High School at Moorpark College grads celebrate
By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers WORDS OF WISDOM- Graduating senior Tatiana Weikel reads a poem she wrote for the High School at Moorpark College commencement ceremony on Thursday evening.

After two days of long practices under the hot sun, the 18yearold is ready to graduate. Sitting in her robe surrounded by the rest of her graduating class, the young woman is lost in thought as she gently pulls on the red rope that adorns her shoulders. The rope represents her choice to continue her education in the field of health and science, a choice that marks the direction she'll take in the next phase of her life.

Jillian Baker plans to attend California Lutheran University in the fall, but on May 31 the only thing on her mind is the speech she'll be giving at the High School at Moorpark College's seventh graduation ceremony. As the hour nears she reads over her speech one last time and says, "I'm ready . . . well, I think I'm ready."

Jillian and a few other selected students will be presenting speeches, poems or songs to this year's graduating class of 47 students and the more than 300 parents and families in attendance.

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers GRADUATION GLEE- A graduating senior accepts her diploma during the commencement ceremony for the High School at Moorpark College.

Instructors William Salen and Doreen Simpson hand out various colored ropes to the eager graduates. Each color corresponds to a particular major: health and science, multimedia, business or liberal arts.

"I'm proud of every one of these kids," Salen said. "They are as varied as the career choices they've made."

Turning toward Jillian, Salen recalls that, when she first submitted her graduation speech, "it stood out from the rest."

"She's a great student," Salen said. "All of our students are, but she has a lot of courage and she will go far in life. I'm sure of that."

Last-minute touches are put on the stage as families arrive and fill the chairs set out for them. The graduates are taking pictures in the Moorpark College cafeteria and signing yearbooks until the last minute.

As "Pomp and Circumstance" begins to play, the graduates line up and Jillian, near the front of the line, takes a deep breath and sighs, "Oh boy."

The crowd is on its feet as the Class of 2007 nears, the evening sun shining on the smiling faces of the graduates. Parents maneuver skillfully between one another for a good vantage point to snap a picture or film just a few seconds of a son or daughter approaching the quad.

One by one, members of the Moorpark Unified School District and the Board of Education congratulate the graduating class and impart words of wisdom. District Superintendent Ellen Smith described the class as "confident, team oriented and conventional."

"Be proud of what you are and you will go far," Smith said.

Tatiana Weikle, 18, followed with her poem, "Graduation," which brought some audience members to tears. Then came Jillian's speech, "We Will All Make a Difference," and the crowd nodded their heads in accord with almost every line.

When the time came to call out the names of the graduates, families and friends stood ready with streamers and blow horns. Cameras flashed as one by one the graduates walked across the stage.

After every name was called, the students were asked to stand and move their tassels to the left, representing their accomplishment. The Class of 2007 happily complied and then spontaneously threw their caps in the air as families crowded around in a sea of smiles and hugs.