High school seniors across Turlock and the area donned their caps and gowns this week for commencement ceremonies. Before the 467 graduating seniors of the Pitman High Class of 2025 walked the stage for their diplomas on Thursday night, graduate Alyssa Romero shared some final thoughts with her fellow classmates.
“I’m so sad to see that our high school days have officially come to an end,” she said. “…I remember growing up and having the year 2025 instilled into our heads. And while then I didn’t know the significance of what that meant, I now stand here so proud because that means I am associated with such a resilient graduating class.”
Romero talked about all the things she and her fellow Pride graduates will never be able to experience again — like cheering with the Pit Crew at Friday night football games, and going with friends to In-N-Out Burger after the game.
“The nostalgia hits, and you just wish time would slow down and stop. Which is funny, isn’t it, because we always longed for this day; the day we’d be taller, wiser, stronger, the day we grow up,” she said.
Romero encouraged her fellow graduates to follow their own paths in the future.
“We are finishing one chapter and starting another. And it’s important to note that no two journeys will look the same, but that doesn’t mean that any of our journeys are wrong. We shouldn’t be worried about what others will think, because no path is really wrong,” she said.
Romero shared that when she was young, her mother asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her response: “I proudly looked at her, and without any hesitation, said I wanted to be a single, stay-at-home mom with five kids.
“Needless to say, from that moment on, I’ve kept my parents on their toes.”
Romero has since changed her future plans and will be pursuing a college education to become a speech pathologist.
“The moral of the story is that each of us have different visions for our futures. So, whether you become a single, stay-at-home mom with five kids or a rocket scientist, no path should be seen as less important. Every path is just as equal, because we worked hard to get to where we are today…There’s no rule book to growing up. So, whether you go to junior college, straight to a four-year university, trade school, join the military or straight off to work, this is your path, and only you know what’s best for you.”
