By Luanys Rivera and Kani McNeil
Kelvin Cartagena was a kind and loving brother, son, friend, and student here at East. He was a model for everyone who knew him. Kelvin was 17 years old, and his birthday was recently, on May 27th. He is celebrated for his life, the memories that had been shared with him, and the lives of others he had brought joy. A variety of Kelvin’s friends and teachers would describe him as an outstanding student but overall the best friend to have asked for. He was quiet but was an amazing person when you got to know him truly. Janthony Matias was a close friend of Kelvin’s. Their bond is something that could never be replaced. A teacher and student friendship is also one that is cherished the most. Mr. Cybulski was Kelvin’s teacher, and he shares the best memories of Kelvin. They would always talk about their favorite sports teams and how Kelvin's favorite team, The Eagles would beat Mr. Cybulski’s team. As he stated, “During football and basketball season, seeing him in the hallways on a Monday after the Eagles winning and he would always say how about those Eagles? With a big smile across his face. He would always give me crap for my favorite team for football which is the San Francisco 49ers. Those are some of my favorite memories of him just sitting and talking about sports and what players we thought would do well during the games.” Kelvin loved sports and his favorite basketball team was the Boston Celtics and his favorite football team was the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelvin demonstrated a positive attitude, tenacity, and perseverance toward his classmates and teachers. Mr. Cybulski claims, “I was always proud of how he persevered through his language barrier of learning another language other than Spanish and wanted to succeed in school and tried his hardest in his class no matter how difficult the class was.” Building a connection with students as a teacher taught Mr. Cybulski how valuable it is. He stated, “Kelvin taught me no matter how happy a person can look on the outside that he or she might still be struggling on the inside no matter how old or young that person is and that it is so very important for everyone both young and old to seek help to make sure that both mentally and emotionally you’re in the right frame of mind…We need to find ways to teach our children ways to deal with negative emotions and give them the tools to overcome obstacles both big and small.” As a teacher, it is important to get to know your students from who they are and provide ongoing guidance, as Mr. Cybulski did by developing a connection with his student. Kelvin also deeply affected the life of Ms. Fenn, another teacher at East who has been a part of the Cartagena family for upwards of a decade. During our interview, she described Kelvin as a “sweet and funny boy, as well as a great friend and a good person to know.” I also asked Ms. Fenn how she felt his passing had affected the village around him, and her response was that “he touched many lives, and created memories that will never be forgotten.” She also says, “I think it makes people want to check in and hold the people they care about.” All of these people have borne witness to the life of a young man, taken far too early. Kelvin Cartagena, is a name that will live in the hearts of all of those he has affected. However, this Memoriam was not made for the purpose of remembering his passing, but celebrating his life. I encourage all of you to look for comfort and laughter in the people you love. Cherish the time you have and talk to someone. You are not alone, you are loved, you are appreciated, and there is someone who takes pride in you.
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