Graduation Speech: Sahara Romero

Hello students, staff, and parents. As I look around this stadium, I see not just the faces of those who sit before me but also the unique attributes that lie behind each person's identity and being. Yet, when we step outside these doors, we face a world that does not value the variety of eyes, lips, hands, and skin. Rather, they see it as something that does not belong. We are overlooked and face a world that may do everything in its power to break down the differences that should be celebrated, but are hidden instead. However, while some may see despair, I see hope. As the Class of 2025, we contain everything needed to combat the sense of injustice inhabiting parts of the world. We carry our cultures, traditions, languages, and attributes that have made our school and community just that. Ours. 

Growing up Colombian and Indian, I was exposed to two different communities and cultures. As welcoming and diversifying as this experience may be, I truly felt alone and out of place. However, it was not until I stepped into NBTHS that I realized my home was not in one spot, but rather scattered along various parts of the high school. From the classroom to the stage to the gym floor, these spaces provided a creative outlet for me to be surrounded by a multitude of cultures and talents.

My involvement in the volleyball team for my entire high school career not only reflected my personal growth as I faced new challenges and commitments, but also taught me what it means to have resilience and passion, all while surrounded by those who uplift me. However, even as I tied my laces and adjusted my knee pads, my mind continuously wandered to the place I felt I first belonged, the Alchemists Theatre Company. This club was not just a way for me to showcase my talents, but rather an eye-opener towards what our school provides for us and how lucky we are. A recurring theme I brought when I gave my teary-eyed speech in the choir room was that we were simply privileged to be given the opportunity to put on a show and be surrounded by the welcoming community here at NBTHS. This not only applies on stage, but everywhere throughout the high school. As we go into future endeavors, I only hope that you, too, acknowledge how fortunate we are to have been exposed to such a diverse group of people. 

For the past four years, we have only seen a small part of a bigger community that awaits, values, and that will welcome us, given that we have the power to stand tall and speak out. This moment is bittersweet in that we are leaving behind the friends we cherish, the teachers we value, and the parents we care for so deeply. But we mustn’t despair, for one day we will all meet again through the large ocean that lies ahead of us, made up of all the things that do not make us similar, but rather, different. We, as the Class of 2025, will seek to handle the injustice that lies ahead, using the tools this school has provided to us. Thank you, NBTHS, for the memories, laughter, and smiles we have collected, and I wish everyone the best of luck wherever life may take you.