Decisions for Life - DeSoto High School Decision Day provides continuous path for scholars
Decisions are meant to be made, as was the case for 100 seniors who were honored at DeSoto High School on Monday, May 2, 2022 during the school’s annual Decision Day celebration.
Around 200 were assembled to witness students cross the auditorium stage, receive blue honor cords and take photos; some wearing gear or holding banners and signs of their chosen postsecondary place of study. Many representatives from those places were present to honor them as well.
DeSoto ISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Larry Lewis started his remarks by thanking parents. He then addressed the students, sharing that graduation day, May 23, is “just the beginning.”
“Decision Day comes so many times in your lifetime,” Lewis said. He encouraged students to “never stop learning” as they experience decisions with good and bad consequences; and to not forget to consult with someone else before they make them.
Lewis thanked college representatives for the work they’ve done with students and made a promise of more students in the future.
“Keep your eye on the eagles because the eagles are going to continue to soar,” he said. “This time next year, we’ll have double the amount of students that are sitting here today.”
City of DeSoto Councilmember Letitia Hughes represented Mayor Rachel Proctor in her absence. She congratulated parents and students and asked them to “always stay encouraged.”
Senior leaders Nia Franzua and Jeremiah Toussah, attending University of Texas - Austin and the University of Houston respectively, kept the program flowing, encouraging students to “shout out” their schools, military branches and areas of study.
Seniors individually crossed the stage based upon when their secondary choice was presented. The group photos for some were larger than others. The University of North Texas - Denton and University of Texas - Arlington were big in class with the number of students represented being 10 and nine respectively.
Senior Lechrista Gordon’s place of study will take her the farthest. She shared that she will major in vocal performance at Hawaii Pacific University and that she chose the school because she “wanted to be back by the beach” and that it’s “one of the most diverse schools in the United States.”
Many students shared their plans and the “why” behind their decisions.
“It’s more personal for me,” DeSoto ISD Director of Advanced Academics, College, Career and Military Readiness Robin Johnson Ford said.
She, along with DeSoto ISD CTE & STEM Coordinator Melinda Pugh, developed the concept for Decision Day in 2014. Ford noticed the attention paid to other student groups for their decisions, and went to work on an inclusive offering.
“It’s about all kids.” Ford said.
She feels that all students who make a decision to pursue education beyond high school deserve to be celebrated.
The first DeSoto ISD Decision Day took place in 2014, and has changed over the years.
“The first one was huge with student participation and now we have more college partners that come and participate than in the past,” Ford said.
What has remained the same is the priority on celebrating student achievement and providing a connection beyond high school.
“The goal is to celebrate all kids and their post-secondary success,” Ford said. “It brings the class together in knowing where they're going, and creates a closer bond with alumni associations. Yes, they're leaving the DeSoto ISD family, however they’re gaining a new family at the next level.”