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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