Riverview High students graduate with big dreams ahead

Students at Riverview High School left graduation on May 18 at Robarts Arena with a long journey ahead but with big shoulders to stand on.

Commencement speaker Shawn Cochran delivered a speech about the legacy of the American Dream, recounting how he was adopted by an American woman out of foster care in Puerto San José, Guatemala, at 18 months old. 

"Whether your ancestors arrived in the U.S. centuries ago, or just a few years ago, they bravely charted new paths to live in the home of the brave,” he said. “Their sacrifice reminds us of the legacy that we create with a single dream, and today, as we stand on their shoulders, we are ready to continue the American story and preserve the freedoms our ancestors courageously fought for.”

Principal Erin Haughey recounted her journey to becoming a teacher, a goal she chose while serving in a camp counselor role that included an unexpected trip down the Little Miami River in Ohio. 

“That trip down the river is always about my mind when I'm at a challenge that is outside my comfort zone,” she said. “In that discomfort is where we can find the magic that lies within us to discover passions within ourselves that we never knew existed.”

Graduate Andrew White's own dream is to enter the film program at Florida State University — but his mother Katy White hopes he'll stay around. 

“It happened very fast. This year flew by in particular,” she said. “We’re going to miss him, so I hope he comes home a lot.”