The high school valedictorian at San Ysidro High School in California delivered quite a speech at her high school graduation. Known only as “Nataly,” the student excoriated her guidance counselor, school administration and one alcoholic teacher removed from school by the police.
“To my counselor, thank you for letting me fend for myself,” Nataly said in front of the audience. “You were always unavailable to my parents and I, despite appointments.”
She added, “You expressed to me your joy in having one of your students be valedictorian when you had absolutely no role in my achievements.”
“Being escorted out of school by police left a lasting impression,” she said sarcastically about one of her teachers as her fellow graduates shouted in disbelief.
The district was none too pleased to have their dirty laundry presented to all the parents at the ceremony.
“Regarding the specific allegations made, I can’t make any comment on specific personnel matters,” school communications director Rubio says. “We understand that she had some concerns, but it would have been nice if she had expressed those prior to her speech.”
Rubio further said, the valedictorian’s speech “takes away from the accomplishments of the students, teachers and staff there.”
“There are a lot of students going to great universities and doing great things after high school. It’s unfortunate that she made [the graduation ceremony] about herself,” Rubio says.
She didn’t make it about herself, she made it about the problems at the school. Kudos to her.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWcY5WxDecI]
(Photo credit: You Tube)