I am Mauricio Salgado, a student at Judith S Kaye High School, and I was invited to The High School Voice Ceremony on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The Queens High School President’s Council sponsored the event, and I was one of two students representing District 79. The event highlighted Queens High School students who exemplify and elevate the Queens High School voice. I was honored at this ceremony because I participated in a documentary speaking about my life.
On Thursday, February 1, 2024, a camera crew came to JSK Queens to interview me about my life and experiences. They filmed shots of me in Art Customization class and interviewed Mr. Jeff. The documentary crew was very nice and kept hyping me up, which helped me not be so nervous. They kept telling me that my flow in answering questions was natural and that I was doing well.
It also helped that Mr. Jeff was there supporting me the whole time. Mr. Jeff said, “I think the documentary is a good way for other students to know they can overcome challenges. Hearing Mauricio’s story and working in this field is a reminder that just because it’s tough doesn’t mean you can’t push through. Who you become on the other side of the challenges makes you appreciate the journey even more. I think the documentary gives a visual to just that.”
When they interviewed me, they asked personal questions about my time in school and how I went from having five credits to having more than thirty credits in just one year. They were asking questions about how I used to act in my old school compared to now. They wanted to know how JSK helped support me and what was different about this setting that helped me succeed. When they interviewed Mr. Jeff, they asked him about the district, the roles people have in supporting students, what types of challenges they encounter as staff when dealing with students, and what types of support people who work in this environment would need.
I’m not sure when or where the documentary will air. The crew said they had to spend a few months editing the footage. They said they would compile the footage into a project that could air on a network or even on Netflix.
The ceremony was held at Francis Lewis High School. There were around 75 people in attendance. I was allowed to bring two guests, my mom and my girlfriend, and Ms. Jessica was also present. It was a formal event, with a catered breakfast served. It was fun to get dressed up. Many different schools throughout Queens were represented, like Long Island City High School, Queens Technical School, John Bowne High School, Flushing High School, and two of my old schools, Epic South High School and Information Technology High School. I felt proud to share my growth progress and represent in front of staff from my old schools, where I was not as successful. Specifically, my old principal from Information Technology was there, and she recognized me.
There were a few districts that were honored before us. Our superintendent, Glenda Esperance, was called to the stage when it was District 79’s turn. Even though other honored people only stood in their seats, Ms. Esperance encouraged us to come up to the stage and receive more recognition. So I got to go up to the stage with Ms. Jessica, and we both received our plaques in front of everyone. Ms. Esperance asked me if I wanted to say anything to the audience; however, I was shy about being put on the spot. Ms. Jessica said, “District 79 often feels like the forgotten district. So it felt amazing to be invited to this year’s award ceremony [it was the first year that District 79 was included in the annual celebration]. It was also great to see Mauricio’s achievements being recognized under the theme of ‘elevating the high school voice.’ This past year, he has represented what it means to be a great JSK high school student.”
Overall, I appreciated every opportunity that this school has given me—from helping me get my credits up to welcoming me to every event they have had. This school is so much different from the ordinary high school experience. JSK offers opportunities you would have never thought of, and I am grateful for all this. Most importantly, I am excited to be a JSK graduate in August 2024.
