It looked like a party, but it was much more than that for more than 150 seniors at John Muir High School Early College Magnet. Muir recently celebrated its 2023 high school graduates as part of the school’s College and Career Signing Day tradition that began in 2019. “It gives me goosebumps just thinking about the growth of our students,” said Muir Principal Lawton Gray. “We enjoy celebrating our seniors because we are extremely proud of their hard work and we’re excited to see what they do next.” Whether post-graduation plans include a professional training program, a community college, a four-year college or university, the military or even a gap year, every graduating senior at Muir had a chance to cross the stage, accept a rose, enjoy the choir and band performances, and hear deafening, affirming applause from their peers. Muir senior Dalia Rivera is excited to major in child development at Pasadena City College. After two years, she hopes to transfer to UC Santa Barbara or UC Irvine. “I plan on being a therapist, probably in a school, because I love helping children,” said Rivera, who advised younger students to never give up on their dreams. The event at Muir was one of 3,000 events held nationwide and part of the Reach Higher initiative which “encourages young people to complete their education and own their future.” All PUSD high schools are celebrating seniors in
unique ways throughout the month, culminating with graduation ceremonies in a few weeks.
