SPHS graduation 2000

By Suzi Skutley Santa Paula TimesThe Santa Paula High School Class of 2000 celebrated their graduation ceremony at Jones Field Friday evening, an occasion, according to Valedictorian Tania Castro, “which we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.” ASB President Salena Bracamontes summed it up, “To the Class of 2000 - we made it,” as she dedicated the ceremony to the memory of Paul Franchi and Charlie Elizarraraz, two individuals who impacted the lives of many students at SPHS and who will be remembered.The graduates and audience were led in the National Anthem by senior Melissa Craig, who gave a moving a cappella performance.Salutatorian Sarah Kolbeck expressed the combined regret and challenge of leaving behind “proms, homecoming, CIF games, league champions, friends, memories.... Our future is now in our hands.” She paid tribute to the contributions of parents, “the support, constant nagging, and never failing love...” and “to the many friends who were always there for us...ones that will always be a part of our lives and our hearts,” not forgetting the faculty “for your never ending support and encouragement.”Sandi Stonebraker and April Garcia shared a special song with their classmates, exhorting them to say the things you want to say now, because “we’re moving on and can’t slow down,” but also noted, “as we go on we remember all the times we had together and as our lives change, come whatever, we will still be friends forever.”Instead of looking at future prospects and changes to come, Valedictorian Tania Castro chose instead to focus on the present moment, and the events of the past that made it possible. “All of us are blessed to have families that have nurtured us, to live in a town that has educated us and to be the most fortunate by living in the most prosperous free society in the world. We must reflect and give thanks for the richness in our lives and the health that we enjoy. Too often life’s simplest gifts are taken for granted. In the turmoil, confusion and pressures which our lives inevitably will have, we must have the grace and wisdom to pause, to see the large picture, to be humble in gratitude.“Look around you, do you see the faces of different color? Do you see a world of cultural distinction? What other nation in the world draws its strength from such a diversity of background? To this land of immigrants, land of hope, came my parents 22+ years ago, fleeing economic desperation, seeking a new start. Is it not the promise of America that I, the daughter of parents who work in a packing house, will attend one of the finest schools in the world? Is it not the promise of America that we all have the same chance?“We have many challenges in our communities and on our planet. One need only watch the nightly news to become pessimistic. But am I not in the Class of 2000, is it not that we are truly the children of the new millennium? We know that our lives tomorrow are predicated on our actions today. I would like to dedicate ten seconds of silence to reflect and give thanks. Let each beat of our heart be a thank you for our good fortune....”