Never Too Late
"It’s never too late to begin again. Never stop searching for your missing pieces. Never stop learning. Never stop growing. And never underestimate the power of a community that supports you, challenges you, and believes in your vision." – Yasmari Cardenales '26
Yasmari Cardenales '26, of Springfield, gave the student address at HCC's 79th Commencement on May 30. She graduated with high honors and her associate degree in Foundations of Health. She is transferring to Elms College for her bachelor's degree in nursing.
'Do you like jigsaw puzzles? I do!
I’ve always believed that life is a lot like one. When you open the box, you’re drawn to that picture on the front of something beautiful, something meaningful. That picture becomes your vision, the person you hope to become, the life you’re working toward.
You proceed with the edges, the foundation. Some pieces fit together easily into place and others can leave you feeling frustrated and wondering if you’re even building the right picture. Sometimes you need to step away and sometimes you just need help seeing what’s right in front of you.
And sometimes, you don’t even realize you’ve been holding onto all the right pieces all along until, suddenly, they begin to come together.
Standing here today, I realize just how powerful that moment truly is. It is an incredible honor to be part of the Class of 2026 and an even greater honor to speak in front of YOU. A room FULL of people who have ALL been building their own puzzles, piece by piece, in their own unique ways.
Before anything else, I want to thank every person who encouraged me along the way. Your love, your patience, and your support carried me here. I wouldn’t be standing on this stage without you.
I have a secret to share. Don’t tell anyone, but I left high school 26 years ago with no idea what my journey would look like. Life felt so much simpler then. To make ends meet, I worked multiple jobs, and I took opportunities as they came. I stayed involved in my community and kept searching for where my purpose fit.
Over the years, I built a life I was proud of. I met my wife – my greatest supporter. We built a home together, and we welcomed our daughter Sofia into the world.
My time with the American Red Cross over the last 20 years has taught me compassion, resilience, and the importance of serving others. But after COVID, something shifted. The world felt uncertain, and so did I. I realized that there were pieces missing from my puzzle. Pieces I had been searching for without even knowing their shape. I wanted options, and I wanted growth. And, as a first-generation college student, I knew that if education was my next step, I would give it everything I had.
In 2023, I took the leap and applied to HCC.
Why HCC you ask? Well, because it felt like a place where someone like me could truly belong, and I had my checklist ready. After more than 20 years away from school, I needed smaller classrooms, I needed support, and I needed a community where I felt safe enough to grow.
When I entered the Foundations of Health program, my advisor, Lori Wayson helped me believe I could actually do this. She understood what it meant to return to school as a working mother and an adult learner. I started off with night classes, and before long I was balancing a full-time course load and full-time job.
And, guys, listen: When a Puerto Rican lesbian woman says she’s going to do something, she does it!
Even when I couldn’t see the full picture, I kept going. Piece by piece, that vision became clearer. Each class, each late night, each challenge – they were all pieces finding their place.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be standing here today. But that’s the thing about puzzles: you don’t always see how everything fits together until you take a step back and look at just how far you’ve come.
Today, I stand here graduating with the Class of 2026, and I am truly humbled and deeply proud to share that I have been accepted into the Elms College nursing program and have been awarded the Presidential Scholarship for my BSN. It's a beautiful reward for all of my hard work.
Thank you to everyone who became part of that picture through class discussions, NSLS, long nights studying for A&P practicals, and every single moment in between.
And to every adult learner here: it’s never too late to begin again. Never stop searching for your missing pieces. Never stop learning. Never stop growing. And never underestimate the power of a community that supports you, challenges you, and believes in your vision. Even when you’re still trying to figure out the picture on the box.
Congratulations, Class of 2026. We did it!"
PHOTOS: Student keynote speaker Yasmari Cardenales '26
