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Good evening, Mr. Galera, special guests, friends and family of Moanalua.  Thank you for taking the time to come out on this special night.  And now, good evening to my fellow graduates. 

Last weekend, I found myself playing a little game with three good friends.  Actually, it wasn’t really even a game, more like a conversation-maker.  The basic rule was that one person would ask a question, and everyone would be required to answer as honestly as possible.  After a couple rounds, however, another unofficial, unspoken rule became clear: all of the questions pertained to our past four years at Moanalua High. 

In those two hours of simply sitting around a living room, I learned things about my friends I never would have guessed, such as who they wish they could have gotten to know better, what year of high school would they relive if they had to, even what teacher they would date — I mean, if they had to.

I have heard often this year about how so many of us seniors are ready to graduate and leave this misery called high school behind as we move on to bigger and better things.  But during that afternoon while listening to what everyone had to say about the past four years, I realized how much high school has truly not been a swamp of suffering.  And how much it’s actually taught us, outside of the textbooks and required reading and essays and projects.

Sure, there are so many things we probably could have done without, like the crowded hallways and long lunch lines.  But everything else?  You know, that person you swear you shouldn’t have dated, the friend who ditched you when you needed a shoulder, the time—or well, many times—you fought with your parents over something dumb, that lie you shouldn’t have told, that decision you keep looking back on.  It might sound like I’m just listing a bunch of regrets, but I’m telling you that these experiences have helped to define you today.  They have made you resilient, courageous, forgiving, and determined. 

When we look back on the past four years, I believe that we will find that everything we have considered a mistake has actually taught us just as much about ourselves and what we want from our future as anything we have ever done successfully. 

As my high school career concludes tonight, I can honestly say that I stand before this crowd with no regrets.  My wish is that you, my fellow classmates, are able to say the same, and you will leave this field with only happiness.  As my mom constantly reminds me, life is, after all, short and the most important thing is to be happy.  I love all of you with all of my heart.  Thank you, and good luck.