Clearing the hurdles and moving on

Andrew Edwards

They overcame hurdles and took a different path, but clad in blue

gowns , Coast and Valley Vista high school graduates reached the

finish line all the same.

“These are students who have made a commitment to overcome a lot

of difficult situations,” Valley Vista Principal George Green said.

Graduates celebrated their successful completion of a high school

at an intimate ceremony in the cental courtyard of Valley Vista’s

Fountain Valley campus.

Coast offers independent study programs, while Valley Vista serves

as a continuation school for students in the Huntington Beach Union

High School District. Combined, the two schools provide alternative

programs for students facing a variety of obstacles, such as falling

behind in classes, having to work full time, pregnancy and other

challenges.

Christina Turrieta not only earned her diploma, but was honored as

Coast High School’s student speaker after completing high school

while working full time as an ambulance dispatcher. A year earlier,

she had to start life all over again after her father threw her out

of her home.

“A year ago today, I didn’t even think I would graduate high

school,” she said.

But she returned to school after going to live with her uncle and

finding work. She now hopes to build a career in the fashion industry

or in health care, and is proud to graduate after the odds were

stacked against her.

As the 93 graduates names were called, Green and Coast High School

vice Principal Kerry Clitheroe also announced the students’

aspirations.

“She has many plans,” Clitheroe said of Coast graduate Ganet

Ghobral. “She wants to get a car, she wants to get a job, she wants

to go to college, but most of all she wants to go to Greece.”

As with all graduating classes, the students had a diverse set of

hopes for their futures. Graduates said they wanted to take on a

variety of jobs, like police officers, computer technician, custom

car mechanic and foreign service officer. Vincent Vasquez said he was

inspired by Valley Vista math teacher Laura Reid to go to Arizona

State University and become a teacher himself.

“She’s a good teacher and I saw her helping kids,” Vasquez said.

Another student with an eye to the future was Valley Vista

graduate Ashley West, who said she was eager to grow up, become

independent and discover the world beyond Huntington Beach.

“I’ve lived here my whole life, and there’s a lot more out there

than just this,” she said.