Following is Redmond High graduate Elisa Kadackal’s commencement speech from June 15 at KeyArena in Seattle.
Elisa Kadackal
Special to the Reporter
Faculty, family, friends and my fellow students at Redmond High School, welcome. I am so thankful for the opportunity to speak to you this afternoon.
I never thought that I would be standing here, looking at you all today. It was only three years ago that I was staring nervously at the mass of students around me in the school lunchroom, shaking in my boots. I was a transfer student — I had just moved to Redmond from a small town called Concord, in North Carolina, about 3,000 miles away.
On my first day at Redmond High, I felt lost. I remember that a kind senior — a girl with red hair — walked me to my first class. I don’t know her name — I never saw her after that. What I do know is that she set a precedent for my experience at Redmond High School — she showed me what community looks like. And now, here I am, looking at the faces of my 400-plus accomplished peers — my community — thinking, “I never thought that I would be here.”
Much of life is a series of “I never thought that I would” phrases. I never — ever — thought I would finish writing those Traditions and Encounters notes in World History sophomore year. And I also never thought that I would remember that information — or the knowledge from my other classes, for that matter — years later. I never thought that I’d look forward to “Pho Fridays” in the lunchroom every week. I never thought that I’d see so many cultures and passions — people with such diverse journeys — in one place. I never thought that I’d be sitting in Mrs. Donaldson’s classroom, staring at the plastic wrapper holding my folded graduation gown on my desk. Now, standing here, I’m thinking “I never thought that I’d actually like this green and gold on me.”
But I do. I experienced — I accomplished — all of these things that I never — not in a million years — thought I would — and much, much, more. And I know you have too. Fellow seniors, I know that you have worked hard in your classes. I know that you were sometimes forced to make difficult decisions — some of them involving significant sacrifices for yourself, for your family and even for your friends. I know that you took the time to paint winter decorations on the school windows with Art Club. You lived your dreams through “Rent” and “Chicago.” You both managed and founded your own clubs — Schools for Schools, Amnesty International, National Honor Society, to name only a few. I know that you have felt the rush of adrenaline pulsing through your veins as you ran across the field during a game, or danced with your teammates, or cheered on your friends from the stands. You lip-synced your heart out during those assemblies and watched previous senior classes win each year. But this year, your class won. Did you ever think it would?
You have each had your own experiences — some good, some bad — all of them unique. They have enabled you learn about yourself. They have helped you recognize teachers who work so hard to educate you and to care for your future. Your experiences have forged the friendships you will always remember. Most importantly, they have made you a part of a family. Look around you, seniors — look at this sea of green and know that we are gold. Did you ever think that you’d be a part of a generation — a community — this big?
Today, we are not just graduating seniors. We are impact-makers. We are future lawyers, entrepreneurs, molecular biologists, grocery-store owners and fashion designers. We are art professors, nannies and cardiologists in the making. We are future chocolatiers, programmers and Uber drivers. Who knows, there could even be a future late night talk show host among us.
On the subject of careers……….
My mom, a pillar of support in my life, is a computer program manager. She once reminded me that when she was my age — our age — her job didn’t even exist. When she graduated, she could not have possibly imagined all the things she would do with her life. We are in the same position now.
We can’t exactly predict what is to become of our lives. But, I encourage you to think of your future with curiosity and excitement. Wonder about what you can and will do to change the world, and set your mind to accomplish it. Seek to live a life molded by your integrity, shaped by your hard work and refined by your resilience.
In the end, we are a community. Some of us have goals and plans that we’ve set. Some of us are still undecided about them. In moments of change like this one, the world can feel big and scary. But the future is what we make of it. Remember this: no matter our differing backgrounds and experiences — no matter where we came from — we are here today, in our caps and gowns, celebrating a journey that we shared together. Did you ever think that this moment would arrive?
Thank you, Redmond High School. Teachers, staff, families and friends who supported us throughout the past four years — thank you. Thank for all of those “I never thought that I would” experiences. They have shaped us into who we are today.
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2017!
Redmond High graduates:
A
Amany Aamir
Safaa Ali Abdellatif
Amani Ahmad Abu-Dayah
Shen Ayo Acorda Acoba
Jessica Taylor Adams
Meryl Corinne Aebi
Jude Ahmed
Kaitlin Patricia Alayo
Cameron D. Allenshipman
Jake Eric Allen
Avanti Amin
Rachel Kaye Anderson
Michelle Tulip Ang
Julci Lek Areza
Rachael Marie Armstrong
Alyssa Leanne Arnquist
Mauricio Arroyo
Sarah Jane Asplund
Alex Rene Astorga
Noa William Astorga
Daniel Avila-Alaniz
Wen Yi Aw
B
Caro Babaknia
Duo Bai
Jeffrey Robert Bailie
Bradley William Baker
Rylie Raylin Baker
Sierra Kelly Baker
Christina Laura Elizabeth Bali
Leilani Marie Barbosa
Cassidy Elizabeth Barnes
Keenan Ellis Barr
Emma Elizabeth Barry
Vishal Baskar
Calyx Baumeister
Bronwyn Elizabeth Beatty
Diego Becerra
Erika Lindsey Beehler
Casey Thomas Beliel
Jensen Lynn Bell
Katie Berman
Mason Parker Fellin Bernardo
Caroline Berroa
Tejas Krish Bharadwaj
Aarushi Bhatnagar
Milinda Jayant Bhopatkar
Andrew David Bies
Aidan Bilheimer
Nicole Amporn Binette
Austin G. Binkerd
Chloe Eileen Birney
Aleksander Bryant Bober
Natalie Boesen
Yuliya Boldyryeva
Cameron Eugene Boone
Malia Natsumi Bott
Sydney Jane Bradley
Rayna Leeann Breitenstein
Ben Daniel Broughton
Matthew Taylor Buchanan
Lezlie Yoshelin Bueno
Joshua Matthew Bull
Emma Grace Buob
Maxwell Joseph Bury
Sean Gabriel Burzynski
Hamilton Jerome Busenbark
Isrea Butler
Zeyan Butt
C
Andrew Thomas Chin Calderhead
Delaney Kathryn Campbell
Jennica Lynn Campbell
Valerie Michelle Campbell
Jaime Alexandra Cantwell
Yenifer Carrillo-Escalante
Traci Carson
Joao Pessoa Carvalho Neto
Hannah Rose Casper
Levi Abram Casto
Peter Chaban
Dalai Battugs Chadraa
Sophia Ming Chang
Megan Joy Chatterley
Leslie Chavez
Ariel Chelouche
Grace Qian-Hui Chen
Julia Elizabeth Chew
Marcus Chrisna Chhong
Alexander Gueorguiev Chkodrov
Christina Linmei Chou
Harriet Julia Rose Clarke
John M. Clift
Emma Alexa Clinton
Sara Rose Clinton
Jose Conde
Andrew Patrick Connor
Alexander Cook
Nicholas John Cottone
Mitchell Crowley
Jasmine Lisette Cruz
Eduardo Cruz-Apantipan
Nohely Cuevas Perez
Yuleiri Cuevas Perez
Michael Cummings
Marcelo Andres Yu Cunningham
Andrew Cygan
D
Sydney Daub
Falak Daud
Hunter James Masaro Davis
Vincent De Avelar
John De Carvalho
Ysabela De Ocampo
Gabriela Cortes De Vincenzo
Ethan Marcus Dean
Lisa Marie Dias
Zachary John Dillon
Judah Ethan Dorsey
Patrick Dorsey
Olivia Christine Duco
Charles Dumars
Kathrine Skye Dyer
E
Payton Alexander Echeverry
Claire Engler
Kaitlyn Elise Ernst
F
Nicole Farahdel
Rand Kraldon Ferch
Jacob Michael Ferry
Alisa Virginia Feuerstein
Chloe Fink
Tom Firstenberg
Erika Lauren Fisher
Austin Jaden Flores
Emily Rose Flynn
Micheal Anthony Forcier
Allison M. Ford
James Asher Fore
Elian-Ben Formantes
Kirsten Talbert Foster
Natasha Sophia Foti
Talia Franza
Tessa Rose Fujisaki
Rio Christine Fukuoka
Briahna Carolynn Fuller
G
Christopher David Gandara
Jose Juan Garcia
Sharan Garlapati
Tara Ghazanfari
Nhat Giap
Nhi Giap
David Spencer Gibons
Daniel Sergei Gladner
Dennice Janel Godinez
Pedro Goncalves Mokarzel
Katherine Janet Gordon
Kevin Robert Gordon
Emily Kathryn Grabow
Crystal Lynne Graham
Brian Granillo-Garcia
Michael Gringauze
H
Ryan Karl Haase
Nicholas Paul Hafner
Andrew James Hall
Jude Dennis Hammond
Mali Grace Hansen
Annie Kyung Hanson
Galit Sarai Hara-Salzberg
Joel Elliot Hargin
Terry James Harleman
Mads Peter Hart Hansen
Adam Hasenyager
Shiri Deborah Hayardeny
Daniel M. He
Samuel He
Jonathan Andy Hernandez-Orozco
Miguel Hernandez
Sasha Nicole Heywood
Ellen Kay Hilbun
Samiha Farah Hirsi
Matthew William Hobbs-Mallyon
Alexandra Josette Holetz
Tai Holmes
Zack Hsieh
Chia-Fu Alex Hsu
Jonathan Hsu
Elizabeth Anne Hull
Sarah Jane Huycke
Alexander Galt Hyde
I
Yasemin Ibrahim
Kiana Imani
Leon Iskhakbayev
J
Daniel Alan Jaffe
Shloak Jain
Zahrah Jamil
Alexandra Lee Jandrisch
Hazel Katherine Jenkins
Isabelle Jean Jensen
Alex Ji
Ian Arturo Jimenez Raygoza
Sergio Jimenez Ramirez
Larisa Anamaria Jipa
Claire Adelle Johnson
Ember Ktrielle Johnston
Jaymie Kyoko Johnson
Tyler Craig Jones
Rachel Elaine Jonson
Frances Theresa Jose
Saurav Joseph
Allison Joan Justus
K
Saransh Kacharia
Elisa Kadackal
Anastasia Kakurina
Ellis L. Kap
Mustafa Mohamed Yasin Karie
McKenna Paige Keenan
Chantal Kelly Aguirre
Luke A. Kennedy
Theona Evadne Kennett
Benjamin Kilby
Renaise Kim
Van L. Kim
Sarah Nichole Kimmerly
Anthony Valentin Klementiev
Lauren Ashley Klenk
Taiga Benjamin Koffron
Mary Elizabeth Kolakowski
Montana Rich Kottkey
Alexander Krassovsky
Alexander Paul Krause
Paige Krumperman
Erik Kristopher Kvietkus
L
Benjamin Jacques Lait
Anandan Lakshminarayanan
Donata Tran Lamanna
Nicholas Rocco Lamanna
Devon Jacob LaPierre
Gillian Larocque
Anthony Edward Laveroni
Natasha Stapleton Leavitt
Joy H. Lee
Leon Lee
Regan Conrad Lee
Sophie Lee
Sophia Katherine Lee
Amanda Sabine Leeb
Michael Boyang Li
Patrice Li
Mark C. Liu
Megan Elan Lodahl
Jesse Lopez
Jaqueline Lorenzo Reyes
Aileen Marie Low-Glassman
Christine Victoria Lu
Dorothy Zhu Lu
Dalton Wyborney Lubash
Andrew Ilario Lucarelli
Paige Ariana Lui
Dinara Lukosky
Christian Javier Luna
Angela Luty
Owen Alexander Lyon-Smith
M
Mya Nicole MacRae
Benjamin Layman Maier
Eric Christopher Malla
Monet Alexandra Marshall
Valentin Martchenko
Nicole Renee Martin
Olivia Jane Martin
Emma Marie Martz
Julianna Rae Mason
Jacob James Massey
Linzy August Massengale
Swaleha Masude
Daniel Matheson
Jacob Anthony Mathis
Alexander James McBain
Katherine Avery McCannon
Ethan Ballantine McGhee
Nadia Medvinsky
Megan Illey Melander
Siri Kiersten Mellem
Kaelyn Marie Melrose
Pedro Menchaca
Yumiko Elizabeth Mendez
Jillian Clark Mercer
Jessica Meyer
Kathryn Miller
Nicholas James Miller
Shana Loren Milton
Miguel Mina
Jason Thomas Mitchell
Ibrahim Mohiuddin
Molly Jean Morgenstern
Natsuki Morizane
Luke William Morris
Ryan David Mossman
Thea Louise Mroz
Alice Mundell
Jessica Mary Murphy
N
Ben Nachmanson
Momina Nadeem
Jackson Todd Jimenez Nejbauer
Alvine Amelia Njimoluh Ngouonga
Kevin Nhan Nguyen
Jacob Matthew Nichols
Bridget Nickel
Sidney Niederhausern
Blake Adams Roper Norman
O
Kathleen Anne O’Bryon
Gabriel Andres Oliver
Foster William Olson
Izabelle O’Meara
Jonathan Neil Opprecht
Sarah Michelle Osborn
Donya Ostadhaji
Timothy Otteson
P
Lily Frances Packer
Elham Elise Pakzad
Lucas Fernando Palacio
Philip James Palm
Sarah Parchman
Jennifer Parga
Jaehee Park
Quinten Tyler Parke
Malhar Manish Patel
Nisha Mukesh Patel
Elizabeth Lee Pelluer
Matthias Daren Penry
Damian Mendez Perea
Edgar Alan Perez
Rian Glenn Peterson
Elise Clare Janice Petit
Maria Jose Pinero
Emily Vanessa Pinzon-Mendoza
Cynthia Mariela Plascencia
Tristan Podgayets
Isabella Francesca Pollock
Tyler John Poor
Hayden Lucas Poore
Brock David Robert Powell
Caden Takekuni Pratt
Alex Pravat
Francesca Sara Maria Preble
Joseph Jack Francis Prebo
Jordan Joseph Price
R
Martin Knox Randal
Guru Ravi
Taylor Jessica Ray
Marium Mustajab Raza
Carlie Anna Reese
Kayla Reese
Raistlin Justice Reid
Seth Alexander Rekoske
Janeen Cynthia Richards
Rhiannon Siobhan Rise
Sean Michael Roberts
Jonathan Davis Robinson
Glayster Manuel Rodriguez Reyna
Madison Elise Rodrigues
Samec Jireh Rodriguez Segura
William Ronneburg
Sarah Rosioru
Tyler John Ross
Christian Rouhana
Oliver Ruo
Andrey Ryabtsev
Anisa Bailey Ryan
S
Jonathan Anthony Sadykbayev
Alizay Sajjad
Nabil Akbar Salazar-Guevara
Izamar Alejandra Salome-Rios
Carly Sanford
Josue Santiago Adame
Tanaya Sardesai
Arvind Sriram Saripalli
Sumaiya Sathar
Arianna Sayyadi
Caitlin Francesca Scally
Alexandra Rose Schrader
Luke Minwoo Seo
Lauren Catharine Settle
Campbell William Shaffer
Jacob Patrick Shea
Graham Dennis Sheffer
Conor Shepard
Safenaz Hesham Sherif
Alexandra Shield
Kellen Johnson Shoup
David Yonatan Shtukin
Chelsea Tian Shu
Risa Louise Shutz
Carli J. Sides
Naureen Singh
Irika Sinha
Isabelle Le Jeane Smith
McKailee Marie Smith
Tyler Austin Smith
Valerie Yang Smith
Nathan Christopher Snyder
Grant Avery South
Alexis Spain
Dana Spillinger
Blake Ryan Steckler
Karl Richard Stenerson
Benjamin Isaiah Stewart
Jessica Janet Still
Stephanie Miriam Still
Megan Leigh Stoppani
James Todd Stuart
Megavarsha Subramani
Zheen Hama Suseyi
Jonathan Douglas Swecker
Hassan Haider Syed
T
Jose Luis Tamayo
Christopher Tauber
Ishaan Tewari
Pearl Shen Long Thijssen
Keona Belen Saturay Tibbs
Alondra Gabriela Torres
Macey Margaret Trussel
Gaura Tulsyan
U
Landon Bayne U’ren
Tenghis Konrad Ulzii
V
Chantal Grace Van Den Bussche
Shane Dawson Veal
John Raymond Ventura
Benjamin James Visse
Jort Visser
Jack H. Vonderhaar
W
Isabel Renee Wagner
Logan Warriner
Claire Marie Wasson
Alexander Charles Weininger
Katelyn Ryan Welle
Kiley Marie Whitney
Jake Thomas Wilkins
Mackenzie Marie Wilkinson
Kenna Jane Wilson
Hannah Camille Winner
Henry James Winner
Lauren Brittany Winner
Maya Rose Wohl
Kylie Elizabeth Wolfin
Akira Michael Wong
Dylan Dean Woodbury
Megan Wrast
Amy Wren
Mandy Wu
Alyssa Marie Wybo
Y
Mizuki Yabe
Jenna Yang
Noah Yeo
Kayla Yepez Fajardo
Claire Cheen Yin
Dylan York
Mohammad Abraze Yousaf
Sophie Yu
Z
Oliver Fongray Zhou
Alice Zhu
Jackson Russell Zielinski
