Maya McFadden Photo
Divine Mahoudi Sombi: “I wondered if high school in America was really like ‘High School Musical.’”
After a motivational keynote address from U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, Divine Mahoudi, 18, crossed the James Hillhouse High School graduation stage to receive her diploma after emigrating from central Africa only four years ago.
Hayes, a former Hillhouse teacher, received a warm welcome back from the Class of 2019 Friday at the schoo’s 160th commencement ceremony, which conferred degrees on 189 graduates.
“The best way to predict your future is to create it,” said Hayes during her keynote speech.
Hayes’ drive and triumphs mirrored those of the graduates who sat before her. Students like Mahoudi and Ciara Little, 17, said they worked hard to gain the confidence in themselves and their abilities that they have today.
This year was Little’s first and last at Hillhouse after she transferred from Hill Regional Career High School in 2018. She said she constantly felt out of place at Career and so she transferred to Hillhouse for her senior year, where she continued her basketball career on the girls’ team. After the team won the state championship, Little said, she knew she had made the right choice to transfer.
De’Janay Davis is congratulated by classmates after receiving diploma on stage.
Mahoudi came to New Haven in 2016 and started at Hillhouse as a freshman who knew no English. Fluent only in French in the start, Mahoudi learned the English language by the end of her freshman year.
“I’m very proud of myself,” she said.“At some moments I thought I wasn’t going to make it.”
Hayes; presence was more than a validation for many of the students, it was a motivation to continue their educational careers, they said. “Education saved my life,” Hayes said.
Timothy Peters captures the moment he receives his diploma from Principal Glen Worthy.
Recognized as the National Teacher of the Year in 2016 and the first black woman to represent Connecticut in Congress, Hayes told her unorthodox backstory. Hayes was raised by her grandmother in public housing projects in Waterbury; her mother was an addict. She got pregnant at 17 years old and had to enroll in an alternative adult ed high school program to get her diploma. Dedicated but ashamed, Hayes attended Naugatuck Valley Community College, where she took one class at a time, brought her daughter to class some days, and took public transportation to get around.
“It does not matter where you start. It does not matter how you got here. It doesn’t matter how broken those pieces are and if you have to pick them up and bring them in a bucket with you when you cross that stage, what matters is that you are here and that you deserve to be here,” Hayes said.
13 out of the 189 students received honors diplomas.
Principal Glen Worthy honored Jack Paulishen, a beloved Hillhouse teacher who died at 54 years old on Thursday. Paulishen was memorialized at the ceremony as a friend, mentor, teacher. The graduates and loved ones in the audience dedicated time at the start of the ceremony to honor the impact Paulishen had on the community.
Hayes read aloud the poem titled “A Rose that Grew from Concrete” by Tupac Shakur during her speech, telling the graduates that they must recognize their potential and strive to achieve all of their dreams even when doubted, just as she did.
“I ran for Congress for you and 17-year old me,” she said.
After crossing the stage today, Mahoudi said she feels unstoppable. She plans to pursue a career in law in the near future and will start with getting her associates from Gateway Community College (GCC) next school year. Her interest in law stemmed from her work with Elm City-UROC (Undoing Racism Organizing Collective).
While at Hillhouse she also took on the responsibility of mentoring refugee and immigrant youth who are struggling to acclimate. After receiving an associate’s degree, she wants to attend Central Connecticut State University (CCSU).
“I wouldn’t have the confidence that I do now, because I discovered here that I can do so much more,” Mahoudi said while reflecting on how her life would be different if she stayed in central Africa.
Kids and teachers must be a financial focus from now on. They deserve it and we need their educational success to potentiate a better future for all of us and our descendants.