Graduation in Uvalde gives tragedy-stricken town a night of normality

Uvalde High School senior Gabby Quirova attaches the tassel to her graduation cap on Friday. (Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune)

UVALDE — Gabby Quirova asked for loose natural curls at the hair salon, which she knew could stand up to the heat and still look intact all throughout Friday’s graduation ceremony. She’d be off to college soon, at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, a place she was originally worried would be too big and confusing to navigate, but she had recently visited and loved all of the professors she met.

She fell in love with teaching during high school and her dream is to become a special education teacher.