Since 2011, journalism has had the tradition of holding its own personal graduation to celebrate and honor its senior members. The commemoration usually takes place at the end of the school year, before the actual graduation ceremony, which will be taking place on June 17 this year.
Within this tradition, are many others. One of them is that senior scholars wear a crocheted or newspaper hat for their mortar board, crafted by Ms. Garcia, the journalism teacher, herself. Another custom within this celebration is having assigned students playing the “Star Spangled Banner” using colorful kazoo’s, before the graduates are called up to the class podium to say some words of goodbye.
This year the seniors who will be graduating are editors-in-chief, Lesly Castillo and Vy Thai; entertainment writers, Priscila Ambriz, Yaret Bolanos and, Diego Albarran; editorial writer and page editor, Angelina Abdelrahman; podcasters, Ashley Lopez and Tracy Trinh; photographers, Andre Gurrola-Rivera, Carlos Castadena and Barbara Guerrero, and last but not least, media editors Fernanda Salazar and Heaven Woldai.
“I am looking forward to hearing my fellow seniors’ mini departing speeches. This is a journalism tradition in our mock graduation, and I’m excited to hear what they have to say,” said Vy Thai, a graduating senior.
After each scholar walks up to the podium, Ms. Garcia hands them a fake diploma and their own goodie bag, usually filled with a pair of socks.
It’s a funny story how this annual tradition came to be.
“[The tradition of a fake graduation ceremony] started with the 2011 graduating class. At that time, I was nine months pregnant, and I knew that I wasn’t going to make it to the graduation ceremony. But I had grown really close to the 2011 class, so I decided to have my own graduation ceremony for them so that I didn’t have to miss seeing some of my favorite graduates. We had fun with it and it has been a tradition ever since,” explained Ms. Garcia.
This annual mock graduation ceremony is such an important and unforgettable must have during the end of the year because it contributes to the last memories that the seniors will get to create before they head off on to the next chapter of their lives.
“We get to celebrate and say goodbye to the seniors who took a chance at journalism and stuck with it. It shows that journalism is a tight community,” expresses Marlene Rojas (‘25), school news writer and co-editor.
This tradition is a truly meaningful one that creates one last treasured and long-lasting memory. It is hoped that the class continues to recognize this fun tradition.
