Lots of cheers, just a few tears

Amy R. Spurgeon

Costa Mesa High School graduates learned how to open lockers together as

seventh-graders, avoided getting “trash-canned” as freshmen, took to the

wheel a year or two after that and now face a world with endless

possibilities.

Teacher Michael Lawrence, one of the commencement speakers, encouraged

the graduates, jokingly reassuring them that they “are not just a bunch

of zeros” -- a reference to the year 2000.

“If you never fail, you are not reaching far enough,” said Lawrence, who

then borrowed the words of a rather famous Star Wars character. “As

Master Yoda said, do or do not. There is no try.”

The 240 graduates were dressed in bright green caps and gowns Wednesday

at OCC’s LeBard Stadium as they received their diplomas. Some couldn’t

contain their enthusiasm, repetitively pushing their palms to the sky in

a motion known as “raising the roof.”

The tightly knit class of students, who spent six years of life together,

settled down to hear the words of one of their own.

Student speaker Magdalena Sandoval said she and her fellow graduates have

matured together, facing typical high school fears. Now they are ready to

face the future, she said.

Emotional friends and family members sat in the stands, listening to the

traditional strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” and cheering for their

graduates.

“Oh no, we didn’t bring tissues,” said Costa Mesa resident Carol Whitman,

who was watching a family friend graduate.

Whitman’s daughter, 20-year-old Karrie Whitman, a recent Costa Mesa

graduate, had some words of wisdom for the students who were facing a new

beginning.

“Always follow your dreams, even if somebody tells you it’s stupid,” she

said. “Because your gut instinct about your own life is right.”

Her mother chimed in: “Follow your dreams and not the money.”