MHS graduates about 309 seniors; Choi and Olivos are Top 2

Marianas High School’s Top 10 students pose together with their awards and certificates. (Dennis B. Chan)

Marianas High School seniors said “yes” to a daring and fulfilling future at their graduation ceremony yesterday at the MHS Gymnasium.

The Class of 2015 was made up about 309 students eager to break out into chant, cheer, or applause yesterday. As a couple of guest speakers put it, this was their last day of school, the end of their days in the Public School System, after completing 20 or more class credits and spending thousands of days in class—from their days in Kindergarten to the crowning moment of their senior year yesterday.

The class’ top student was Esther Choi, the class valedictorian. Following her was salutatorian Jewel Gaviola Olivos. Rounding out the rest of the MHS’ Top 10 were Mobtasim Alam, Angelica Mateo, Havika Mae Farro, Nina Lan, Nana Lan, Jeremi Montenejo, Ann Jeline Manabat, and Zakery Yamagishi. Honorable mentions went to Su Jeong Kim and Vanessa Gramlich.

Esther Choi, Valedictorian

Jewel Gaviola Olivos. Salutatorian

“As freshmen we couldn’t wait to be seniors who were looked [up to] by all the other classes. As sophomores, we started to feel like we were getting a hand of everything in school. As juniors, we were certain we would be better at being seniors than the current ones. Finally as a senior, it felt like we ruled the school,” said Choi.

“Now that the year is over, we stand before you as a graduating class who entered high school as children but now leaving as adults,” she told the crowd.

“We will push boundaries,” she said.

To her fellow students, she said, “Life is short and it is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Education Commissioner Dr. Rita Sablan said what parents love and endeavor to see from their children as they leave home is “what they are connecting themselves to.”

As an example of this, she called upon the six students who have enlisted in the U.S. military to rise for recognition and applause.

“You have 12 years of learning experience. You did not do it alone,” she said, also calling for applause for teachers and parents.

In his keynote address, former MHS vice principal and teacher John Davis said when he was told he had been chosen to speak, he thought he was being “punked.”

“After all, when I was one of the administrators here at MHS, many of you spent most of your time either running away from me or hiding from me,” he said.

“Seriously, though, I hold this as a great honor to speak with you and, as the people who invited me will tell you, I was almost brought to tears,” he added.

The former Vietnam War veteran told students that in 1973, while he was still in the military and after “a short stint in the stockade,” he started to reflect on his life and decided to apply to be an astronaut.

“I filled out the forms and sent the paperwork to NASA and after a very, very short wait, I received a very courteous letter denying my request.

“They said I needed to have about 2,800 hours of flight time as a pilot. And the truth is, I didn’t have 2,000 hours of flight time as a passenger. I was disappointed and I went on with my life… And as result I have had a life of extraordinary adventure…and opportunity,” he said.

He told students, “Know this, graduating class: People who never fail at anything aren’t doing anything. Being denied is never the end of the world,” he said. “Sometimes it’s the beginning.”

“In other words, dare! It’s about you. Get out there and get yours.”

He told students to dare to fail, dare to get up, and dare to try again. The students responded to each of his statement with a “yes.”

“Dare to be great,” David said.