'I Am Not Afraid'

Bertha Salmeron, Plano East Senior High School
May 20, 2010, Speech at AVID Graduation Reception

Good evening. My name is Bertha Salmeron. I am a student of Plano East Class of 2010. These past four years have gone by so fast, and I cannot believe that all of my peers and I are just a couple of steps from exploring the world of college and finding our paths towards our individual success.
There’s nothing like knowing that every step of my high school career there was an AVID teacher like Mrs. Rodgers and Mrs. Ross to help not just me individually but the rest of the students.
Any question asked, they would answer or help me the best way they could to find my answer. These teachers whom I got to know are more than just teachers, they are mentors and friends that any student that can come to at any school time to get advice or help in anything. I am grateful to have had this opportunity to know them.
If I was not in this program since ninth grade, I honestly know that I would have had a greater struggle during my high school years. But, thanks to AVID, that struggle was alleviated. Because of AVID, I have abilities to take notes, study in a collegiate level and have courage to get out of my comfort zone to challenge myself and not to accept failure in any class or goal.
Standing here tonight is a new opportunity to share my story and encourage AVID students to pursue their goals that this amazing program offers to help them achieve. This program to me is the greatest door that opened my passion for helping others. By participating in my community and volunteer programs, doing more than 100 hours, I learned to appreciate and value the things and people I have around me so much so that I want to major in family medicine and become a physician so that, every day, I help people in need.
I will do this by attending Texas Lutheran University this upcoming fall in Sequin, Texas.
I am not afraid to go to a different city that’s far from my home here in Plano to attend college, mainly because I have learned how to socialize. AVID has helped me overcome my fears in communicating with different people. By doing circles, which are our social time to get to know the students, we share with each other our feelings, experiences and our struggles.
Being up here and talking in front of 300 people was a fear, but being in front of my family and people who care about me has taken that fear away and will because I have become a strong spoken person.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way of my high school years and encourage students to give their best work in school. Not to allow obstacles or bumps in the road to deter achieving their goals because anything is possible in this world. Everything that I though I would never achieve these four years, I have, with great perseverance and determinationn

'We Have Successfully Made It'

Ashley Garner, Plano West Senior High School
May 20, 2010, Speech at AVID Graduation Reception

" As we all know, high school is a time of growth and change. According to the movies, high school teens learn how to face break ups, deal with parents and somehow balance school simultaneously. As the typical teenager’s life may be full of unpredictable situations, AVID has been the stable force in our lives that has helped us all make it here.
We should all be proud, and because we are here today, we can all say that we have successfully made it. For me, personally, I know my future is extremely bright and this high school journey with my wonderful AVID teachers has definitely contributed to a successful four years.
Although I cannot express in words the benefit of AVID, I can only show you how AVID has affected my life. Never did I think that as I walk across the stage, I would have so much to show for my achievements. I’m venturing off into the future with a firm grasp of reality as AVID has given me the tools I needed to survive in the real world.
Although biweekly tutorials may have seemed a pain, endless Power Points about topics ranging for SAT practice to budgeting were sometimes mundane and continual college deadlines were always right around the corner, I see now that they were necessary tools to help me on my journey towards greater things.
Being an AVID student has allowed me to gain an edge in the high school and college process as I have the skills to be both a better student and person.
As AVID students, we have all grown up and shared memories together. Four years is a long time, and I want all of the AVID graduates today to think about the memories they have had over the years. Think about the time you first stepped into your AVID classroom.
Can you remember what it was like meeting a whole different group of individuals? Remember all the team building activities? Can you still remember what it felt like when you achieved an academic goal, and your AVID peers were there to cheer you on? Remember?
Although our time as AVID students, or shall I say AVID brothers and sisters, has come to an end, we should not be saddened because we have wonderful memories which we can cherish for a lifetime."

'First Generation College Student'

Yareli Vazquez, Plano Senior High School
May 20, 2010, Speech at AVID Graduation Reception

"As a first generation college student, I prayed that I would somehow figure out the puzzle that was my future. Then, in the eighth grade, like an answer to my prayers I learned of a new program that was staring named AVID…a program for students like me. Kids who wanted to go to college but weren’t too sure how to do so. Average students, or maybe not as average as we thought ourselves to be.
Freshmen year, I walked into a classroom full of people I didn’t know. People I honestly didn’t really care to know, and don’t even get me started on our teacher. This woman came into our classroom with a smile that held mischief in it and then said to us that, by the end of the year, we would family. Ha! She was right.
We learned how to organize, prioritize and something we were already good at, socialize. We did the Miss Pendleton at the Special Olympics. We carried binders that, I swear, made me think that, by the end of the year, I would be a body builder.
I watched as my classmates struggled and I pushed myself to work harder. Many of them never knew how much I admired them, so let me tell my east family that I admire every one of you for coming this far. And, let me thank a woman that believed in me and saw a spark in me that I didn’t even see in myself. Thank you, Miss Ross.
My junior year, I went to Plano Senior. I felt like a freshman all over. With much hesitance, I met my new AVID class and my new AVID teachers. Although it was a much smaller class, don’t be fooled. They are crazy! We shared some good times at the Douglass Center playing with kids after school and then getting pied in the face on stay day.
My favorite part was constantly complaining about the process of actually applying to college and then celebrating when we got those acceptance letters. Each letter was like a party. Then applying for scholarships was so tedious but it paid off when many of us actually received them.
Miss Ratliff and Miss Dillon have been such a blessing to me, helping me sign up for scholarships and writing recommendation letters for me that made me think, “Wow, are those really about me?!” So, thank you both for helping me get here.
Another thank you goes to Mrs. Anderson who got me into making speeches and put me out there for the world to see. Many people don’t know but this woman has worked so hard to make this program whit it is today, and I want to thank her.
I would also like to thank my seventh grade Honors English teacher who is actually now my younger brother’s AVID teacher Mr. Abney. You never knew it, but you’re the one that first sparked my interest in teaching. I hope to some day be as amazing a teacher as you are.
Lastly, I would like to thank my parents. Parents that told me, “You will go to college! En nuestros paises es un privilegio ir a la escuela. In our country, it is a rare privilege to get an education. In the United States it’s a right. Take advantage of it.”

'Land of Opportunity'

Shanique Thomas, Plano Senior High School
May 20, 2010, Speech at AVID Graduation Reception

A few years ago, I came to the “land of opportunity.” It was a new life that I wasn’t ready for. I was not looking forward to making friends again. The first week I was Ms. Popular. I was happy to enlighten people about Jamaica. I felt like a walking, talking Google.
After that, I was thrown in the recycle bin like yesterday’s news. I became an outcast and behind in my school work. “What is tutoring anyway? Isn’t that for rich kids?” I was so used to being independent and figuring out things on my own. I did not know anything about organization. If you saw my back pack you would recommend a badge that said, “Shanique Thomas Future Sanitation Engineer.” My self-esteem had gone out the window. I was trapped in a tunnel I though I would never escape.
AVID was my light at the end of the tunnel. I finally found friends that I felt comfortable with, so this crazy lady broke out of her shell. I was not used to having binders, and this one took over my bag. I might not have been able to fit anything else in there, but my organizational skills were up to par.
I didn’t intent to be mean, but I laughed at those kids who lost their homework in their back packs…on the inside, of course.
“Excuse me I think I’m in the wrong place. Did you say the tutoring was free?” Higher level classes are no joke. I thought I wasn’t smart enough to be in one. I asked myself, “Did they not see my last report card?”
I was surprised to see that I quite enjoyed the challenge. I just needed that push and asking for help when I needed it. I made the shocking discovery that no everyone bites. “Cornell notes, what a joke. Aren’t we killing more trees if we take notes like this?” That was my first impression. “Hey, this is a great study tool. Pssh, I could do this in my sleep.”
I was always sure that I was going to college. I just didn’t know how. When my friends told me they weren’t going to college and they were getting jobs, I sure felt like a square. AVID gave me a slap in the face. I could only see a plus side about going to college.
Then I realized that there was more to my friends’ stories. They either had babies, their parents didn’t give much encouragement or they just could not afford it. I now saw myself as the lucky one because I had opportunities that they only dreamed of.
Public speaking has not always been my forte but practicing in AVID has made me grow to like it. Shh. Please don’t tell Ms. Ratliff, Mrs. Dillon or my mom. I have let my past inhibit me from trying many things but I see my future right in front of me, so I’m hopping on that train and getting out of here. Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be back and as a better person. Determination and persistence will get you anywhere.

'AVID is My Second Family'

Monica Raofpur, Plano West Senior High School
May 20, 2010, Speech at AVID Graduation Reception

I cannot believe how far we have come and that our high school years are coming to an end. It is bittersweet looking back at all the times we have had together. I honestly do not know where I would have been right now without AVID.
AVID has helped transform me into a disciplined, hard working, determined student who never gives up. AVID has challenged me and helped me to realize what I am capable of achieving.
One of the best decisions of my high school years was deciding to join AVID freshman year. I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it would take a while for me to make friends, but I was surprised to see how friendly the AVID students were.
They knew I was new to the AVID program and so they all came up to me and introduced themselves to me. Ever since that day, I feel like I have fit in somewhere. These classmates have grown into being like brothers and sisters to me. I feel close, very close to every one of them. AVID really is my second family.
I am very fortunate to have been able to participate in the AVID program. It has helped tremendously with school and especially with applying to college. I never thought I could keep up with school, apply to college and apply for scholarships all at the same time and still have a life! The reason for this is all the support and help we have from one another and especially our amazing AVID teachers who go out of their way to do whatever they can in order to help. Thank you so much for all that you have done. I love all of you.