Sonia

How do you feel about graduation?

Honestly, I’m scared because I don’t know what I’m doing after we graduate. I plan on going to college, but I don’t know what I’m going to study yet. 

I’m also going to miss everyone, so I’m sad too.

Were your last four years at Veritas well lived?

I think they were. I made some of the best memories of my life here, along with some of the best friends ever. There are some things I regret not doing, but I wouldn’t want to go back and change my high school experience at all.

Marelyn

Are you afraid of losing anything? Why?

My brother Eduardo because he is the baby of the family. He is so sweet and innocent and our bond is so close. Even though he is young, I feel that he listens to my problems.

Oscar

What was the hardest period in your life?

Well, to be honest, I've been through a lot of things, but I think that the hardest period in my life would be being bullied. Being bullied traumatized me a lot, all thanks  to stereotypes. People thought I was gay, when reality was that I wasn't. It was a daily life filled with insults and slurs. I used to be afraid of going out to the stores and people looking at me, or just people whispering would make me anxious. It wasn't just strangers, it was family too, but I decided to put all of that behind me and stand up for myself. Now, I really don't care what they think about me. They can talk, but I'll always be me. "You're not gonna tell me who I am, I'm going to tell you who I am."-Onika

Gaby

What do you want your tombstone to say?

Be yourself, and screw what people say. A happy life revolves around positive and motivating people. If anyone is doing anything but that, you don’t need them!

Alissa

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

Speak my mind more, and dress with more comfy clothes, like sweatpants.”

Lauren

What's the one thing that people always misunderstand about you? How did this make you feel?

Students thought that I was mean and stuck up, but really I was shy and did not talk with people. This made me realize that I had no reason to be shy 

and so this made me become friendly.

Erika

  

What are you most afraid of?

I'm afraid of breaking a leg because I won't be able to play soccer.

Who do you most admire in life?

My mom because she helps me through all my stuff, 

helps me out with my problems, and gives me advice.

Victor

What’s your favorite holiday and why?My favorite holiday would be Thanksgiving because I get to spend time with family and there's always food on the table.You get to give thanks for everything you have in life.

Aaliyah

Have you ever lost anyone in your life?

Last person I lost was my godmother, it started out as breast cancer and it just got worse. Also my  uncle died of liver failure.

And how did you handle it?

I guess it was a way for me to learn from other people's mistakes.

Have you ever had to console a friend because they lost someone?

One of my friends was going to lose their dad for the same reasons why I lost my uncle. There’s really nothing to say, just hope that it gets better.

And how do you feel over the loss of your family members now?

I guess I’m over it, but it feels like I’m still in denial because it feels like he’s still alive, like he’s just somewhere else.  

Maricela

If you were to have 1 million dollars, what would you do with it?

I would give some to my parents and the rest for me

On what would you expend the rest of the money on?

I don’t know, maybe on clothes.

Ramon

When you came to the United States were you ever discriminated or looked down upon by others? If so, how did that make you feel?

For the long years that I have been living in the United States, I have encountered discrimination and this made me feel very sad as well as it made me feel enraged. At the beginning I felt left out since I had come from a different country. I thought I just needed to be more integrated into the American culture, but as I tried to talk to people, some Americans thought they were superior than me because of how I spoke English and with an accent as well as where I came from. At first I thought that some people were just close minded and till this day I still believe it is true. The Americans that I would try talking to did not care what I had to say, and did not care about my culture that I valued, because I was not an American and did not speak proper English.  

Luis

What would you do if you were told that you only have one month to live?

I would really want to do everything I have ever wanted to do before I die.

What would you would do and why?

I would travel as much as possible to anywhere I can. I would want to travel around to see things and discover things that I have never seen or experienced before.

Samuel

                               If you could ask a single person one question, and they had to                                           answer truthfully, who and what would you ask?

                              I would ask my mom who she loved more, me or my brother. 

           Just out of curiosity. 

Ramiro

                                                            What is true happiness?
                      True happiness is being comfortable with yourself and accepting what you have.

Daisy

                                  Have you ever felt like giving up?

Yes, because I felt like it was the easiest way out. I also felt like it was the only thing I could do to escape from reality. At that time I felt like it was my only answer.

Kacey

Have you ever felt left out or discriminated by the way you dress?

Kind of, by people that I really don’t care about, but my friends are very supportive so I just don’t listen to other people’s judgments. 

How did that make you feel?

Bad, but I just don’t care because these people don’t really affect my life in any way. 

Would you ever judge someone because of the way they express themselves?  

No, everyone is free to be their own, and to be who they are no matter what.

Rebekah

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I didn’t like bad teachers...I wanted to teach in order to show students how easy learning science can be instead of proving how smart I am.

Maria A.

How was your high school experience? Was it what you expected it to be?

Uhh yes, then no. I thought it was going to be like High School Musical or any other high school movie. I have expected those Friday night football games and HUGE dances, although the dances were all still fun anyway! I also thought there would be cliques like the whole popular group and just different types of groups of people, but now I see that it doesn’t exist. Of course, everyone has their own cliques, but everyone is their own person. Entering high school, I hoped to mature & change for the better, and I did! Although it wasn’t what I expected to be, it was a good experience overall!

Adriana

What is your biggest motivation and why?

Music- Nobody else is going to be there when you really need them

 and music provides me comfort nobody can give.

Loretta

What life changing event have you had in your life?

When I was 6 year old when I came from Arkansas to Wisconsin. It changed my life entirely. It changed the way I grew up, the way I lived and the way people treated me.

How would you be different if this never happened ?

I would probably have a lot more friends and I would be happier because I would've stayed where I was comfortable.

Do you miss living there?

Yes I miss living there a lot.

Orin

 

What is the biggest struggle you’ve ever been through? 

Seeing my mom disappointed.

Why?

It makes me feel as if I should do more.

Any advice for Veritas students?

Listen to your parents and make them proud.

Christopher

What is the scariest thing you have lived through?

The scariest thing I've ever lived through was that I could've been dead by now. There were so many times where I faced death. I Almost got ran over when I was a 13, I drowned in a pool for 3 minutes and I almost slammed in a car.

How does this make you feel now?

I'm grateful that I'm given the chance to step foot on earth every day because I have been on the brink of death multiple times. If any of those things did happen I wouldn't be around right now telling my story.

Jesus

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

I would have come out a long time ago...Come out from the ‘closet’.

How do you feel about it?

I am not ashamed of it. Ever since freshman year, I was quiet about it. Senior year, I see myself different, more sociable with everybody, I go out more with my boyfriend, and he made me love myself for who I am. He also told me that my life can change for a better one. I also want to say that I owe a lot to Fatima, she was a big part of it. I learned to love and accept myself for who I am. I also want to give advice for anyone going through the same situation, you are never alone, there are people just like you, but also don’t feel pressured to come out from there.

Marcos

Who inspires you the most?

I inspire my self, because I feel like nobody can motivate me or inspire me more than my self.

If I didn't think that, what would I do when I have no one around me to inspire me or motivate me. I also feel that if you're your own motivation and inspiration you are a stronger person than most because you don't need anybody.

Karen

What was the most difficult time in your life?

The hardest moment of my life would be when I had to move to be away from my mom for a whole year.

Why?

It was difficult because she’s my mom and I love her a lot. It was hard to adjust to life without her because I could only see her over a camera. It was a very emotional time for me.