The final week of May is upon us and with it the start of graduation season. High schools and colleges throughout the Yakima Valley will soon be (if they haven’t already done so) celebrating ceremonies and sending out a fresh crop of graduates into the world, where they will face many decisions, challenges and rewards.
Which path all of these new graduates choose will have a lasting impact not only on themselves, but also on their families, others close to them and the entire community.
So whether this year’s graduates are moving on to higher education, joining our military forces, or going straight into the workforce, we sincerely wish that all of the hard work that was put in by the Class of 2009 won’t be tempered in the next weeks by the need to report bad news about a tragedy resulting from overcelebration of this momentous occasion in young lives.
Graduating from high school or college is definitely a cause for celebration, and we believe the new grads should enjoy the day’s events to the fullest that they are likely to remember for the rest of their lives, but we should also remind them that there are still limits to be observed and care to be taken.
A safe approach to post-graduation celebration will ensure that these young people will be able to enjoy all of the tomorrows that are lined up for them.
There is a reason graduation ceremonies are called commencements. While they are the end of a chapter in young lives, they are truly just the beginning of an entirely new life. Every one of these young adults should feel some sense of responsibility to themselves—and to their fellow graduates and families—to do everything they can to make sure that no bad decisions mar what should be a shining moment for them.
High school days may be over, but one thing that means is that is time for the new grads to take on this responsibility and prove that they have the maturity, judgment and common sense to take care of each other, and to live up to the potential of which we all are so justifiably proud. – F.A.

Fernando Aceves is editor of the Review Independent. He is also general manager/editor of ¡Viva! Spanish Newspaper.