Graduates jubilant amid hugs ‘n mugs

Alicia Robinson

The walk across the football field, down a path lined with small

American flags, was the last they would take as high school students.

Proud parents, teachers and friends crowded around with cameras

Thursday as the Newport Harbor High School class of 2004 took its

last journey together to the amplified strains of “Pomp and

Circumstance.” The 450 students received their diplomas before a

crowd of several thousand well-wishers seated in the stadium.

The jubilation was palpable among the students, who hugged each

other and mugged for the ubiquitous cameras after the ceremony.

“It feels awesome,” Myeshia Way, 18, said of graduating.

Her parents pushed her hard in high school, she said, but she’s

glad they did. Now she’s looking forward to attending Orange Coast

College to study business and eventually becoming a real estate

agent.

Although retired teacher Charles Hughes has attended many

graduations over the years, Thursday’s ceremony was particularly

special because he knows about 100 of the students graduating.

“The kids change so much,” said Hughes, who used to teach sixth

grade at Mariners Elementary School. “It’s like a closing of a

chapter, more or less.”

Parents seemed to be just as thrilled as their children by the

experience. Stephen Tully said his daughter, Hailey, worked hard to

get her diploma, and her reward is acceptance at the University of

Arizona, where she’ll study interior design.

“It’s easier to send your son away to college than your daughter,”

he said. “It’s with mixed emotions, but we’re excited for her.”

For some students, the reality of completing high school hadn’t

sunk in yet. Rickie Nott was one of those.

“I feel like I’m still going to go to school tomorrow, basically,”

he said. The 18-year-old graduate said he plans to study economics at

UC Irvine.

While Nott said he and his parents are looking forward to him

moving out and being on his own, he’ll miss some aspects of high

school.

“I loved it, every second of it,” he said. “During high school,

you can walk around, and everywhere you walk, you know someone.”

Armando Gomez, 18, said it felt “a little surreal” to have

graduated. He was one of several students who said Newport Harbor

High School has a special atmosphere that makes it an enjoyable place

to go to school.

“A lot of the staff, they get to know you on a one-to-one basis,

and that means a lot, because they have so many students to deal

with,” Gomez said.

The students’ gratefulness for what their teachers and parents

have done for them was reflected back in the pride of the parents and

teachers seeing their young charges reach the milestone of

graduation.

Hughes said some of the graduates have been accepted at Ivy League

schools or made other impressive accomplishments.

“It really makes you feel so good to see them do so well,” he

said.

One graduate, Michael McLean, was chosen by the U.S. Department of

Education as one of 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts for 2004.

The Newport Harbor High School class of 2004 also included 10

valedictorians, who represent the top 2% of their class.