We Are the Class of Resilience

Whew—we made it, Class of 2023! It was a rough one, but we are the class of resilience.

Just starting our high school journey, we were sent home, and stripped away of two years that we will never get back. But we took those years as a beneficial opportunity.

I know many may have reservations about this because well … COVID was, of course, truly tragic. But for our Class of 2023, we rose from the—well, let’s face it— ashes of the pandemic with phoenix-like brilliance.

We all immediately said, “Well, this is awesome, we have a two-week break!” and fled to the beach and hung out with all of our friends—probably not the greatest things to say or do—but this was quickly prevented, and we were all pushed deep

BY JACK SANSEVERINO

into our rooms.

Yet still, our class succeeded.

Once COVID hit hard, Enzo Sarayba became deeply intrigued by the public health issue, and now interns at a local urgent care, planning to study and shadow pulmonary care.

Cruz Magee—yes, the inflatable gorilla you see running around—seized this time to create a successful company, End Result Cleaning Services. (Yes, Cruz, there’s your business promo.)

Taylor Zielenbach was inspired to serve through the crisis and modified her organization at CHOC hospital to accommodate scoliosis patients online through the pandemic.

I reiterate that these are only a few of the many resilient stories of our class.

Fellow members of the Class of Resilience, we were not born into a world where the only issue was a pandemic. Today and tomorrow, we face and will continue to face the innumerable challenges of our dysmorphic world. But, if there was anyone to rise to the occasion, it is us

And … as a class, we already have through organizations like No Place for Hate and Stallion Start-Up. Here, students like Brandon Sotelo and Rosa Hernandez have worked to reduce divisiveness, and to increase inclusiveness, leveling the walls that separate us all.

I believe there is an abstract metaphor for our class—stay with me here—we were the saplings within the cracks of a boulder. We were hindered from the start, yet, we grew anyways. We grew despite the isolation and the malnourishment brought by the shadow-casting rock wall that surrounded us.

We grew further than that little crack should have allowed us, splitting that damning rock, and growing to be 300 feet tall.

Class, truly wherever we go, we will carry

As a choral performer, I have learned, “You perform, not to impress, but to inspire.” We go on stage not just for applause, but to emotionally resonate with people.

However, I think this applies to more than just art. Think back on your high school experience. Did you spend countless hours volunteering and studying for tests to show off that perfect, flawless, beautiful transcript covered in A’s to colleges?

If you did, well, that makes two of us. Hmm … Maybe I didn’t learn my lesson after all … with us the experience of breaking barriers and escaping restriction, for we are the ones who were dealt a rotten hand and came out with the jackpot.

Where was I going with this…?

Oh, right. In all seriousness, fellow students, it has been an honor to learn and grow with you, but now is the time for our voices to sing out into new territories.

Students, right now, look around. You are very likely surrounded by those who have molded you during your time here: friends, families, teachers, fellow classmates.

As the curtains close on this stage of life, I urge you to remember those who have touched your life and to take their impact with you.

Class of 2023, go venture into your passions, your academic pursuits, your career pursuits, your life pursuits, not just for personal fulfillment but also to inspire change in others, making the world a better place.

Class of 2023, in the walk of life, we have many hills that loom ahead, but nothing can compare to the Everest we have already conquered.