So What Has Been Going On ...

The last month of school ... all I can say is WOW!

In the first 20 days of June ... I put the final details on prom (planning a party for 500 teenagers ... a huge learning experience), hosted prom at Long Beach Aquarium, planned and MCed Senior Awards Night, had my father visit, went to the 100th Anniversary Gala for the Japan America Society of Southern California, planned and hosted the end of year Sports Medicine banquet, helped to organize graduation and gave the commencement address for a mere 7,000 folks.

Oh yes ... I also taught classes, gave finals, averaged grades and started some college athletes home for the summer on a kettlebell program ... and yes I am sure I am forgetting some things.

Also at this time kettlebells, eating and my personal life were going really well. I was back in class a few times with Nikki Shlosser and Anton Summers. Working out regularly with another RKC, Joe Chalakee. Eating better and better and feeling really positive. Then about 10 days a go I suffered a couple setbacks in the form of a shoulder injury and an assault. So now I am focused on some mental and physical rehab. Both events could have been much worse, so I consider myself lucky. Shoulder rehab is well underway and keep your fingers crossed, I will be swinging again by the end of the month.

The coolest thing in all the craziness had to be giving the commencement address. I was so unbelievably nervous. I wrote and rewrote some speeches that were way too "go forth into the world-ish" which is not our school. I started making a list of things that had happened during the Class of 09s time in high school. Below are the key points I had to reference during my talk ... please ignore the grammar and such ... it is to give you an idea of what I said. To be honest, I do not remember giving it at all, however, the feedback I have received has been wonderful ... so I had to do something right. :)

Greetings to the Class of 2009

This is the point, where as the class advisor I am supposed to offer you sage words of wisdom that you will tuck away in your hearts to carry with you forever.

In the fall of 2005 as freshman ....

"Like You" by Bow Wow was the #1 song in the country

You had yet to become familiar with terms like BBFA, NMA, Teen Court, Oakgrove, the AP Office, AVID, MUN, ACADECA and what the heck was a Letterman?

Major news events included Hurricane Katrina, the trial of Hussein and many were sad that freshman year when Florida defeated UCLA in the NCAA basketball finals.

Zac and Elizabeth were your first representatives of school royalty when they were selected to the homecoming court at the Mardi Gras dance.

The fall play was Anne Frank

There was a Harry Potter Club

Mayor Villarigosa came to help clean up our campus

Justin and Carlos were beginning their four year runs at dominating golf and choir, respectively.

There was a mosh pit at Battle of the Bands

You were able to slip out the pool gate for a Taco Bell run at lunch or nutrition.

Alex wanted to be the Uncle Rico character in "Napolean Dynamite" because and I quote "I'm dead sexy like him."

And Mrs. Davis sang "row row your boat" while she actually attempted to row a boat across the gym floor.

In your four years here ...

It is safe to assume you have eaten at Panda, In and Out, Chipolte, Titos, Costco, Taco Bell, Coldstone's, Subway and walked across campus carrying a beverage from Jamba, Starbucks or Coffee Bean

And speaking of food as sophomores David thought hot Cheetos, cold pizza, goldfish and yogurt made a good snack, while Mitchell offered us a banana and ketchup sandwich.

The Football Team played on ESPN

The basketball and volleyball teams made it to the City Finals

The golf team won the city title

Water Polo went from being a club to a varsity sport

And Andi swam at the Olympic Trials

You marched for immigration rights and against budget cuts

At some point you probably learned the Cha Cha Slide, the Soulja Boy and the Jerk even if you never performed them outside the safety of your bedroom.

You enjoyed over 50 different clubs, travels to China, New York, DC, and Europe, while also hosting visitors from places such as Japan, Germany, Switzerland, and France.

Lunch was always an interesting time with county food and various activities from pep rallies to Pi day to band performances. And who could forget as juniors Alec and Mike got married on Valentine's Day?

Your final Homecoming was Alice in Wonderland, the prom was in an aquarium, Eric and Ashley were your last touch with high school royalty. You watched an African American man be elected President and of course the Lakers won a championship.

So that brings us to today. This afternoon on Watson Field.

In about an hour you will be high school graduates. A high school graduate ... what does that mean. One major thing that will change is never having to ask permission or carry a pass to use the bathroom again. It is a big responsibility, so use it wisely.

In all seriousness I am sure you walked in today and realized there are some people here you have never “officially met”. However you are all bonded by being a member of this class, the Class of 2009.

Tomorrow you begin new adventures. For some of you that will involve sleeping since you will have just pulled an all nighter at Disney. You are going to spread out. There will be those of you headed to the traditional places for further education such as SMC, CSUN, UCLA and Cal. Other will branch out a bit more to places like Swarthmore, UCONN or even Madelyn who will follow her mother’s footsteps to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Monday will bring flights to other states and countries, the first day of a new job or a relaxing summer vacation.

So here are five things I want you to know ….

Learn to like yourself. I am sure there ar e days when you would like to see Angelina Jolie or Kobe Bryant looking back at you in the mirror, but it is not going to happen.

Don't be afraid. All you have to know is who you are. There is no such thing as failure. What other people label or might try to call failure, I have learned is just the universe’s way of pointing you in a new direction.

Enjoy your family and friends before they are gone.

Hard work, honesty, empathy, compassion and a smile will get you pretty far in life.

And finally Do What You Love. People are always going to ask you what you want to be when you grow up, what your plans are or what you want to study. It is just the old folks trying to start a conversation. Find your passion, whether it be underwater basket weaving or biomedical science. Find it! Pursue it! And Enjoy your lives!

Congratulations Class of 2009!