Brittany Martinez is one of many seniors who will be able to participate at the graduation ceremony despite being a bit short of the needed 230 credits.

With the district dropout rate at 52.5 percent, Stockton Unified School District has taken the controversial measure of offering seniors the privilege to walk so they may be more motivated to finish.

For seniors like Martinez being able to walk at graduation is their crowning achievement for their high school career. It stands as a symbol for all their success over the last four years. 

Juanito Rivera is a senior walking with all his credits, but he stands in defense of his fellow classmates who are missing credits. “Ten credits is really nothing as long as they make them up … People have situations that (others) don’t know about.” 

This explanation is true for Martinez. “My brother dropped out his junior year and it’s a lot of pressure, my parents expect a lot. It’s a lot of pressure for me to work harder.”

With a zero period, a seventh period, adult education and intersession, Martinez is not what someone would call unmotivated. She disagrees with the stereotype most seniors are pinned to that those who are missing credits are lazy. 

“A lot of them aren’t lazy,” she said. “Everyone messes up freshman year. I understand these people tried hard.”

For Martinez, if the opportunity to walk were not offered, she probably would not have come back to school or put more effort in making up the credits needed. Instead, she would have aimed for her General Educational Diploma.

“It’s giving us a chance. If we get to walk, we’re more motivated to get our diploma.”

Although this grants seniors like Martinez a chance, not everyone agrees that this is the most suitable policy to motivate struggling students. 

Senior Alexis Medina thinks that fulfilling graduation requirements is part of a senior’s duty. For Medina earning her credits came easy. “I just don’t get it, how they didn’t get enough credits.”

However, this isn’t the scenario for the entire ’09 class. 

Juan Schwanker, senior, will only be able to walk because of the new policy that the district has placed. He admits he “messed up” in previous years, but he is now working harder than ever to make it up. “I have eight periods, community service. It’s not as if I’m not trying.”  

Medina says that if students have not been motivated by four years, one summer will not make a difference. To Medina this should not be an issue, people should be capable of graduating by the time senior year comes. She says, “I think it’s pointless (to have them walk). Graduation is supposed to be an ending, (for them). It’s a false celebration.” 

Jossette Munoz, senior, agrees with Medina, and says the seniors given this chance will not go on to complete the required summer school after walking. 

“I think after this year, if they find out that they’re not going to summer school, they should drop (this policy). I think it’s going to be stupid if the district continues doing it.”

Vincent Miser, senior, is in a different position than Munoz and Medina. He is missing 10 credits, but luckily for him his motivation pushes him towards graduation, saying, “The kids that graduate in my family get money and a party.” 

But more importantly, he wants to graduate for his family. “It’s going to make my family happy. My father, he never graduated, he wants me to be better than him.”