In August 2020, Mariana Sanchez left her family in the Mexican state of Michoacán with the goal of pursuing a better high school education in the United States. She was just 15 years old and didn’t speak English.
Three years later, Sanchez is an academic medalist and Bullard High School’s valedictorian.
She was also one of two student speakers at Fresno Unified School District’s first-ever Latinx High School Recognition Celebration, which was held Sunday evening at McLane High School. Addressing the 376 other high school graduates at the event, Sanchez described the challenges she had overcome as she pursued her degree.
Sanchez was born in the U.S. but grew up in Mexico. She didn’t have an easy childhood: Her dad was murdered when she was 4 years old, leaving her mom widowed with three young children. Still, she said her mother did everything she could to help her children have a good life.
“Study, so you won’t be like me,” Sanchez recalled her mother telling her. Sanchez said her mom didn’t finish high school and was unable to travel to the U.S. for graduation. Her voice broke and tears flowed down her cheeks as she added, “I hope she knew how much I wish to be like her.”
During her address to her fellow high school graduates, Sanchez acknowledged that her story and struggles aren’t unique. She said many of the families and students at the stadium had had experiences similar to the ones her family has endured.
“It drives me mad and fills me with anger that for some, the border only divides two countries,” Sanchez said. “For many of us here, we know that the border is so much more than that: it also divides our family from our dreams.”
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Latinos in Fresno celebrate historic graduation
Earlier in the evening, entire families — parents, siblings, grandparents and aunts — shuffled into McLane High School’s stadium. Some grabbed ice-cold water bottles while others purchased iced Latin American coffee.
Though the approximately 2,800 supporters and spectators filled half the stadium, as soon as the music started playing, they cheered as loudly as if it was packed.
Officials and speakers credited the students with organizing the district’s first-ever Latinx graduation ceremony.
“I’ve been superintendent for seven years, adults tried to make this happen and it took our students to make the Latinx graduation a reality,” Fresno Unified Superintendent Dr. Bob Nelson said.
With folkloric dances, mariachi and student awards, the celebration was almost exclusively hosted in Spanish, with the few English speeches and remarks immediately translated live to Spanish by students.
As announcers read off students’ names, they pronounced every accented syllable properly and accurately rolled R’s. The students crossed the stage to receive a sarape-inspired stole, sown with the bright colors of typical Latin American shawls.
Across all school grades, Hispanic or Latino students form more than 69% of Fresno Unified’s entire student population, according to data from the California Department of Education.
Of the 20,931 high school students in the district across grades 9 through 12, an estimated 14,621 — almost 70% — are Hispanic or Latino, according to state data.
“There shouldn’t be one person here who doesn’t want our kids to learn about their cultural history, their language and the things that make them authentically themselves,” Nelson said. “Fresno Unified is over 70% Latino. Latino graduation is graduation.”
Maria Arellano’s son, Franklin Hernandez-Arellano, was one of the first-generation — and scholarship-recipient — students celebrated.
“There are no words to describe how proud I am that my son is graduating,” Arellano said in Spanish. “I feel so, so, so, blessed that this is happening.”
Families ‘proud’ of Latino student graduates
Addressing the students and audience in Spanish, keynote speaker Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias told the students and audience that when he grew up in Mendota, “I was taught that speaking Spanish was punishable.”
“They tried to take away our culture, our language, our culture with detention,” he said, “but at the end of the day they couldn’t. We are here.”
“Don’t only practice your Spanish to order tacos and pupusas,” Arias told students. “Speak Spanish with pride. Use your Spanish to talk to your parents, ask about their stories, their passions, the reasons why they came here to give you a better future.”
Finishing his remarks, Arias asked students sitting on the football field to stand up and search for their families in the stands. The breeze carried the kisses, hugs and love they sent each other across the stadium.
California State University Board of Trustees member Dr. Yammilette Rodriguez, also a keynote speaker, said the celebrations will certainly continue next year for the class of 2024.
“This year the celebration was hosted at McLane Stadium,” Rodriguez said in Spanish, “but next year… we are going to do it at Save Mart Center!”
In a call with The Bee, Sanchez said she has been in touch with her mom since Sunday’s ceremony.
“She told me she was very proud of me, and that no matter where she was or where I was,” Sanchez said between tears, “she said she would always be with me even when she can’t physically, she’ll always be in my heart.”
Sanchez encouraged the next generations of Latinx graduates to not give up.
“El que persevera alcanza,” the one who perseveres reaches their goals, she said. “If they close a door on us, we’ll knock the windows down because we are Latinos and we do not give up.”
This story was originally published June 05, 2023 2:55 PM.