School name
Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering

City name
Passaic

Story behind the cap idea/Bio
The cap sat on my bed, sunlight catching the shimmer of the silk flowers and rhinestones. One side was filled with pictures of my younger self, my sister, my parents. Each photo told a story, a piece of who I was and who I’ve become. The other side had a quote that has carried me through the hardest times: “Almost gave up, then I remembered what I’m working for.”

This isn’t just a graduation cap. It’s a piece of my heart. It’s a reflection of everything I’ve been through and everything I’ve held onto.

The girl in those photos was full of curiosity and hope. She didn’t know what life had in store for her. She didn’t know how grief would change her or how responsibility would shape her. She just smiled for the camera, unaware that she would one day be standing at the edge of adulthood, wearing those memories like armor.

There were so many times I felt like giving up. The pressure was overwhelming. Balancing school, leadership, work, and personal struggles took everything out of me. Grief had a way of showing up uninvited, especially when I was already exhausted. Sometimes I wondered if it was even worth it. But then I would look at old photos or think about my sister. I would remember why I started in the first place. And somehow, I kept going.

Every detail on this cap means something. The flowers remind me to stay soft, no matter how hard life gets. The ribbon symbolizes the connections that held me together. The photos remind me of where I come from. My family, my childhood, the people who have always stood by me. The “2025” tassel represents more than a graduation year. It stands for the future I almost didn’t believe I deserved.

I made this cap to tell my story without needing to say a word. I wanted people to look at it and understand that this journey wasn’t easy. That I’ve cried, struggled, grown, and kept going even when it felt impossible. I wanted to honor my sister, who is no longer here but still inspires everything I do. I wanted to make my parents proud. I wanted to make the younger version of me proud too.

Graduation is more than a ceremony. It’s the end of a chapter that tested every part of me and the beginning of one that I now face with strength and purpose. It’s proof that I didn’t let the hard days win. It’s proof that every late night, every tear, every moment of doubt was worth it.

This cap is my voice. It carries the weight of my journey and the light of my dreams. And when I toss it into the air, I will be celebrating more than just a diploma. I’ll be celebrating survival, love, and everything I once thought I wasn’t strong enough to achieve.

I almost gave up. But I didn’t. And that means everything.