From a graduate’s point of view: Senior explains what her school is all about

Published 6:07 pm Tuesday, June 10, 2014

BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOLS | CONTRIBUTED COMMENCEMENT: On June 7, Beaufort County Ed Tech Center graduated 35 students. Adeline Cariaga gave a speech at the graduation ceremony, describing Ed Tech as a school. Pictured are Cariaga and Will Bryant, principal of the school, at the graduation ceremony.

BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOLS | CONTRIBUTED
COMMENCEMENT: On June 7, Beaufort County Ed Tech Center graduated 35 students. Adeline Cariaga gave a speech at the graduation ceremony, describing Ed Tech as a school. Pictured are Cariaga and Will Bryant, principal of the school, at the graduation ceremony.

 

Adeline Cariaga, a Beaufort County Ed Tech Center graduate, gave a speech to family and friends explaining the center’s purpose on June 7 at the school’s graduation ceremonies.

Cariaga was one of 35 graduates to receive diplomas at the graduation.

The Beaufort County Ed Tech Center serves the entire Beaufort County Schools district. The school is designed to serve students in grades six through 12. Some students are assigned to the school, but Cariaga explained, others are there by choice, simply as a part of their journey to graduation.

Cariaga explained how she and her classmates have faced lots of obstacles and trials to get to graduation day.

“The class of 2014 is made up of overcomers and determined individuals,” Cariaga said in the speech. “Some of us were told, at some point in our lives that we should just give up. Some of us were told that graduation was not in our future. Despite all that, we are here today. We are here because we were given a second chance when we became students at the Ed Tech Center.”

In the speech, Cariaga went on to explain how the faculty and staff at the school became like family to the students and how they were there for students when others counted them out, including when the students wanted to give up on themselves.

“Believe it or not, many people see Ed Tech as a dumping grounds for ‘bad kids’,” Cariaga said. “I knew that this could not be true, because I am not a bad kid. Instead, what I discovered was that Ed Tech is a school where teachers see past what we might look like on the outside.”

Many students at the school are former dropouts or teenage parents, but the teachers at Ed Tech saw the potential in the students, Cariaga said. She also thanked family and friends for standing beside the students throughout their journey.

“For that, we are grateful,” Cariaga said.

Graduation is a new chapter in our lives, Cariaga said. Some students will go to college, some will join the military and some will go straight into the workforce, but no matter the chosen path, stay focused, stay positive and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Adeline Cariaga’s entire speech can be read below.

 

Good morning fellow classmates, faculty, school board members, friends and parents. It is an honor to stand before you on such a great occasion. Although we look great today in our cap and gown, there are lots of obstacles and trials that many of us have faced to get to this point today. This class of 2014 is made up of overcomers and determined individuals. Some of us were told, at some point in our lives that we should just give up. Some of us were told that graduation was not in our future. Despite all that, we are here today. We are here because we were given a second chance when we became students at the Ed Tech Center.

The faculty and staff at the Ed Tech Center became like our family. They were there for us when others had counted us out. Even at times when we wanted to give up on ourselves, they would not let us do it. I personally did not know what to expect when I first walked into the doors at Ed Tech. Believe it or not, many people see Ed Tech as a dumping grounds for “bad kids.” I knew that this could not be true, because I am not a bad kid. Instead, what I discovered was that the Ed Tech is a school where teachers see past what we might look like on the outside.

Many of us are former dropouts or teenage parents. Despite that, the teachers at Ed Tech saw potential in each one of us. For that  . . . we are grateful.

We also want to thank our family and friends who have stood beside us during this journey. Graduation is a transition into a new chapter in our lives. Some of us are going to college, some are going to the military and some of us are going straight into the workforce. No matter what path you choose to take, stay focused, stay positive and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Class of 2014 . . . Congratulations! We made it!