CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — Seniors at Oasis High School officially graduated, marking the start of a new chapter in their lives.
It’s a moment one senior has been looking forward to since he was 5 years old. Born in Guatemala and raised in Southwest Florida, 18-year-old Stefan Putzeys couldn’t help but reflect on his life as he graduated high school.
“When I was a little kid, I used to play with this and like drag it across the street, and it’s the same one they kept for 14 years,” Putzeys said.
He shared his journey through life with his teachers, peers, family and the community during his graduation ceremony. Putzeys was chosen to speak in front of his fellow students, making it a time to reflect so his peers can remember to live in the moment.
“My parents, the reason why they’re not here is because when I was younger, they were murdered,” Putzeys said.
It happened when he was 3 years old. Putzeys grew up with only a few memories of his mom and dad.
“They showed me pictures of her, and like what I was like when I was younger, like I got to see me and her for the first time, like in a bed, like she was holding me, and they told me like how she loved me more than anything,” Putzeys said.
Putzeys was taken in by his grandparents, then his aunt and uncle in Cape Coral. When he started high school, he realized he needed to change his approach to life.
“I was definitely more like isolated and focused on my growth, and then I realized like that’s not what it’s all about,” Putzeys said.
That realization inspired his speech. Putzeys credits his perseverance to the loved ones who supported him along the way.
“One of the most influential people in my life has been my best friend Nicholas Tyson,” Putzeys said. “He really helped me like get out of my shell.”
“Like now I have multiple families, pretty much, since people took me in and treated me like their own,” Putzeys said. “So now I have a much larger family than typical.”
His family was always there to cheer him on as he walked across the stage. Now, Putzeys is looking forward to what comes next.
“There are so many other experiences out there, and people like me, like, who learn from trauma or like past mistakes, that I’m just ready to meet them and learn from whatever they have to say about life,” Putzeys said.