Thoughts of what’s to come

Jose Paul Corona

As students prepared to leave their high school years behind, each had

something a bit different on their mind.

“I’m hungry,” Elizabeth Dutton, 17, said frankly.

It wasn’t a metaphor. She wasn’t hungry for knowledge or freedom, she

wanted some food.

For her fellow graduate, Aramis Sigala-VanDaele, it was fear.

“I’m not really excited, I’m mostly scared,” VanDaele said.

The 17-year-old said he wasn’t looking forward to adulthood.

“I’m not ready to grow up,” he said, “I have to do work now.”

Upon Leaving Huntington Beach High School, VanDaele plan to go to

school to become a producer.

Sean Coutu has no idea what he wants to do with the rest of his life,

but he does know that he’ll be attending OCC -- he hopes to figure it out

there, he said.

High school was a lot different than he thought it was going to be.

Even though it started off being a “giant popularity contest” it turned

out to be a place where real friendships were established.

While seniors waited in the cool auditorium to make their way onto the

field, parents waited in the hot sun with cameras ready.

They were all smiles and they chattered excitedly, eagerly

anticipating the moment when their child’s name would be called out.

As the first of the graduates appeared on the field everyone in the

bleachers rose to their feet. The graduates were given a standing

ovation.

* JOSE PAUL CORONA covers City Hall and education. He can be reached

at (714) 965-7173 or by