Baccalaureate

Finally, something to blog about, and it's not just that this is my 100th post (Yay! Break out the champagne!) Today was the Baccalaureate ceremony at the Crystal Cathedral, at which I was one of the five speakers. My closing speech went well, except for one, ah, overlong pause in the middle. But I got a bunch of compliments on it afterwards; it doesn't sound like a lot of people were disappointed, so why should I be? It was a risk going up to the podium without a script. Hey, that ties into my message, if only slightly.

Here are some pictures from Baccalaureate. People left pretty fast, so I didn't get many pictures with other Seniors. After the pictures is, by popular demand, a copy of my speech, as I title it.

Pacifica's two performers: Rachael and Rachel.

^ Old friends v

The Great Daniel Caldera, Salutatorian of Pacifica 2007

Megan

My family.

Steps to Tomorrow

Angelo had dreamed for years of going abroad. Now his dream was almost tangible as he stood before a panel of judges, vying for a scholarship with a group of students. The candidates were supposed to present on a group activity they had done together, but now that it was time, they ran into a little problem. “Who’s going to start presenting? How about you? Me? No, no, somebody else do it.” Angelo saw his moment. Although he was as nervous as the rest of them, he took a step forward and started to speak.

Everyone can determine his or her own future. It takes three elements to do so: it takes a dream, a plan, and a step. The first two are fairly simple. They can be accomplished in the comfort of one’s home in idle moments. Taking a step, taking action, is much more difficult. Every step forward is a risk; with every step you expose yourself.

As we leave from under the wing of our parents and the guidance of our high schools, there is nothing more important than using our new independence to make our futures fully ours. Each of us has goals. To reach them we used to wait for the opportunity to knock on our door. Gone are the days when our parents and teachers would give us free opportunities. Now they come but rarely, and we must search for them ourselves. Take that first step.

Of all the competitors for American Field Service’s scholarship in his region, Angelo was the only one to win it. The rest were just as well qualified. They all had their dreams and plans to go abroad. But when the opportunity came, only Angelo took that step and risked himself.

You can be an Angelo. You have dreams. You have plans. But those dreams and those plans will amount to nothing if you do not act.

Class of 2007, when you step out these doors, take the first step into a tomorrow you can call yours. Take the initiative; take the risk. Forging ahead is not always easy, but the achievement of the goal makes the effort worthwhile. The future is in your hands. What lies ahead is determined by what you do today.

(This isn't copyrighted, but it is my original work, so I would appreciate it if you did not reproduce it. Thank you!)