New beginnings
Mary A. Castillo
Change is inevitable.
That was the theme that pervaded at the graduation ceremony at Marina
High School. Not only was it a day of endings and beginnings for the 523
graduates, but also for Principal Carol Osbrink who will leave Marina and
assume duties as assistant superintendent of of education services on
July 1.
To an audience of graduates dressed in dark and light blue caps and
gowns, Osbrink spoke about the fear and excitement intrinsic with change.
“Our lives are full of unknowns,” she said. “Your teachers tried to
prepare you and you are ready for whatever awaits you.”
In the audience, Lisa Miller watched her youngest son, Corey fulfill
what has become a family tradition.
“We have a lot of history here,” said Miller who is also a Marina
alumnus. “It feels funny because all of my kids are done. But we’re
hoping to be back here for the next generation.”
Miller’s older children and fellow Marina alumni, Rebecca and Spencer,
stood with her.
“It feels like going back in time,” Rebecca Miller said. “Things
haven’t changed.”
After Osbrink concluded her remarks, Eric Morley stood at the podium
and encouraged his fellow graduates to embrace the challenge of directing
their own lives.
“For 18 years we’ve been asking why. But now we need to start asking
why not and think for ourselves,” he said.
He also spoke of how the events of Sept. 11 left an indelible mark on
the class of 2002. Morley remarked how it not only opened America’s eyes
to evil, but also proved that the nation would pick itself up to meet new
challenges.
“Somehow we’re all here today about to take the next step,” he said.
“Our lives are just beginning.”
Calvary Dinh listened as he scanned the crowd for his younger brother,
Kevin. He recalled how he felt being a high school graduate and offered a
few words of wisdom.
“Don’t worry too much,” he said with a shrug. “Everything works itself
into place.”
Before the big moment when the graduates each received a diploma,
valedictorian Lulu Wang made her remarks.
“Today is not a celebration of one day of success,” she said. “It’s a
reward for hundreds of successes in the past.”
She saluted her fellow students for overcoming personal strife and
making small sacrifices to meet the challenge of academics. Now that they
faced the uncertainties of the future, she reminded them how far they had
come from being high school freshman.
“Be careful and choose wisely,” she said. “But don’t regret any of
your decisions.”
After, she sat down on the raised dais and the individual names of
graduates were announced. Cheers and whistles pierced the buzz of
camcorders and cameras. For 20 minutes, one student after another took
their turn on the stage. When the last name was called, they could barely
sit still in anticipation of Osbrink officially conferring their
graduation.
After the final chorus of the alma mater was sung, caps sailed above
the graduates.
“It blows my mind that this will be me next year,” said Brianna
Foster, a member of the band. “It not only reminds me to take things as
they go, but also to wear sun block next year.”
* MARY A. CASTILLO is a news assistant with Times Community News. She
can be reached at (714) 965-7177 or by e-mail at o7
mary.castillo@latimes.com
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