Zainab Kaira gets her diploma from Erin Whatley.
Erin Whatley is in her first year as Mountain View High’s principal, and she’s already learned what an exceptional place it is. It was evident in her speech during the school’s winter graduation Thursday, Feb. 13.
“To my graduating seniors, we have made it,” she said. “And I say ‘we’ because this journey wasn’t just yours. It belongs to your teachers who helped you when you needed an extra push, your family and friends who supported and showed up for you, and everyone who helped you get through the hard days.
“And let’s be honest – there were hard days. Days when showing up felt impossible, days when your goals felt unattainable, days when you thought, ‘Is it even worth it?’ But here you are – proof that it was.”
As their new principal, said Whatley, “How proud I am to be standing here with you today. I may be new to this school; but in the last semester, I’ve seen firsthand the grit, determination and heart that makes this graduating class truly special. Alternative high school isn’t always the path people expect. But if there’s one thing I know about this class, it’s that we don’t do things just because they’re expected. We pick the road that works for us – the road that leads to growth and to here, today.”
Mountain View is mainly comprised of students who’ve had to overcome significant hurdles and burdens in their lives. Many came from other countries and didn’t initially speak English. Others faced personal challenges or had to work full time to survive while attending classes.
It’s no wonder then that Whatley told them they’ve redefined what success looks like. “Some of you worked jobs while finishing school,” she said. “Some overcame struggles most people couldn’t even imagine. And some of you had to believe in yourselves when no one else did. That’s not just education – that’s resilience. That is life experience, and that is the power that’ll drive you forward.”
Whatley then urged the graduating seniors to “take that same drive and apply it to whatever comes next, whether it’s college, working, starting a business or figuring things out, one step at a time. This journey you’re on is yours. The world isn’t asking you to fit in; it’s waiting for you to show up exactly as you are.
“Success isn’t just a diploma; it’s the courage to keep moving forward – to keep proving to yourself that you’re capable of more than you once believed. And I have no doubt that every single one of you will do just that.”
Saying 2025 has shown that the world is changing, Whatley told the grads, “Now, more than ever, we need innovative thinkers. We need this generation’s ability to think freely so that you can teach us and generations to come. And with what you’ve accomplished here today, know that we need you. Congratulations, Class of 2025. You didn’t just take a different path, you paved your own – and that is something worth celebrating.”
Taking the podium next was guest speaker Geovanny Ponce, FCPS chief of schools. And his own story was one with which many of the students could identify.
“Before I became Dr. Ponce and took this role, I was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in a very poor family,” he said. “No food, no shoes, no dad. In 1998, I moved to the United States with just a backpack. I was trying to learn English, which has been really hard; it still is.
“It’s been 27 years now, and I’m here in front of you. I was a young immigrant, stepping into a new country with new rules and regulations. And today, I feel I am new again. I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to support families and the community at large.”
Still, he said, “I’ve had to navigate discrimination in so many ways, especially when I moved from a different country trying to learn the language. As soon as someone heard my accent, the first thing many people [thought] was, ‘You don’t have an education.’”
But Ponce told Mountain View’s grads that they’re “set for greatness. You’re receiving one of the best educations that you could. I’d say Fairfax County [Public Schools] is number one in the country. And you should be happy that you have such a wonderful faculty. I’ve been here several times and I’ve engaged with almost every one of your teachers, and they’re doing their very best.”
“I’m so proud of what you’ve accomplished,” he continued. “Like many of you, I know what it means to work hard – to face challenges and to push forward, even when the road isn’t easy. I also know the power of education. When I was in fourth grade, my teacher told me that probably I shouldn’t go to school anymore because, in a third-world country, there’s no legal obligation for families to send children to school. But here in the United States, we’re so blessed that you have freedom and that you’ve received an education.”
Furthermore, said Ponce, “I’m emotional right now because I see some of you and I see myself when I moved to a different country. You’re younger than I was then, and you have more opportunities than I did. I want you to make sure you keep pushing. Remember, people looking for obstacles can’t find opportunities. Education opened doors for me; it’ll open them also for you.
“Graduation is not the end – it’s a new beginning. Whether you’re heading to college, starting a career, joining the military or exploring other options, remember this: Because of Fairfax County Public Schools, you’re ready for your future. The education you received here, the lessons you learned and the challenges you overcame have prepared you for what is next.”
Lastly, Ponce told them, “As you move forward, believe in yourself, stay focused and lift others up as you climb. There’s nothing better than to help others. And never forget that your dreams are worth fighting for. Congratulations – we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.”