Ayla Deegan: We have worked hard for this day

We all grow up thinking we can be a bunch of Wonder Women and Supermen. Eventually we realize that dreams like this are pretty unrealistic (some of us later than others.)

Yet that doesn’t mean that we cannot make a positive impact on the world. Many of our seniors have been through much more than most people could ever imagine. There are teens at Mountain View who have lost loved ones, had parents who could care less, been put through countless foster homes, or maybe fallen victim to the powerful grasp of drug abuse.

But each and every one of us has pulled through and become a strong, confident, resilient person ready to show the world that we can make a difference.

It may not seem like a huge deal to graduate to some, but it is a daily struggle for many students to even do the required assignments. These kids really are lucky to have the second chance they need to excel and really put forth the effort to succeed in high school. This is largely made possible by the environment provided at Mountain View. The staff members are amazing, and the classes are smaller to help each child get the support they need. These students are very proud to graduate from such a wonderful school.

There are a variety of different people in our graduating class, and all of them want to make something of themselves. Several of our students are planning on attending college, and a few are already enrolled in the university of their choice. There are also numerous students interested in a career in the military. Many of these students also are already signed up and are just waiting on their diploma.

Then, of course, there are students who have no particular plans for post graduation as of yet, and are perfectly content working for a while before deciding.

I strongly believe, however, that whatever the individuals in our graduating class decide to do with their lives, they will have the tools to complete any task and overcome any obstacle thrown in their direction. For us, graduation is more than just a diploma or wearing a cap ‘n’ gown for a bit; it is about proving to the world that we can do it.

Graduating high school lets us show those who may have doubted us just how capable we are. We have worked toward this day all our young lives, and now we have succeeded. We are proud, we are the future, but most important of all, we are the class of 2007.