The future is already taking shape
Graduation is often framed as an ending.
Caps are tossed into the air. Diplomas are handed out. Students say goodbye to familiar routines and begin looking toward whatever comes next.
But for the young people celebrated through CYC this spring, graduation feels less like a finish line and more like a continuation of something larger.
This year, 78 graduating seniors from CYC programs across San Francisco are taking their next steps after high school. Some will remain close to home, continuing their education at colleges and universities throughout California. Others are preparing to leave the Bay Area for new opportunities. Together, they represent a generation of young people whose futures are taking shape in different directions, but who remain connected by a shared commitment to growth, community, and possibility.
Of the 78 graduating seniors, nearly 65% will be attending four-year universities this fall, while more than one-third are pursuing community college pathways, many with plans to transfer in the future. Students are continuing their education at schools including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, UCLA, and the University of San Francisco, with others attending colleges both within and outside of California. These numbers reflect not only academic achievement, but the many different paths students are taking as they move into their next chapter.
During AAPI Heritage Month, graduates gathered with families, staff, and supporters to celebrate this milestone. Joining the celebration was Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen, who spent time with students reflecting on the transition ahead.
As one of the newest professional athletes representing the Bay Area, Chen spoke about the importance of hard work, surrounding yourself with people who support you, and remembering to enjoy the journey along the way.
Students also had the chance to spend time with Chen beyond the formal program, including a few friendly moments competing at the arcade basketball games. The interactions brought plenty of laughter, but they also reflected something meaningful. For many graduates, seeing someone who recently navigated her own transition into adulthood made the future feel a little more tangible.
That sense of possibility showed up repeatedly in conversations with graduating seniors.
Amanda will attend San Francisco State University, where she plans to study biochemistry. As a first-generation college student, she is excited for the opportunity to pursue higher education and make her family proud. Looking back, she describes CYC as a place that helped her navigate some of the most challenging moments of high school.
“CYC is like my second home,” she shared. “The staff know me and have seen my growth. It’s a safe space where I could be myself.”
For Gabriel, who plans to study computer science at San Francisco State University before transferring to UC Berkeley, CYC helped expand his sense of what was possible.
Through a summer program, he discovered opportunities he had not previously considered and found mentors who encouraged him to keep exploring new interests.
“I learned that I’m free and can do anything I put my mind to,” he said. “There are many opportunities open to you.”
Isaac will continue his academic and athletic journey at Sacramento State, where he plans to join the soccer team. Although he joined CYC more recently, he credits staff with helping him build confidence and prepare for important milestones throughout the year.
“Don’t be shy,” he advises younger students. “Be friendly and make as many friends as you can. Be there for people and they’ll be there for you too.”
For Jose, graduation represents another step toward a long-term goal. He plans to attend City College before transferring to a four-year university. Through internships and career exploration opportunities, he gained firsthand exposure to professional environments while learning the importance of empathy and supporting others.
“CYC helps you and supports you,” he said when asked what advice he would offer younger students.
Their plans are different. Their interests are different. Their paths forward will look different too.
Yet what stands out most is not where these students are going. It is how they arrived here.
Throughout their time in CYC programs, they explored new interests, built friendships, gained confidence, and learned to navigate challenges with the support of peers and mentors who believed in their potential. They volunteered in their communities, participated in leadership programs, supported one another, and discovered strengths that will continue to shape them long after graduation.
That is why graduation matters.
It is not only a celebration of academic achievement. It is a reminder that when young people are given opportunities, trusted with responsibility, and surrounded by a community that believes in them, they are able to imagine futures that once felt out of reach.
As we celebrate these graduates, we are also celebrating something larger: the next generation of community leaders, advocates, creators, educators, and professionals who will help shape what comes next.
The future of our communities is already taking shape in the young people crossing the stage today.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026.
Support from our community helps ensure more young people continue to have spaces where they can learn, grow, and imagine what’s possible for their future. Make a gift today to support the next generation at CYC.