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SAN JOSE — It’s been quite a senior year at Leigh High School for Shane Tarkington: he was elected homecoming king in the fall, went to prom in the spring and on Thursday afternoon delivered a touching speech to his graduating class.
His accomplishments are all the more impressive because Shane is autistic. But thanks to his hard work, his mother’s unwavering devotion and the extraordinary compassion of his classmates, he has broken barriers to achieve what is often reserved for the best students or most popular kids.
A surprise was on its way Thursday even after Shane’s speech — something that brought his mother to tears. But first, in the Longhorns football stadium filled with green caps and gowns, Shane, who barely stammered, delivered what he called a message of gratitude.
“The confidence that I have inside me is due to all of you encouraging me to be me,” he said. “You all have given me this gift to be just who I’m supposed to be.”
The packed stadium, including 400 seniors, their teachers and families, erupted into applause for the student many knew for his dance moves in the quad and his wild costumes on spirit days.
The students in the stadium were the ones who gave him high-fives in the hallways, helped him stay on task in classes, protected him from bullies, and — in the case of Elizabeth Menjivar — invited him to prom in front of a whole class.
“He knows how to listen, to be compassionate. He knows when you’re upset and he knows when to give you a hug,” Elizabeth, 17, said. “People can learn from that.”
Edward Franco, 18, has been Shane’s friend since fourth grade, when they would walk around the track and talk about video games. There were times classmates would “mess with him,” and taunt Shane into doing something inappropriate — and Edward would step in.
“He taught me how to care about other people. He taught me that every person is equal, no matter what they have,” Franco said. “He definitely made me a little tougher, to stand up to people.”
Shane was diagnosed with autism at age 2 and while he struggled to become verbal in his early years, he was able to deliver the two-minute speech in front of a full stadium on a breezy Thursday afternoon. He also earned a diploma — a feat not often achieved by students with special needs such as Shane, who instead are awarded certificates at graduation. Most of his core classes were through special education programs, and he became proficient in math and passed history and economics and other subjects. He joined the rest of the student body in physical education and other electives — and sought out Allison Duffy’s English class.
And for that, the teacher is forever grateful.
“I’ve been at Leigh High for 29 years and I’ve taught kids from all over the spectrum and Shane is the most joyful student I know,” Duffy said. “He radiates positivity and the kids are drawn to him.”
On the surface, Shane looks distracted, often wiggling his hands in the air. Sometimes, he belts out a song while walking across campus. He’s had his challenges and meltdowns. But he is a good reader and while he processes information differently, Duffy said, “he can write a sentence as well as any other kid.”
Much of his accomplishments, though, can be attributed to his parents, Paul and Maureen Tarkington, whose oldest son, Cole, is also on the autism spectrum, said Leigh High Principal Kara Butler. Shane’s mother in particular, who homeschooled Shane for a few years when he was younger, “is a mom who won’t take no for an answer,” she said.
“She believes there’s absolutely no reason that her son Shane is not going to have the same experiences that any other student of his age is going to have,” Butler said.
Shane’s mother has held awareness workshops on campus to help students understand how to connect with autistic teenagers. She has encouraged Shane’s love of art, hiring a private instructor, and hosts annual fundraisers in their backyard where he sells his paintings. She demanded that teachers put Shane on a path to earn a diploma — an accomplishment she called “a long hard road” — and is enrolling him in classes at West Valley in the fall.
When the campaign for the homecoming king came around last fall, she helped him make 500 flyers with Smarties candies taped on the back that he passed out on campus. The candidates were winnowed to 20, then 10 were elected by the student body to the homecoming court. It wasn’t until homecoming night, after Shane entered the stadium, that he was handed the white rose and crown.
“I even cry right now,” his mother said. “It’s pretty special to have the whole stadium clapping for him. The football team was chanting “Shane! Shane! Shane!” My husband was brought to tears. He doesn’t get to see what I get to see.”
There was another reason for tears on Thursday. Just before Shane’s speech, it was time for the annual presentation of the Principal’s Award. In the past two years, it was given to a student body president and then a senior who had triumphed over adversity through the foster care system. On Thursday, Kara Butler gave it to a person who she said embodies the spirit of the school community. When she called out Shane’s name, his mother in the stands gasped.
“This student epitomized how we should all live our lives,” Butler said, “with zest, confidence, humor and without hesitation.”
The cheers were deafening.
