Meet the Graduates: Josué Cruz

Newark native Josué Cruz is looking forward to graduation.

The 18-year-old has attended Newark schools since he was a child, starting at Graham Elementary School and attending Lincoln Elementary, Newark Junior High and Newark Memorial High schools.

As graduation approaches, he looks forward to a multiple-step journey toward his goal, a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. His dream is to see his design work on a billboard some day.

Cruz plans to attend San Francisco State University but said he will do lower division work at Ohlone Community College first. 

He said art has always been a passion for him.

“I always like drawing as kid,” Cruz said. “Then I got into digital art.”

Cruz joined the high school's , a program that focuses on digital media. 

Most recently, he  and a student achievement award from Avanzando, a local non-profit organization that aims to empower Latino youth, families and the community.

Cruz said he's never won an award before, so this meant a lot to him. He credits his involvement in extracurricular activities such as yearbook and journalism this year and said senior year has been his best.

Saturday’s graduation ceremony will be a reminder for the goals yet to be achieved, he said.

“Graduating, to me, just reminds me how much of my life I still have left to live, how after this point of high school I have to pay for education, and how much responsibility is really being placed onto me,” Cruz said.

He said it also marks a coming of age in which he is shifting his goals from graduating high school to setting up the rest of his life.

“All this planning is needed so I can have goals to reach, just like I did in high school. Graduating just makes me look ahead to the future.”

Watch for more members of the NMHS Class of 2011  to be featured on Newark Patch this week in celebration of graduation.