By Peter Day
When Jasmine Marquez came to Mountain View High in Lucerne Valley at the beginning of the semester she had so many credits to make up that she expected it would take more than a year to finish. Then her teacher Victoria Kessler told her what she needed to hear: She can graduate sooner because she is smart.
On Thursday, December 12, with family, loved ones and Lucerne Valley Unified School District staff members watching, Jasmine received her high school diploma. Due to her resolve and determination, Jasmine beat her 2021 graduation date projection by more than a year and became the school’s sole winter graduation member and a member of Mountain View’s Class of 2019.
“I’m so excited for Jasmine,” Kessler said. “She found out last month that she could graduate now if she worked really hard. It just took a little determination and she ran with this. It just shows how smart she is. She really put her nose into the books.”
During her graduation speech, Jasmine credited her mother, grandparents, aunt, girlfriend, other family members and her teacher for helping her to stay focused and reach her goal.
“They were there to give me guidance,” she said. “Each one of you has helped me get to this point. Thank you Ms. Kessler for showing me I’m smart. Now I know I can do anything I set my mind to.”
Next up for Jasmine is applying to a college program and then possibly pursuing a veterinary science career.
Superintendent Peter Livingston, who serves as the Mountain View High School Principal, certified the graduation and accepted the Class of the Winter 2019. Also attending the Winter Graduation Ceremony was Alternative Education Assistant Jonnie Ross and LVUSD Chief Business Official Douglas Beaton.
Peter Day is a social media adviser for the Lucerne Valley Unified School District.