Like artists painting a new canvas

Mike Sciacca

With the toss of a tassel amid shouts of joy and relief, about 550

students in the Marina High School Class of 2004 graduated late in

the afternoon on June 16.

The rising of the noise level toward the end of the commencement

ceremony on campus, staged before a standing-room-only crowd, was in

sharp contrast to a relaxed start to a ceremony that had begun 1 1/2

hours earlier.

Following a 20-minute procession to get the graduates to their

seats, one section of students attempted to start “the wave,” but, it

fizzled fast.

Later, an obligatory beach ball took flight, but only briefly, as

it was confiscated and popped.

But that didn’t stop the party mood on this cloudy day.

Senior class President Jonathan Tamayo welcomed the class and

urged his fellow graduates to “go out there and be the change you

want to see in the world,” which drew applause.

The hoopla continued moments later, when Principal Steve Roderick

began his speech.

“Class of 2004 -- yahoo, you made it!,” Roderick exclaimed, to

more cheers. “Relax, breath and enjoy this moment in your life.”

Senior speakers Blakeslee Van Valkenburg and Tatiana Slater gave

inspirational speeches, and Valedictorian speaker Joyce Lin likened

her classmates to famous painters, calling them “realists,

impressionists and surrealists,” those who “fit the mold” and those

“that didn’t.”

She then likened their culmination to four years at Marina as a

finished painting.

“The painting is done but right next to it, is a blank canvas,”

she said, referring to a new chapter in the students’ lives. “Realize

that we are painters, too.”

Kym Holdcroft said her four years at Marina left an impression.

The 17-year-old, who was a four-year member of the school’s color

guard and its captain for three of those years, attended private

schools prior to coming to Marina.

“This was my first public school ever and I was shocked, at first,

by some things,” said Kym, who plans to study at Orange Coast

College, then Arizona State University, with designs on becoming a

veterinarian. “I learned of the different cliques on campus, the

different groups. I did enjoy meeting different people, those I

called acquaintances and those I call close friends.

“This day is really important to me. We’re finally out of here but

I will miss some of my friends. I love the line from the book,

‘Tuesday’s with Morrie’ that goes, ‘You can’t hold on too long and

you can’t let go too soon.’”

Kym’s fellow classmate and friend, Brian Kurka said his time at

Marina “flew by.”

“I’m happy to graduate but surprised the four years went by so

quickly,” said the 18-year-old, who said he plans to attend college

and go through the police academy. “I learned from a lot of

inspirational teachers and saw how friendships and people can change

and develop in four years.”

Roderick said that the class of 2004 was “well-rounded.”

“As a principal, it’s wonderful to see when students take

advantage of all that high school has to offer them,” he said. “The

one thing I try to emphasize to students when they enter this school,

as freshmen, is to get involved. This is really your last opportunity

to be a kid. When you walk out these doors, it’s a whole different

game. We want them to be ready and prepared for the future, and say

that they had a great time here at Marina High School.”