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Their next chapter

MATEC?has winter graduation ceremony Friday

Photo by Jenny Kirk From left: MATEC graduate Lay Bo was all smiles after receiving his certificate from Superintendent Scott Monson and Principal Brian Jones at the 2018 winter graduation ceremony on Friday afternoon.

MARSHALL — One’s high school graduation is something to be very proud of — perhaps even more so when you’re the first one in your family to reach the milestone.

Of the six students graduating this winter from MATEC, two — Lay Bo and Zakaria Khalif — are the first in their families to graduate from high school.

Through interpreter Hsa Mu after the graduation ceremony on Friday afternoon, Bo’s father, Htoo Saw, said he was very proud of his son.

“He wanted to comment and say that back in his age and in his country, he didn’t have a chance to go to high school,” Mu said for Saw. “He said when they came to America, they were welcomed and that they wanted to try and learn, for the children to get through school. He’s so happy and pleased that his son graduated. And he would like to thank all the teachers in the school here who helped him get through.”

Marshall High School English Language (EL) teacher Vickie Radloff remembers when Bo first came to Marshall Public Schools at the age of 16.

“He had two older brothers, but they never kept going to school,” she said. “But he kept going. Now, he’s the first one in their family to graduate.”

Radloff said it can be really difficult to navigate through the educational system when students first come to the United States after their fifth-grade year. Bo is originally from Burma.

“It can be a lot tougher between your sixth- through 12th-grade years, so he’s done phenomenally well,” Radloff said.

MATEC Assistant Principal Michelle Noriega said Lay Bo attended MHS before transitioning to MATEC.

“He came the summer of his ninth-grade year and went to summer school,” Noriega said. “Then he went back to the high school. The last two years, he’s been at MATEC.”

Lay Bo had a big smile on his face as he shook hands with Noriega, Principal Brian Jones and Superintendent Scott Monson and then received his certificate on Friday. Afterward, Radloff said she had the opportunity to speak with Bo.

“He said he’s going to be 21 this year and that he’s going to be a truck driver,” Radloff said. “He’s really doing some amazing things. He’s a great kid.”

Education has been known to open a lot of doors for people. Rachael Anderson, MATEC teacher and keynote speaker, said the graduates should be proud of their accomplishments.

“The word that comes to mind is ‘perseverance,'” Anderson said. “These students are strong souls. This hard work is what sets these students apart.”

Anderson noted that Bo was very determined to succeed, often staying late and asking questions.

“He worked hard despite a language barrier,” she said.

Oftentimes, alternative schools can be an effective atmosphere for students to complete or restore the credits necessary to graduate. But there are time factors that come into play.

“In Minnesota, you have until age 21 to get your diploma,” Noriega said.

Student speaker Nicolette Pottratz encouraged her fellow classmates to continue persevering and to never let anything hold them back.

“Whether is trying out for that team you’re not entirely sure about or allowing your voice to be heard on issues you’re passionate about — or even talking to that cute boy or girl in your English class — don’t let fear, rejection or embarrassment prohibit you from trying something new,” Pottratz said. “Even if you don’t succeed, anything that you made an effort to do or try isn’t a failure — it can only serve as an experience or a lesson. In the end, you will never regret something that you tried — only something that let fear stop you from trying.”

As they prepare to move to the next chapter in their lives, Noriega wished them well.

“We are so proud of you,” she said.

Noriega then shared a little bit about each graduate, including their future plans and what advice they had for the underclassmen at MATEC.

“Samatar Ahmed will continue working at REM and then he’s going to attend SMSU (Southwest Minnesota State University),” Noriega said. “He would like to coach soccer at the college level. His advice for the underclassmen is to work hard — you know we certainly agree with that.”

Noriega said Lay Bo would like to find work through the summer and then train to earn his commercial driver’s license.

“He would eventually like to become a truck driver,” she said. “His advice is to stay in school and make sure you finish. We will miss your ‘always sunny’ disposition and that cheeky little smile you have, Lay Bo.”

Noriega said Frank Fricke is also looking for a job where he can earn money for school.

“Frank would like to study psychology and social work,” Noriega said. “He would like to become a social worker.”

According to Noriega, Shawn Kelley is job-searching and would love to stay in the area to live and work.

“His ultimate goal is to be an EMT,” she said. “Shawn had a lot of advice for underclassmen, which comes as no surprise to any of us because he’s very social and he loves to talk. His advice is to stay out of the drama and don’t give up. He also adds, ‘If he could do it, any of you can.'”

Kelley is already self-employed, operating Shawn’s Rainbow Loom Products for some time.

“I started my own company,” he said. “It’s mostly bracelets, animals and charms. I can make as many as somebody wants.”

Kelley said he was proud of his academic achievements.

“I’m feeling happy and excited,” Kelley said. “I’m probably going to become an EMT. I’ve wanted to do that since I was about 7 years old. You have to have the stomach for it.”

Noriega said Khalif also plans to continue working at REM and then attend SMSU in the fall.

“He’s going to study to become an athletic trainer or physical therapist,” Noriega said. “He would love to study in California and be connected to a sports team in a bigger city. His advice is to keep your head low and work on you. He did just that. He is the oldest of six children and the first to graduate in his family.”

Pottratz will continue working at Wild Rose through the summer and then attend SMSU.

“She, too, would like to study psychology or social work,” Noriega said. “In the future, she sees herself working as a social worker in an organization like Greater Minnesota. Her advice to underclassmen is to focus on school and everything else will fall into place.”

Before she left the podium at the graduation ceremony, Anderson shared some words of wisdom from former U.S. President Barack Obama: “Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it’s not. It takes patient, it takes commitment and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The rest test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it — whether you choose to persevere.”

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