The 2015 8th Grade Class of Isbell Middle School held their 2015 promotion ceremony Wednesday at Isbell Middle School.

Isbell Middle School holds
2015 promotion ceremonies

June 12, 2015
Santa Paula News

The 2015 8th Grade Class of Isbell Middle School had their promotion ceremony Wednesday. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and two songs by the Isbell Chorus, Principal George Alessi introduced the student speakers.

The first speaker at the ceremony was Camille Hernandez, the Elizabeth Ramsey Award Recipient. “These three years were amazing and flew by quickly,” she said.  “We became the Isbell family and created a wonderful bond.  We all take care of each other and when someone is down, we have a way of bringing them back up.  Is bell did change us.  There were no more playgrounds.  The teachers taught us to be more mature and act our age.  They were always there for us when we needed help with work or problems.  In other words, they taught us to be mature, responsible, and respect one another because that’s how the world works.”

She added that this isn’t the end for them.  She said, “We made it this far and we must keep moving forward in a positive direction towards graduating from high school and college.  Work hard because it’s worth it in the end.  Yet, do this for yourself, not for your parents or teachers.  Prove what you are capable of doing. But most importantly, we should keep working and finish high school and college so that we have the ability to take care of ourselves and others.  I know I am looking forward to the future.”

The second speaker was Salutatorian Carlos Perez. He noted, “No one will remember your completion of the 8th grade as your greatest accomplishment; it’s what you do after you complete your education that will be remembered by everyone you know. After Isbell, comes Santa Paula High School, then college, and then using that education you will truly be able to change the world.”

He challenged his classmates to go beyond instinct, and help out their fellow humans. “Many of you will become doctors, engineers, mathematicians, physicists, biologists. You name it. The human race is still very young and we have only begun to make major advances in science. The human race needs people like us to invent the future.” All of you are amazing students, who are capable of graduating from college, but simply saying it won’t make it come true. You must put in all your effort if you truly wish to succeed in life.”

Roberto Nunez was the Doug Stewart Award Winner and valedictorian for the Class of 2015. He told the crowd, “ I just want to say what an honor it is to be standing in front of you all, in this very blue attire, to represent my fellow classmates.  Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak.”

He also added, “Three years.  1,095 days. 26,280 hours.  1,576,800 minutes.  94,608,000 seconds.  94,608,000,000 milliseconds.  That’s how long we’ve been waiting for this moment.  As valedictorian I was given the immense task of combining memories of our time here at Isbell into a brief moment.  I found this really difficult considering I don’t exactly know what all of you have been through over the last three years.”

He said he would never forget entering the Magic Kingdom on August 11, 2012.  He said he had just finished elementary school as one of the big kids and moved on to middle school just to end up back at the bottom of the social pyramid.  “We didn’t know what to expect, but by the end of the day, we knew everything would be just fine,” he noted.  “I will always remember coming back from winter break by sixth grade year after surviving what was supposed to be the 2012 apocalypse.”

Nunez said that about a week ago, he took the time to interview some of the students here at Isbell.  He asked them what their goal was to be in the future.  From this, I now know who will be our future policemen, editors, lawyers, nurses, chemical engineers, architects, and surgeons.   “These individuals dared to dream and I dare them to achieve those dreams or dream bigger,” he said.  Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”  Keep in mind that this is only a promotion from eighth grade into high school.  Don’t any of you even begin to forget about college.  If you encounter any issues in the future, just remember these wise words by Captain Jack Sparrow.  “The problem is not the problem.  The problem is your attitude about the problem.”  You can transform any challenge you face into an opportunity to demonstrate your greatness.”





Site Search

E-Subscribe

Subscribe

E-SUBSCRIBE
Call 805 525 1890 to receive the entire paper early. $50.00 for one year.

webmaster