LOWER LAKE — Lower Lake High School, Lake County”s largest comprehensive high school, will honor the graduating class of 2012 on Friday night.
The school”s top three academic students, vying for Valedictorian and Salutatorian, share a GPA better than 4.0, yet these three young women share another commonality – biological fathers who have been conspicuously absent during their daughter”s high school years.
Two of the men are in jail; one is a negligent parent and violent substance abuser according to his daughter. Yet through the turmoil of uprooting – including eviction, foster care, poverty and homelessness, all three students possess a resiliency and determination that is certainly admirable and truly inspiring.
These highly motivated students have risen above disturbing obstacles to follow and obtain their dreams. Rachel Kazanowski plans on studying theater arts at UC Davis, Bianey Madrigal will be attending Mills College majoring in business administration and international relations and Victoria Stahlman will be pursuing a degree in biological sciences at UC Merced this fall.
All three have been active in extracurricular activities and have volunteered numerous hours of community service, well beyond their total number required for graduation.
Initially angry and emotionally distraught, all three young women found that school was a safe haven. Madrigal said that when her father went to jail, she realized that her mother was unable to manage as the sole family provider, in particular being at a disadvantage with a language barrier. Madrigal was often called upon to translate for family needs.
Once she focused on the positive and enjoyable aspects of her daily school classes, she was able to stay motivated, knowing that having a high-quality education was the key to a good career and future income.
All three students benefited from caring staff members and friendships forged in high school. Stahlman shared that, “there are always people to help you – there are a lot of arms reaching out at LLHS.” Stahlman said she would wake up early each day, when it was peaceful, with no distractions, and do her homework. Without Internet access at home, she had to struggle to research and write all essay papers at school.
Kazanowski found motivation through helping fellow classmates, particularly younger underclassmen, and staying positive. “When something bad happens, you can”t dwell on it – things will get better. You must realize that it wasn”t your mistake – learn from their mistakes,” she said.
Madrigal”s father was scheduled to be out of jail in time for graduation but was recently sentenced to an additional 40 days behind bars.
Kazanowski will be thinking of her grandmother as she walks across the stage and Stahlman will be reflecting on a favorite quote, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”
For more information or to congratulate these students, contact Lower Lake High School, 994-6471, ext. 2707.
