By Mary O’KEEFE

“Well, here we are Falcons: the day we’ve been waiting for, the day we’ve anticipated for over 12 years. The day we thought would never actually come – our graduation day. And now that it’s here, I have to admit …I ’m scared.” 

That is how 2025 Crescenta Valley High School (CVHS) senior class president Abby Hawrylo began her address to fellow graduates at the CVHS 2025 commencement. 

It was a statement of pure honesty. She spoke about the dream of graduating vs the reality of post-graduation. This step signifies for many a big step into adulting – including paying bills. 

“It feels like just yesterday we were trick-or treating through Montrose, rolling down the grassy hills and riding bikes at Dunsmore Park, trying to sneak into another movie at the La Cañada Regal, having team pizza parties at Shakey’s or meeting friends at the Glendale Galleria,” she said. “And now we turn 18, graduate [from] high school and all of a sudden we’re expected to have our lives figured out.”

She added that growing up is not a straight line from A to B but is full of “twists, turns and unexpected detours.”

To prove her point of what the Class of 2025 has already faced she spoke about COVID-19 and remote learning.

“The Medusa virus [malware] that locked us out of our computers, having to shelter in place because a baby bear was in tree near the library and waiting for these beautiful bleachers to be completed has definitely been an exercise in patience,” she said. “We are stronger because we have met these unexpected detours with grace and resiliency.”

She reminded her fellow classmates that growing up isn’t about having all the answers. 

Second speaker senior Alice Hayes said the process of going through four years in high school has never gotten easier and it is important for the graduation speeches to be heard. 

“[Graduation] is a rite of passage [that should be] congratulated, to hear about how far we’ve come, to thank our parents for getting us here and to be standing in a room and have adults awkwardly ask ‘So what are your plans after high school?” she added. 

When she started high school, Hayes never thought she would be on the commencement stage making a speech to her high school graduating class. 

“When I was a freshman, I had a terrible haircut, almost no friends and I was scared of basically everything,” she said. “But as a proud survivor, now with a slightly better haircut and at least a few friends, I’m proud to say that if I can stand up and talk in front of you all today then my time at CV High School has changed me for the better.”

There were 606 graduates who composed the CVHS Class of 2025 and they served 40,193.62 hours of community service. 

A highlight of the June 11 ceremony was the tradition during graduation of a falcon flying over the CVHS Falcons during the ceremony.