Life at a Glance

My son is this picture.

Yet Another Three-Day Weekend...

It was another three-day weekend in France, so of course I spent the weekend capturing the moments of my family.

Speech! Speech!

Since many people requested a copy of my speech, I decided to post it. Enjoy...

Good evening distinguished guests, parents, coworkers, students, and of course, the Class of 2006. Tonight marks our second year in this building, my first year as the Director of Programs, and the last year for our seniors. Graduates, it is an honor to be here on the sunset of your CEFAM career, for you were the first group of CEFAM students I taught and you will always be special to me. As I look out upon you tonight, you do remind me of the haze surrounding a setting sun. For I see independent clouds that together become an amazing finish to the end of a day.

Normally at dusk, one should take time to reflect on the events, both good and bad, of the previous hours. As I stand here tonight, I know the memories of your CEFAM day are easing through your mind. Please embrace these thoughts and never let it go, for your experiences here will affect you for the rest of your life. Remember the knowledge achieved through your classes, the openness gained from your colleagues, the experience accomplished through your internships, the rigor and patience attained from your numerous group projects and, of course, the pleasure taken from all the parties. Though it may not always seem obvious, your time at CEFAM will be referred to again and again as you make decisions in your professional and private lives. Where ever you will go or whatever you will do is still unclear, but CEFAM’s foundation reinforces whoever you will become.

Before we slip into the evening’s twilight, I wish to pass on some simple advice to assist in your coming days: Work hard, play hard; all good efforts deserve to be rewarded. Read…anything; it is one of the finest ways to make this big world seem smaller. Get to know your family; they’re the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Travel; it is the ONLY way to make this big world seem smaller. Dance like no one’s watching; let yourself be free in your expression. Keep your word; credibility is the hardest thing to earn and the easiest thing to lose. Remember the compliments you receive, but forget the insults. Teach or coach at least once; it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. Enjoy your youth, for now are some of the best times of your life. And finally, in the words of the late Ronald Reagan, remember that “every day is a new beginning, and every sunset is merely the latest milestone on a voyage that never ends”.