by Jim Boyle
Editor
Twenty-six students, each with a story of triumph over adversity, graduated June 2 from Ivan Sand Community High School at a ceremony held in Zabee Theater at Elk River High School.
Photos by Bill Jones
Twenty-six soon-to-be Ivan Sand Community High School graduates head into the Zabee Theater for their ceremony.
None was more poignant than Jessenia Kalstad’s story of triumph over tragedy. She started at the alternative high school after her father died the summer of her sophomore year from a rare type of cancer.
“His passing destroyed me. … I felt abandoned again,” Kalstad said in a prepared speech chronicling her academic journey.
The Ivan Sand graduate described her father as her hero, and one of her best supporters since day one. He taught her life lessons and protected her.
When he died, she had to leave home. She and her mother didn’t get along, and their relationship worsened. But her mother urged her to stay in school.
“I was very mad at my mom at the time, but thank goodness she was watching out for me,” she said.
Upon moving away from her mother and in with an older brother, she started to attend Ivan Sand. It was a fresh start where she could make a name for herself again. No one knew her.
“It was the best feeling,” she said.
She found supportive teachers that spoke kindly to her and even tended to her emotions. “I’m blessed to have been mentored by them,” she said. “I now know what it’s like to not give up on someone when they have given up on themselves.”
That’s a message that student after student shared during an 80-minute ceremony, which was conducted by Ashley Fransen and Raymond Johnson.
Scholarships of $1,000 or more went to Natalie Wendt, who was named Student of the Year and was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from Sodexo, the school district’s food service provider. Others to get $1,000 scholarships were Elise Williams (Elk River Lions Club), Kalstad (Three Rivers Community Foundation), Nate Williams-Shaw (Ivan Sand Community High School) and Alicia Simonson (Fairview Health Services).
Wendt was master of ceremonies at last year’s graduation ceremony and served as the school’s representative on the Elk River Area School Board.
She lost four family members during high school and said she eventually lost herself.
“I was devastated, numb, shocked, paralyzed, unable to move or think or live,” she said.
She dropped out and started an online program. Instead of gaining knowledge, she gained weight as she ate and sat, unable to do her coursework.
A friend suggested Ivan Sand, and she registered.
“And now here I am (graduating) and an adult,” she said. “I have my own house, I’m paying bills, and I start college in the fall at the University of Minnesota Morris campus.”
Caring teachers, staff credited
Nicolas “Nico” Crowley commented at graduation about teacher Cheryl Netka immediately spotting his potential after giving a speech called “My Life.”
Netka told Crowley he would give a similar speech but better at graduation, not the next one but his graduation.
“She saw potential I had and had faith that with the right push that I could become a good enough speaker to open up graduation.”
In addition to graduates talking of overcoming deaths of people close to them, they also spoke of triumphing over addictions, pregnancy, depression, anxiety and hopelessness.
Kalstad hopes someday to help people touched by drug abuse as a counselor or therapist, she said.
“My heart breaks for families being torn apart by substance abuse, so I will do everything in my power to help,” she said, extending thanks to the social workers, therapists and counselors that have impact her life and the lives of her family members.
“I did what everyone said I couldn’t do,” she said. “I graduated on time. And I triumphed over my tragedy.
“When life sends you a … curve ball made of solid concrete, you have to pull yourself up, dust yourself off, get mad, get going, take care of yourself and be grateful for the many people who are there to help you and get your life in order.”