Davies Tech delivers diplomas to 212 in proud Class of 2026

LINCOLN – You could see the uneasiness on Moshood Lawal’s face.

Just minutes away from his commencement from the William M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School on Tuesday night, the North Providence resident stood among a few friends in a hallway adjacent to the Community College of Rhode Island-Flanagan Campus fieldhouse looking rather tense.

Once they walked away to greet and reminisce with more classmates, he opened up a bit.

“You know, I’m a little anxious, a little scared,” he said. “I mean, anything can happen when you’re crossing the stage to get your diploma. I could trip and fall, and if I did, I’d feel stupid. I just want to make my parents proud of me.”

When told Moshood, Sr. and Amudat already were, he smiled sheepishly and seemed to gain some confidence.

Senior Class President Destiney

Barbosa had similar feelings about the ceremony.

“I’m worried about my speech; I just want to do a good job,” she said. “As for my feelings about this night, these four years have just flown by; our senior year definitely went by the fastest. I’m not sure why that is, but it’s probably because of the stress, getting paperwork ready for college, making all the deadlines.

“I will say this: What I’ll miss most is all of my friends, those I grew to know and love. The fact we come from different towns and don’t see each other much out of school, that’s going to be the most difficult part. I don’t know how often I’ll get to see them.

“At the same time,” she continued, “I’m really excited about going to Columbia University. I’m going to study electric engineering. I like currents and want to learn more about how they work and why.”

Pawtucket’s Zion Rayside called the moment surreal.

“I have a feeling of excitement, but I’m also saddened; this is bittersweet,” he said. “I’m seeing all of my friends in their caps and gowns, and it may be one of the last times we see each other because now we’re traveling down different paths. It’s amazing it’s here already.

“Then again, I was warned about this; my freshman year, I was on the basketball team, and the seniors told me, ‘Watch out! These four years are going to go really fast.’ I blinked and now, four years later, I’m one of them, but I still know I worked really hard for this.”

Soon after, the call came to line up in alphabetical order. As they strolled into the massive fieldhouse to Edward Elgar’s “Pomp & Circumstance,” the parents, family members and friends stood and cheered on their soon-to-be graduates, cellphones held high to hopefully catch a miracle photo of their loved one.

Associate Director/ Principal Jose Libano then greeted the crowd before introducing Anangeli Fernandez and Leonor Moreira to sing the National Anthem. Libano then asked Chef Santos Nieves, who recently was chosen the R.I. Career & Technical Education Teacher of the Year, to deliver the keynote address.

Nieves spoke of how he became a chef, despite the fact he had little money to attend college and also knew virtually no English, his trials and tribulations. He then offered some words of advice to this Class of 2026.

“Allow yourself the opportunity to grow – not only as a professional but, more importantly, as a human being,” he told them. “Show up on time. Keep your word. Respect people. Learn how to listen before you speak. Understand that your reputation is built on the small things – how you treat others, how hard you work and what you do when nobody’s watching.

“Failure is not the end – sometimes it is the best teacher you will ever have. Do not be afraid to start at the bottom. There is dignity in honest work, and there is wisdom in learning every step of the process. Ask questions. Stay humble. Never think you are too important to keep learning. When it comes time to make a difficult decision, reach into your ‘honesty’ bucket – we all have one – and ask yourself: ‘How will this decision affect my future?’

“If the outcome appears positive, take the chance and try,” he added. “If there’s even a possibility that the choice could take away your peace, your integrity or your future, walk away. Remember, now you are responsible for you.”

In her speech, valedictorian Tyra Shode brought up old memories and the friends and family she shared them with – she called them “side quests.” She talked of the struggles and hardships they all experienced.

“Hardship is never the end of the story; ease will always follow, whether we experience it immediately or much later,” she said. “And, honestly, I think there’s peace in knowing that not everything is ours to control. The effort we put into life is ours, but the outcomes are not, so instead of rushing through life worrying about what comes next, take the time to appreciate where you are while you’re still in it.

“Enjoy the people around you. Enjoy the small moments before they become memories. No one lives a perfect life, and no one needs to outrun time. As long as you appreciate the small moments, trust the process and live gently, time will never be something you have to fear. And maybe one day, when we look back at this moment, we’ll realize that this right here was one of those moments.”

Like Shode, salutatorian Abigail Grullon she thanked her parents, family, friends, teachers, confidantes and more for helping her reach her goal of graduation.

“When I carry the love of those who have loved or love me, I am able to be content with where I am,” she said. “When you carry the love others have for you, the love you have for others and the love you have for yourself, you are able to do things confidently, without hesitation and with fulfillment.

“People take notice of this confidence; they can’t take their eyes off you,” she continued. “They think to themselves, ‘I don’t know what it is, but they have it.’ That ‘it’ factor is the love that is with you, the care that you put into the things you do.

“So carry the love of people with you. Carry the love of your parents, siblings, friends. Carry it into everything you do because you will find, as I did, that life will be easier to move through.”

Barbosa then offered her deep words of self-realization and advice, and Davies’ school counselor Jessica Plumer delivered her thoughts and hopes to the class before superintendent Mary Watkins and Libano told the seniors it was time to receive their diplomas.

One by one, each accepted their own way, but all knew the important step they had just made.