BARSTOW • Varsha Vallabh was among the thousands who filled the stadium at Langworthy Field to honor Barstow High School’s graduating class on Thursday.

The crowd included family and friends who traveled from far away places to see the 293 graduates, but Varsha had all of them beat.

She traveled from South Africa to see her niece, high school senior Bindiya Vallahb, walk across the stage. Graduations are typically family affairs, but for Bindiya’s family, the event had special significance.

Her family was one of many that watched as the crimson and gold clad Class of 2009 passed under a canopy of flowers at a dignified march. But when they lined up in their seats, they let loose and cheered. For many of the students, it was a night to celebrate.

For Bindiya, graduating meant that she was the first person in her family to receive a high school diploma. She was also named one of Barstow High School’s eight valedictorians and will be continuing on to Eleanor Roosevelt College at the University of California San Diego in the fall.

With 22 relatives attending the ceremony, Bindiya had to collect unused tickets from friends to make sure her entire family got in the gate.

The 18-year-old was born in a small town near Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to Barstow in the seventh grade. Bindiya was among the third generation in her family raised in South Africa where both her mother and father attended school only until middle school.

Getting used to life in the United States took time. Adapting to school was easy, said Bindiya.

“We had more social problems adjusting,” she said.

With two younger siblings, Bindiya was often the guinea pig when it came to navigating her educational career.

“I was the experimental child of this family since I was the first one,” Bindiya said. Starting in middle school, Bindiya said she started relying more on outside help from teachers. In high school, one of the hurdles was figuring out college applications and financial aid forms.

“It was difficult. It was confusing,” she said, noting that while her parents couldn’t always help, they did support her. In turn, Bindiya said she hopes to have started a new tradition in education for her family.

As senior Elisa Encinias y Garcia also looks to the future, she anticipates challenges and called on her peers to keep on striving.

“We have many peaks to look forward to and many summits yet to climb,” said Encinias y Garcia in her valedictorian speech. “Congratulations. Now let’s keep on climbing!”

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com

BY THE NUMBERS
5,000+ in the crowd at Langworthy Field
293 students receiving diplomas
14 student speeches
8 valedictorians
4 salutatorians