Seniors reflect on school career

The senior high school students of Dora, Elida, Floyd, Faith Triumphant and Portales will leap into the next phase of their lives when they graduate next week. Here are what some graduates have to say about their last few days in school:

Jasi Roberts has been attending Dora since she was in kindergarten and will now be graduating in a class of 22 students.

Jasi Roberts

Roberts played volleyball, basketball, baseball and ran track in addition to participating in the Future Farmers of America and 4-H.

Roberts plans to attend New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and is unsure about which major she will pursue. "I haven't been ready to graduate. I've kind of been one of those who doesn't really want to. I don't really want to grow up," said Roberts.

Jessica Tovar, a senior from Floyd High School, was accepted to ENMU and has plans to be a pre-med student.

Jessica Tovar

Tovar wants to be a pediatric doctor because she wants to help children. In high school, she played basketball and volleyball and went to Chicago for a Future Medical Professionals of America national competition.

Her favorite memory of school was senior skip day.

"Our senior skip day was one of the best days because we all got to hang out together and have a fun day," said Tovar.

Tate Turnbough will be graduating with 10 other seniors from Elida High School and is planning on studying agriculture and business at Eastern New Mexico University. Turnbough spent his senior year of high school getting ready for college.

Tate Turnbough

This year Turnbough participated in Family Career and Community Leaders of America and won a silver medal at the state competition and won a silver medal at the national competition last year. "There's lots of smart people in Elida and I've made a lot of good friends at school," Turnbough said.

Maryssa Santellano grew up in Portales and will be graduating from PHS next week. She plans on getting a job so that she can pay for college. Still unsure of what major to pursue, Santellano is shopping around until she

Maryssa Santellano

can find a good fit but plans on attending Clovis Community College and then wants to transfer to Eastern New Mexico University. Santellano has been singing in choir since junior high with her friends and younger sister.

"We don't take things too seriously but it's been a lot of fun," said Santellano.

Byron Hughes attends Faith Triumphant and will be graduating with two other seniors. He said that the small class size allowed teachers to give him personal attention and let him get to know the other students in his class well.

Byron Hughes

After he graduates, Hughes wants to pursue a career in construction. "It's a good trade to learn. I think it's a pretty fun job actually and it's one of those things that is always used, people's houses, businesses, and whatnot," said Hughes.

Here are the following dates and times for area high school graduations:

Friday, May 24

• Portales High School, 7 p.m., in the ENMU Greyhound Arena.

Saturday, May 25

• Elida High School, 5:30 p.m., Elida schools gym.
• Floyd High School, 1:45 p.m., Floyd High School's Old Gym.

Sunday, May 26

• Dora High School, 3 p.m., Guy Luscombe Gym.