Mora Vasquez Damien bribisca Victoria Castaneda Montana Clarissa Salcedo
027Alex asensio Marissa Salvador [Music] Chamorro Melanie Rodriguez Ramirez Trinity Edwards Alexander Rodriguez Isabella Smith [Music] Miranda Bayan Rosemary Dominguez [Music] Anaya Thorne Jennifer Hernandez Ventura Joanna Lopez [Music] Anthony Rosales Joaquin Jimenez Efren Saldana Bryce Walker Ruben Andrade Martinez Jennifer Jimenez Brian Vargas Amy Aguilar Jonathan Vasquez Jonathan Pena Rosa Damien Cuevas Geraldine Lida Miguel Chavez [Music] soy canette [Music] Samuel Ponce Martinez Destiny Ramirez Melissa Juarez Hernandez Alisa Guerrero [Music] Vienna de Santiago Padilla Ryan Cobian [Music] Alexander Jung Lydia Warren Erica Gonzalez Kira Warren [Music] Jacob buen rostro [Music] Nathaniel Baker Rodriguez Vargas I love you God no way Pacheco Brittany Hoya cozy Cervantes Jacqueline Ramos Alisa Garcia Carmona Ricky Savala Xenia said Perkins [Music] [Applause] [Music] Mariana Chavez Josiah Cervantes Jocelyn delis Marco Antonio Juarez [Applause] Rafael Galicia magana Caden landfill Ian Fitz Morris Ernesto Morales
028altamirano omniah jubari Ezekiel Cruz [Music] Giselle Rodriguez Carrizales Jonathan martial [Applause] Daniela Rodriguez Carrizales and then Dominguez Perla Munoz Manuel Martinez Chavez Angel Trujillo Khalil Griffith Teresa Pineda Erica Hall Leilani Calderon Anjali Rivera [Music] Adriana Morales Carlos Rivas Jessica Aguirre Leslie santibanes Fatima Ochoa barahas Kevin Martinez Ricardo sonido Bravo Blanco Leslie celis Aiden Bermudez Contreras Vienna Fuentes charcoal Andres Delgado [Music] Anthony Velazquez Nathan Vasquez [Music] Eric Anthony Gill Christopher Gonzalez suniga [Music] Alvaro morillo Aiden Rojas Daniel Martinez isaia Jimenez Edwin Gillen Martinez Israel samperio Jacqueline cardoso Miguel Gonzalez Fernandez Lee said Cordoba Junior Rodrigo Vasquez [Music] Oscar Solorio Tiffany Razo Kenya Rodriguez Tyler okabe Joshua Tooley [Applause] abdaya foreign [Music] Christian Hernandez Caden King [Music] Brandon Alvarez Cameron Daniels [Music] Stephanie Garcia Pineda uh just go by Kevin Okay Kevin Singh Antonio Pineda Brady sharpentier
029Diego alvidres Gabriel Garcia Miguel Mercado Garcia Andrew Lopez Charlene olgin Alejandro Gomez Daniel Munoz Reyes Andrew Leon Michael Herrera Jason Healey [Music] Juliana Rosales Martinez [Applause] Jasmine jigaretta Serena po Kimberly Medina Luis Lopez Jocelyn Sandoval Neftali Amaro Brian lava my lady Argo Mello Giovanni Jimenez Jacob Gutierrez Esmeralda Montes [Applause] ah Leslie kennish [Applause] Matthew avarka Michelle Munoz [Music] Alyssa Ortega Hugo Herrera Osuna Charlie Cruz Diego Ramos Gomez Michaela Williamson Delilah Jones sideli Sanchez Esmeralda Serafin [Music] Mia verdusco Gomez [Music] Angel Gonzalez Anthony Perez Ismael Alcala Raphael Navarro Dustin Ruiz Martinez Brianna Reyes Sanchez Jonathan Estrada Joelle Ochoa [Music] Elaine Medrano [Music] Victor Gonzalez [Applause] [Music] Villa senor [Music] Alexis Acosta Aguilar Brianna Sanchez Medina congratulations class of 2023 please rise [Applause] it gives me great honor and we hear that I love it it gives
030me great honor to present the class of 2023 to the Board of Trustees for certification please welcome to the podium clerk Board of Trustees Anne-Marie Rachel Trejo who will now certify the class thank you it is my Supreme honor and pleasure as trustee for the Anaheim Union High School District to officially certify that the students present here today from the class of 2023 have all duly met the requirements of the State of California and have completed the prescribed course of study established by the Anaheim Union High School District students you may now move your tassels from the right to the left congratulations friends thank you Board of Trustees Anne-Marie Randall Trejo graduates please be seated thank you for attending the 2023 commencement ceremony for Gilbert High School and auhsd independent studies families and friends please
031remain seated until all graduates have recess out of the stadium graduate please follow our distinguished guests as they exit the stage and Stadium parents family members and Friends our graduates were nerified earlier to meet you at your vehicle after the ceremony remember to take all of your belongings with you as you exit the stadium and enjoy the rest of your day and class congratulations class of 2023 we did it [Applause] foreign [Music] all right [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] laughs [Music] it's awesome [Music] thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] foreign