MADISON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2020 - TODAY IS YOUR DAY. NO DOUBT. YOU ARE A WARRIOR

We made it Gabriel! woo-hoo....

“Even in times of trauma, we try to maintain a sense of normality until we no longer can. That, my friends, is called surviving. Not healing. We never become whole again ... we are survivors. If you are here today... you are a survivor. But those of us who have made it thru hell and are still standing? We bare a different name: warriors.”

― Lori Goodwin

 Today is Your Day.  No Doubt. You Are a Warrior

Maybe you think it is not a big deal, but I hope you realize it is not just a party and while the you may forget the day, you will never forget the moments you lived through together over the past 4 years. 

Many people will say you are a step closer to becoming a real adult, but the reality is that you already are.

High School is not just Math, Science, English or memorizing facts for your History test the next day. As a high school student you have been learning more than simple theories and formulas, you have been practicing and developing a plan on how to be yourself in a world that is constantly changing and testing your character. 

You may be younger than me and living in a whole different era where your mind is occupied by social media and lightning-fast networks of texts and streaming services, but I am sure that we have all been faced with the same challenges during our high school life.  

We both went through the same daily routine, some of them related to our assignments as students and others that constantly tested our human capacity.

We all go in as teenagers and come out as young adults, but the time in between those two is what really means most to us.  

I never thought that many years after my high school experience I would be relating to your experiences, but here I am living back memories and recalling how challenging is to be a high school student: trying to fit in everywhere, stuck between accepting or denying myself depending on the situation, hiding my fears or feeling embarrassed about everything and nothing, and at some points, crying uncontrollably to take those tempestuous theories out of my mind. Falling in love and saying good-bye. Being afraid when teachers wanted us to work in groups or, even worse, ask us to make our own because I was never sure if anyone else wanted me in the group. Being terrified some days because I’d wake up feeling that everybody was observing and/or disapproving each and every step that I took. Even being involved in many fake friendships and realizing too late that they were reflections of my own self-doubts.

High School means growth, learning and developing new skills, practicing tolerance, making decisions on your own, being a teenager and an adult at the same time, but above all things it means being a survivor.  You are here today showing off not just your gown, cap, and tassel. You are showing your courage and resilience, the new person that you have become and you must feel proud of it.  As evidenced time and time again by the news this year, no one knows what life will bring to you, but I am sure that you will continue to build new roads, fulfilling your life of new experiences, opening new chapters in your life, and overcoming the unpredictable. So, let us to shout out and clap for you, because you earned it and deserve being celebrated. 

Think big, stay strong, keep smiling, never stop dreaming.  We all are so proud of you 

Vivimos para soñar, soñamos para vivir.

- Duvraska Mendoza

Madison High School Class of 2020

Congratulations Gabriel!
Mami is so proud of you.

Beautiful Autumn

I would like to share with you a poem. Sometime you not understand the climate, seasons, or weather; however I think that the nature is a gift of God. I hope you like this poem. “Smile forever”.




I am a tree in fall. I feel like flying with my arms. I am growing to be happy, because God is smiling at me with winds and tornados. My leaves are falling and flying everywhere. I am as free as a river that runs without stopping. It is my opportunity for dreaming and living, it is a wonderful moment. A tree isn't sad in autumn, a tree in autumn only cleans its arms and feet, also a tree does give thanks to God for changes in his body and mind. A tree is shining, and smiling in spring and summer, so only a tree is blessed by God in autumn and winter.


Until next dream...

A story about some things I remember from my native country

Venezuela is a very generous country with its people; because it offers beautiful landscapes: deserts, forests, jungles, mountains, lakes, and wonderful beaches and rivers.
In Venezuela we celebrate many kind of fairs around the country, some of the fairs around the country, some of the fairs name are:

- Feria de la Chinita, in Maracaibo

- Ferias de San Sebastián, in San Cristóbal

- Ferias del Sol, in Mérida

- Feria Internacional de Barquisimeto, in Barquisimeto

- Ferias de Mayo, in San Felipe

- Ferias de San José, in Maracaibo

- Ferias de Elorza, in Elorza

Venezuela is a musical country most states has tipic music and dances. I remember La Danza de la Cinta, El Golpe Tocuyano, Los Tambores Barlobenteños, El Tamunangue, Las Gaitas, El Joropo.

In my country people are very friendly, help full, and funny. In general my country Venezuela is the best country of the world