Valley Pathways graduates celebrate success

WASILLA — Valley Pathways held a graduation ceremony for its 2021 graduates at the Menard Sports Center May 19.

“There’s a universal truth we all have to face whether we want to or not: everything eventually ends. As much as I looked forward to this day. I always disliked endings… Endings are inevitable. Leave fall and you close the book. Today we say goodbye to all our hard work and the best moments of our lives and hello to new opportunities, beginnings, and new memories,” Student speaker Jaideem Agbayani said.

Agbayani said that her experience at Valley Pathways helped her take control of her education and ended up shaping her into who she is today. She said that she knew she was on the right track when she went from a 1.8 GPA at the end of her freshman year to a 3.0 GPA during her first semester at Pathways. After that, she maintained a 4.0 GPA for the rest of her high school career.

“Growing up, I faced of lof life challenges and events. Going through trauma, getting in trouble, struggling with grades, fitting in, accepting who I am; whatever it is, this school helped me through it all,” Agbayani said.

The graduation served as a particularly bittersweet farewell since so many close connections were formed between students and staff over the years.

“Our school is honestly like home. We’re a great big family filled with diversity… We each have a story and each one of our stories helped us get to where we are and everyone at the school sees us for who we are today and not for who we were in the past,” Agbayani said.

Faculty members shared emotional speeches with each student as they receive their diploma, giving them an individualized and powerful send-off after seeing them overcome countless challenges, ultimately growing into who they were meant to be to take on the world.

For many advisors, the experience was much like saying goodbye to their own children, to watch them go out in the world after doing everything they can to guide and protect them.

Like the rest of her colleagues, Valley Pathways advisor, Kris Sullivan teared up several times and paused to compose herself retelling her experiences watching her students blossom, especially when she got to Agbayani, telling her, “You landing at Pathways was the best thing to happen for you, our school, and me too… As far as I’m concerned, you’ll be a part of my heart forever… With each successful hurdle you have overcome, you’ve become more beautiful, confident, and self-reliant… I think knowing how much acceptance people feel when they walk through our doors, you became an arctic fox, student of the month, and were on the principal’s 4.0 list. Jaideem, I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, to the most special places your heart has ever known. I love you.”

To view the Valley Pathways 2021 graduation, visit vimeo.com/event/962206/videos/545275616. To view other ceremonies online, visit the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District website at matsuk12.us/Page/47462.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com