Cleveland graduates with laughter and all the hope of the future

Teens grinning with relief from ear to ear, parents yelling at the top of their lungs in support and faculty holding heads high. That was the scene at Cleveland High School's 2024 Graduation May 20 in the Rio Rancho Events Center.

Cleveland student body president Diego Solano was the first to speak.

"I feel very honestly new to all of you listening to me since I am used to always yelling and trying to hype you up. But today, watch the end of that chapter," Solano said.

Solano added that he knows his fellow seniors are used to being told to be kind to others but that it "truly makes an impact on people's lives."

"The second thing I want to share with you is to stay true to yourself. Authenticity attracts people who resonate with their true essence, creating bonds that are real and unbreakable. To be happy, you need to be content with who you really are," he said.

He went on to say everyone sitting in front of him has something special about them.

The next up to speak was Cleveland class of 2024 president Maya Anderson.

She thanked her family for their support first but got emotional when thanking her mother.

"My best friend and mother. My beautiful mother has always pushed me to be the kindest and most loving person that I can be. Little does she know the person that I most want to be is her," she said.

She then went on to say she is not an avid movie watcher so her classmates were "shocked" to learn she had never seen "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

"I know. I'm sorry," she said nervously as the crowd of families and students gasped.

However, she seriously said one quote from the movie stuck with her.

"'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.' So the realization hit me that in a blink of an eye our high school years were over. Moments of excitement and looking forward to new adventures now stand before us. We will look back at the simpler times of going to rival football games, getting ready for homecoming and my favorite: getting sent to the Storm Cellar if you didn't make it to class on time. These monumental experiences have culminated us to be who we are. The phrase 'I can't wait' has been adopted by many of us, but what is so important that you're willing to lose in this moment right now?" Anderson said.

She ended by advising her classmates to live in the moment.

"You are a human being, not a human doing. So be kind, be happy and, most importantly, be present," she said.

The salutatorian, Ashley Pelner, admitted her public speaking was not as good as she hoped but was proud to be speaking anyways.

"As I look around today, I'm amazed at what our class has been through and how far we've come," she said.

She recalled what she and her classmates had learned through the years from elementary school all the way through high school. She added that their high school years were anything but usual, though.

"We kicked off our high school year with COVID, enough said about that. We've also seen multiple wars across the globe, terrorist attacks, and so many school shootings that we even have weapon detectors at the doors to our school. But through it all, we've persevered and learned to thrive. It hasn't always been easy. I can tell you that. Between Google Meets and our freshman year, ever changing the rules, a Storm Cellar and more recently an overwhelming case of senioritis, we've had our fair share of struggles as a whole and as individuals," Pelner said.

Despite all that, she said, the staff at Cleveland showed the class plenty of support.

"Now, as this chapter comes to close, another is just beginning. As we enter the world of adulthood, we have many different decisions to make and actions to take. Some of us won't ever see each other again and honestly, that's OK," she added.

As an English teacher, teacher Amanda Tillotson talked about some personal struggles that resolved and reminded the graduates of plot diagrams. Her husband had struggled with a blood cancer.

"So, the resolution to this story is in April of 2023, my husband was cleared of cancer and officially diagnosed in remission," she said with a sigh of relief.

The reason she said she needed to share that with the graduates was to show how it taught her to keep moving forward.

"I urge you to carry forward with spirit and compassion and solidarity; that defines this school community, but your experiences as COVID-era students and as champions over personal challenges, be a reminder of this strength that lies within each and every one of you and that you guys can come together with purpose and passion and make huge life impacts," she said.

Valedictorian Graciela Rodriguez had most of the parents, students and faculty laughing up a storm throughout her speech.

"My name is Graciela Rodriguez. You killed my father prepare to die," she said jokingly.

She went on to say she was not there to offer words of wisdom but to intentionally delay the graduating class from getting their diplomas. Then she proceeded to pull out a dictionary and read words out of it as a joke.

She then explained that she loves to laugh.

"I have a special appreciation for poop jokes. It all started back in kindergarten, where I went over to my friend, crouched down whispered in his ear the word 'caca,'" she said.

She then drastically brought her audience to a story about the time she was hit by a car in second grade and survived.

"I had a few scratches with no broken bones and indeed I thought it was so cool. I returned to school the next day and told everyone in my class," she said.

She alluded to the graduating class's virtual years and how most people "probably were sleeping instead of paying attention."

"That's not to say it was all smooth sailing once we got back. I think we can all remember the panic decisions to skip class entirely so you don't get written up for being tardy and sent to the questionably named Storm Cellar. I know we all felt the terror that strikes when you realize that you really need to use the bathroom during fifth period but all the bathrooms on your side of the building are gated off. You question whether you can make it to the other side of the building before time runs out," she said.

After thanking her teachers and family, Rodriguez ended with another joke.

"Now, I'd like to finish with a few wise words, or at least this one from Bigfoot. 'Aaaahhh!' I know you can all see the truth in that statement and keep it in your heart as you go out into the world," she ended with.

Superintendent Sue Cleveland spoke about the impact of artificial intelligence and the unknowns it offers the world. She urged the Class of 2024 to maintain their empathy, creativity and critical thinking in an ever-changing world centered on technology.

“We never intended it to changed every single aspect of our lives,” she said, saying that humanity needs to dictate to technology rather than have it dictate to us.

Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education President Amanda Galbraith offered two secrets “that aren’t really secrets” key to making a difference in the world to the graduates: “We are more alike than we are different” and “we need each other.”

“This is your day, and I’m so excited to be here,” she said.

After a long ceremony, graduates moved their tassels and went out with a bang of confetti.