Thursday, October 1, 2026
Oceanside High School paused its regular academic schedule on March 25 to host its annual Human Relations Day, an event designed to connect students with professionals and community members whose personal stories offer lessons in resilience, creativity and decision-making.
The program featured a series of guest speakers who visited classrooms throughout the day, sharing experiences that ranged from overcoming adversity to building careers in competitive industries. The goal, school officials said, is to expose students to perspectives beyond the classroom and encourage them to think broadly about their futures.
Among the presenters was cartoonist Matthew Wong, known online as @lightsprouts, who spoke to students about pursuing a career in visual storytelling. Wong, a graduate of the School of Visual Arts, described his journey from discovering comics in high school to developing his own original work and pitching an animated series.
“Don’t worry about people who won’t like your work,” Wong told students. “Focus on those who do and put your energy there.”
Wong walked students through the process of creating a comic, from writing a script to developing panels that convey story through images. He emphasized that cartooning — often referred to as visual sequential narrative — requires artists to be versatile and capable of drawing a wide range of subjects.
After graduating in 2022, Wong began freelancing and participating in independent conventions, including Comic Con events, where artists and writers showcase their work. He also collaborated on a charity zine that raised $30,000 for No Kid Hungry, with donors receiving copies of the publication.
Wong shared insights from his education, including studying under established artists and learning how to communicate stories visually, often with minimal text. He also discussed setbacks, including a Marvel internship opportunity that was disrupted by the pandemic, and how he adapted by continuing to build his portfolio and take on commissions.
In addition to Wong’s classroom sessions, the day featured keynote speaker, Kevin Mechella who reflected on personal growth and the impact of everyday decisions. A conservatory-trained musician, the speaker recounted risky choices made during his youth and stressed the importance of making thoughtful decisions both large and small.
“Big decisions shape what you do after high school,” Mecchella said. “But small decisions — what you say, what you do in the moment — matter just as much.”
He encouraged students to consider how the stories they tell themselves influence their actions and ultimately their outcomes, describing a cycle in which beliefs shape behavior and results reinforce those beliefs.
Human Relations Day also highlighted student achievement, including recognition of the school’s robotics team, which recently placed ninth out of 50 teams at a regional competition — its strongest performance to date against well-funded programs.
The tradition continues to be a meaningful opportunity for students to engage with diverse experiences and gain inspiration as they prepare for life beyond high school.
