Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2020)
Page 4 Letters of support for Grads June 10, 2020 Teachers and Staff Look Back SEI will always support you On behalf of Self Enhancement, Inc., we want to wish all of our se- niors the absolute best as you move into this next phase of life. Some of you are preparing to further your education by going to college close by or far away. Others are jumping into the workforce right away, with hopes to pursue passions they’d always dreamt of. Regardless of what you decide to do in this next phase of life, we want our seniors to always remember that SEI will always have your back. We will always be there to sup- port you, help you, and cheer you on. We love and miss you so much! We miss you coming into the office just to talk, ask for snacks, and we even miss telling you to go to class. Words are hard to find when it comes to how proud we are of each of you! We’re so honored to be your coordinators and wish you nothing but the best for this next phase of your life. No matter what, you’ll al- ways be part of the SEI family, we love you! ~Love, Ms. Ebony, Bubba, and Ms. Shy (inset) PCC Partnership was Inspirational It’s my honor to salute you Dear Jefferson High School Class of 2020: First, thank you for the hon- or of addressing you on this mo- mentous occasion. It has been a source of great pride for me to see the partnership between Jefferson and PCC-Cascade grow and thrive over the years. Watching Jefferson transform from a struggling in- stitution to being recognized for highest graduation rates in the state has been truly inspirational. On behalf of the Middle Col- lege staff, Cascade faculty and administration, I offer congratu- lations, best wishes, and sincere hope for a fantastic future. This may not be the graduation you’d hoped for, or the conditions in which you’d wished to grad- uate, but I believe this singular moment in history provides you -- and your fellow graduates from around the nation and the world -- an opportunity to change the world for the better. This moment in time is also symbolic. It symbolizes the end of one thing, but also the beginning of something new. You will have new opportunities, make new friends, and overcome new challenges in ways we’re only beginning to con- ceive. Thanks to the Coronavirus, you will also have new ways of At What Cost? A forgotten letter to my future graduating self s elaM g etu When I have writer’s block I often read my di- aries. I’ve never found a perfect thesis statement in them and I don’t believe it’s caused any lightbulb moments, but I do it any- way. Unsure of what could possibly sum up all that I’ve been thinking and feeling during quar- antine and my years at Jefferson, I pulled out by studying and learning, interacting with others, and new leadership roles for you to assume. You will help show us what this new world can look like. A world where everyone has the health care they need, the education they deserve, the income that human dignity demands. Where the pres- ence of clean air and water aren’t a luxury but a constant companion. Where the barriers that held some back while others prospered fade away. Where black lives matter. Where everyone, in every circum- stance, has the freedom to fully enjoy the gift of life. We’ll be here to encourage and support you in this critically need- ed work, but we’ll need your voic- the diaries, picked some pages, and read. This time, however, I found something of actual use: A forgotten letter to my future graduating self. Saturday, June 3, 2017 6:39 p.m. Dear Selam, I’m pretty sure the seniors are at their graduation ceremony right now so I thought I’d write this for you to read when you’re in their shoes. You’re probably in your cap and gown waiting to begin the end of this chapter of your life. Hopefully you have cords around your neck and maybe a speech in your pock- et. Regardless, these past few years have been leading up to this moment, so take a deep breath because it’ll be over soon. Do you remember your first day of high school? The excitement, butterflies, fear? How do you feel now? Do you think it was worth it? I sure hope so. Dr. Karin Edwards es, time and talent to lead the way. We are proud of you, Dem- os! The future is yours to cre- ate. Go big. Dr. Karin Edwards, Portland Community College- Cascade Campus president Your journey hasn’t been easy, but you’ve kept going. You’ve studied hard for every test, toiled over every essay, and I want you to know how much I love you for that, for all the stress you put yourself under to build a prom- ising road ahead for us. I hope you were able to keep straight A’s and a 4.0 gpa during these past years and nev- er let yourself doubt your intelligence. I hope you’ve gotten into your dream college and are leaving this small city. And I hope you’ve fig- ured out what you’re passionate about, what you want to spend your life doing. Mostly I just hope you’re not afraid anymore. At 15 years old, I also have a few questions. Who are your closest friends at the moment? Have you gone on a date? Did you ever run for student body president? I’m curious. You Made My Year Dear 2020 Seniors, Those of you who were in MEChA (Movimiento Estudi- antil Chicano de Aztlán, the or- ganization promoting Chicano unity and empowerment) gave me so much hope. I was worried coming into Jefferson that I would not find students to be part of the program- ming, but within minutes you all came into my life. From then on I got to see you everyday in the classroom. I got to see you change and grow in just a few months. I saw most of you prosper and your personalities be more present. You all made me think about what support I would have wanted at your age. From talking about school, to sharing all your hopes and dreams, you all made me so proud. I am upset that I only got to be part of your lives at the end of your high school career, but just know you made my year. I will always be supporting you guys no matter what. Thank you for all the laughs, sarcasm and great music. Love, Fabi Mascote Dear Lulu, Emely, Sebastian, Yunior and Misael, Felicidades! You made it! When I met all of you I saw young powerful leaders and you have all proved to be just that. I wish you the very best in all you do. Please remember to never give up even when life gets diffi- cult. Push yourself till you reach your goals then push yourself a little more till you reach your next goal! Si se Puede!! Sincerely, Sofia Dominguez and the Latino Network Familia