Both Watsonville High seniors, Angel Lopez and Lucia Umeki-Martinez, said they prospered greatly from their teachers during their four years at WHS.
“All of them (teachers) had their own personalities and their own way of teaching and I feel I came out ahead because of that,” Lopez said. “It was my class in agriculture that really changed me; I mean, we are in an agricultural community. That is why I plan to head to Cal Poly to study agriculture. This has been a good school for me.”
On Friday thousands of people filled Geiser Field’s bleachers or stood in the sidelines under an overcast sky to watch the graduating class of 2022 end their four years at Watsonville High.
“During the pandemic I really struggled and I was not doing well in most of my classes,” Umeki-Martinez said. “My mental health was declining—that’s why I am so grateful to be back in class and be able to graduate in person. It is just so great to be around all these wonderful activities and events here on campus again. All of my teachers have been amazing and have inspired me. Travis Walker, my social justice teacher, really influenced me. He’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. And Kristina Gran was great. Being the ASB president has given me strong direction.”
She plans to move on in the fall to study sociology or English at UC Berkeley.
“My dream is to become an English or Social Justice teacher here at Watsonville High because I love it so much,” Umeki-Martinez said.
