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Graduate focused on his future

David Mertz left home, family to finish high school in the U.S.

CLOVIS - David Mertz may not be typical of the students who graduated from Clovis High School on Friday night.

But he's a good example of what's good about the future, according to at least one school administrator.

"He just embodies what we want ... you know he's going to be successful because he's not afraid to take risks, he's not afraid to put himself out there and to learn. What else could you want?" said Clovis Schools Senior Counselor Melissa Winn.

Mertz was born in California, then moved to Mexico when he was 2 years old. He came back to the United States last summer, choosing to complete his high school education in Clovis.

"He's truly just an example of when you want something bad enough and when you want to come here and you want to learn, you can do it," Winn said.

Mertz was among 501 students who graduated from Clovis High on Friday at the Curry County Events Center.

Winn said Mertz had to overcome some challenges to earn his degree, including language, but he quickly assimilated into the Wildcat family by joining the football team, making friends and participating in the extra activities that make senior year special, including prom.

Mertz said the toughest part of the year was being away from his mother and the rest of the family back in Mexico, but that was something he needed to do in order to give himself and his family a chance for a better life.

"It was difficult for me being that I'm not with my family but I'm trying to get a better future for me. I'm just fighting for my future," Mertz said.

Mertz said much of his hard work was so that he would have the chance to join the Air Force; he leaves for basic training in San Antonio in July.

Although he spent just one year in Clovis, Mertz said there are many things he liked about the community. He could not pick just one.

"My friends, my family, my uncle and my aunt, my cousins, my grandparents," he said. "I will miss everything."

Mertz made the most of his one year in Clovis, living in the present, the way his fellow graduates were called to do by senior speaker Dyllin Gallegos.

"It has been an absolute pleasure embarking on this memorable journey with all of you," Gallegos said during graduation. "We are about to open new chapters in our lifelong books, living each precious day in the present. And although our stories will be different, I pray that each is both prosperous and abundantly happy."