Over the course of our lives, we have a few distinct moments that symbolize the turning of pages, the beginning of a new chapter. On Thursday night, Eleanor Roosevelt’s seniors experienced one of those moments as they concluded their high school journey and graduated.

Thousands of friends and family members poured into Eleanor Roosevelt High School Stadium to watch their loved ones take the symbolic next step in their lives. At 7 p.m., the seniors began to enter the stadium; junior AVID students led the walk.

Cameras flashed and people shouted as the senior homeroom teachers began to announce the names of their students. The students then walked up to the stage. They were greeted with a smile and the long-awaited diploma.

After the diplomas were awarded, Delaney Marine, the ASB President, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Roosevelt’s Choir Madrigals sang the National Anthem.

Dr. Jeremy Goins, the Principal of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, welcomed those in attendance and kicked off the string of speeches. In his speech, he looked to debunk some of the myths about “kids these days”. He named a few stereotypes and explained that the Class of 2017 has proven that the negative stereotypes simply aren’t true. The last stereotype he looked to address was the idea that our youth possess a sense of entitlement. His speech took a surprising turn when he claimed that the stereotype was true. Laughs could be heard throughout the stadium from parents and those who know the sense of entitlement all too well. However, he made it clear that the entitlement isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A reference to Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence made it appear as if entitlement has always been a staple of our nation and a reason for our progress. A highlight of his speech came when he said, “Life is not what we are entitled to, but what we do when life doesn’t give us what we believe we are entitled to.”

The valedictorian (Madhumita Kolluri) and three salutatorians (Anthony Tung, Joy Cai, Yiwen Jiang) gave their speeches. A consistent theme that emerged in the speeches was the overcoming of obstacles and willingness to persevere (a number of references to the AP Exams the Class of 2017 had to retake were made).

Three important members of the Mustang family who passed away were remembered and honored by the school. Jamillah Collier and Carlos Garcia had a positive impact on the classmates, teachers, and staff they touched. A dove was released for Eddie Goerlinger, an integral part of the Eastvale community.

Mikayla Batilaran led the tassel moving ceremony, and a brilliant firework display ended the night.

There is no way to know what the future holds. However, if the high school accomplishments of the Class of 2017 are any reflection of what they will do in the future, our world is headed in the right direction.