Dragons urged to find own way

“Our learning doesn’t end here. Humble yourself, even in success,” she said in her speech before her fellow graduates, educators, family and friends. “We do not know everything, so we should push ourselves to do better. We need to be lifelong learners and constantly look for ways to improve ourselves so that, in time, we can become the best version of ourselves.”

Richard Pombo, Tracy native and congressman from 1993 to 2007, told the graduates that they should always question the status quo and not allow others to define their goals and happiness.

“Never quit. Never give up on yourself. Never stop. Never accept ‘no’ as the final answer. Because people will tell you — whether it’s in your work, or school or your life — people will always say no, you can’t do it,” he said. “Never accept that as the final answer.”

Delaine Eastin, the former state superintendent of public education, was the keynote speaker earlier in the day for the graduation ceremonies of Delta Charter’s 10 other charter schools.

The school also awarded the inaugural John Lautenslager Scholarship, named for the newly retired educator who taught at Delta Charter for 14 years. Andrew Dickert earned the first scholarship.