PAWTUCKET – Earning the top spot of class valedictorian was once just a dream, said Naima Gonzalez, but by sheer desire, determination, and hard work, she was able to make her goals come true and her parents proud.
Those parents have been the backbone of her success, said Gonzalez. The late nights, stress, and exhaustion made her wonder at times if it was worth it, but her parents’ pride validated everything, she told classmates during commencement exercises on June 10.
The achievement was so rewarding, said Gonzalez, and showed her that nothing is impossible and nothing can deter you if you put the work in.
That is this class in a nutshell, said students and staff at the ceremony for the 2026 graduating class, young people who achieve and make an opportunity for themselves through hard work.
Supt. Randy Buck asked students who will be the first win their family to attend college, and many of them stood.
Principal Christopher Coleman urged the more than 220 student graduates to use their time, talents, and treasures, pointing back to a culture night at the school in March to illustrate all the best traits of this class and the community they’ve built.
Salutatorian Jeremy Torres said he and his classmates grew through so many experiences and activities, learning lessons through academics, athletics, and life. He said he learned leadership is about service and showing up when needed, of setting an example when no one is watching, and helping others succeed.
These graduates are capable of more than they realize, said Torres, after already overcoming so much. He quoted Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Griffey Jr.
”To succeed in baseball, as in life, you must make adjustments,” he quoted.
Added Torres, “congratulations, Class of 2026, Continue to dream big, work hard, and stay humble.”
Gonzalez encouraged classmates to be unafraid to be kind to themselves. It’s OK to want things, to need things, and to know they’re not alone in their struggles, she said, and students should go for whatever they want to be and do. Don’t be so hard on yourself, she said, but instead treat yourself as you would someone who is very special to you.
She thanked her friends for making school a place worth coming to and ensuring that there was never a dull day, but reserved her most impassioned words for her parents, a father who came here from Mexico in search of a better life, a man who works harder than anyone she’s ever seen, and a mom from Cape Verde who has stayed positive no matter what and inspired her to be just like her every day.
“I did it all for them, and I love them so much,” she said.
Gonzalez said she did everything for her parents, and she hopes one day all their dreams come true. The situation in the country is scary right now, she said, but these graduates will never let that deter them. She said she is forever grateful to be able to make this speech.
School Committee Chairperson Omar Reyes said told graduating seniors that when he was their age, he believed everything in life was supposed to be certain, but the real thing involves adapting, changing, and sometimes starting over. Sometimes life isn’t falling apart, it’s falling into place, he said, and end games can be invitations and opportunities. Some of the best moments of his life have been after he thought he missed his chance, he told graduates, encouraging them to never be afraid to take a chance and end or begin something. Life has a weird rhythm if one pays attention, he said, and it often tells a person where to go.
Reyes spoke of his father, one of the smartest men but who didn’t always get the opportunities in life. He said he treasures having the chance to walk through doors his father never got to. He urged students to keep showing up, saying their diplomas are their ticket to learn how to adapt, which is better than certainty. Show the world what you can do, he concluded.
Buck shared that he kept coming back to a simple question of what a diploma represents. Sure, it signifies academic achievement, years of classes, assignments, exams, and hard work, but more importantly, it points to something more important in choices, decisions to show up, keep going, work hard, lead, persevere, and believe in themselves.
Buck listed some of this class’s achievements, saying these young people have “proven what’s possible when preparation meets opportunity.”
We hear all about potential, he said, but it’s not about potential, it’s about proof of what you can accomplish and what you’ve become, and that your future it not determined by where you started.
What students are today was not built on one decision, said Buck, but on choices made every day, of learning, of growing, of making the choice to show up when things got really hard. There’s not limit to what they can achieve, he said, and their next chapter will be their best yet.
Mayor Donald Grebien also hailed this class’s tradition of excellence, also pointing to cultural night where students, families, and the community came together through food, music, performances, and traditions from around the world. Students also stepped up to participate in the city’s youth-to-senior snow shoveling program, he said, but what makes this class special isn’t a single accomplishment, “it’s the legacy you’ve created together, a legacy of leadership, teamwork, resilience, and commitment to one another.”
