Each year, Cumberland County Schools names a graduating senior at each high school as a Standout Senior. The 17 2023 Standout Seniors are bright, hard-working students who have overcome the odds to graduate and dedicate themselves to serving their community.
To learn more about their plans to attend college, serve in the military or begin their careers, go to www.ccs.k12.nc.us/graduation.
Dalyeri Matos-Zapata will graduate from Cape Fear High School. She answered these questions about her education and her future.
I’m proud of learning as an immigrant in school. When I came to this country, I knew no English, and it was hard with the language barrier. I was raised by a single, noncitizen father. I want to be remembered as the girl who always tried to help the teachers, was kind to the students and always smiled without complaints.
I am enlisting in the military. And I’m going into the medical field to become a pediatric nurse.
I’ve been part of the International Club. I have enjoyed tasting food from different countries.
Yes: God is love. If you do not have love, you can do all things in the world and yet be and have nothing at all.
Cape Fear High School has impacted my life tremendously. It has been a space where I can grow as a student.
My school counselors and social services workers have made a positive impression on me. For instance, teachers like Ms.Casianos, who wasn’t my teacher, have shown me love. Mrs. Smith, the person who has helped me the most and taught me that being helped by people is not bad, opened the way for me to have things for college and home without ever showing that she was just helping me because it was her job.
I attended Montclair Elementary School in Fayetteville.