Yesterday was a pivotal moment in my junior college experience. It was the first day I did not feel lonely. Ever since 7th grade I kind of had a feeling ELAC was not the place for me. I feel its extremely difficult to make friends at ELAC since everyone is so scattered where as at four year universities there is some stability since you live with some of the people, go to class with others, and have well organized groups. ELAC lacks many of these qualities, and I have made a grand total of 3 friends. It's okay though since this is only a "temporary reality" for me as one of my new friends describes it.
So my ELAC classes are pretty easy except my stupid online class which has so much work attached to it for a measly 3 units. Rate My Professor said he was easy too! FML. I think my life is pretty pathetic since I do calculus homework for pleasure now. I think its because it reminds me of my calculus group. So I integrate for fun. Too bad I can't find a group to integrate into at ELAC. Fail.
I guess you can say I am use to ELAC. My mom tried to convince me to forsake Berkeley and go to ELAC for two years. HELLLLLLLLLLL no. So until January comes, I remain in Monterey Park and continue this greatttttttt wait.
So I've graduated from high school and it's been a summer and a lot things have happened. So I had this amazing internship at JPL again and met a lot of cool people, and did a lot of cool things. I was glad that I had friends from last year to hang and eat lunch with. After JPL, I went to Malaysia and met more cool people and visited family and the whole asian vacation thing. So a day after I arrived back in LA from Malaysia I was off to the Bay Area to visit UC Berkeley. It was very intimidating looking out of the window and thinking can I really live here. It feels different, and people say weird things like "hekka" and "hella". It was also very cold. VERY COLD. When I did make it to Berkeley, I was reassured that I made the right decision. I love the campus and select outercampus areas. The people are also quite interesting and friendly. My 4 days in the bay were "hella" fun.
SO that was a brief recap of my summer. An entire recap would be very long, and unmotivating to read.
Sometimes when I'm extremely bored (like I am right now.) I think. I think about all the times in high school that made it so incredibly amazing. I think about how much I did (or didn't do). I sometimes think that thinking is a dangerous thing. It can lead people to regret, to hate, to despise, to be jealous of, and to lead people to poor conclusions. Today, I was was thinking of high school (Shocking! Right?). Even though it has been a very short three months, I still feel so attached to high school. I really do feel that this September 9th is the 1st day of school. I feel like I'm going to have to wake up early for debate and drive at unsafe speeds to Sierra Vista. Why am I so lame? LOL. I know I need to get over HS, but I don't know if anything can fill the void that was left after I graduated. Gosh, this fall semester really needs to get going so I can stop thinking about the past. Oh, Mark Keppel. I miss you.
I saw this shirt in Malaysia. I kind of wished it were true, but then again I don't.
So I woke up this morning and realized it is over. I LOVE YOU CLASS OF 2009. You guys will always have a special part in my heart. Here is my speech for those who liked it, those who didn't like it, and those who didn't get a chance to hear it. Thanks for all the cheering and screaming for me :)! ENJOYYY!!!! I MEANT EVERY SINGLE WORD.
"Our Final Goodbye"
Good evening Ladies and Gentleman, my name is Joseph Lim-Effendy, and I am proud to have had the honor of serving as Senior Class President of this fine Class of 2009!
When we first walked up the large and daunting steps of the front porch September, 7, 2005 – the very first day of high school, Mark Keppel High was sufficiently more whole and not under construction. On that very first day, during lunch we instinctively huddled into our comfort zones, however, over the past four years and many lunches we magically mixed and came together as the Mark Keppel Class of 2009.
Just as they demolished the small gym and a majority of our school, we demolished the walls that divided us into Brightwood, Ynez, Highlands, Repetto, Garvey and all the others school, and it no longer mattered where we came from, but rather where we were. It has been a very very very VERY long four years, but today as I stand here minutes away from receiving my diploma, the last four years have seem so incredibly short. I can still remember how excited we all were when the football team won 3 games freshman year, YES 3 games, and what the school looked like before construction.
We wouldn’t have made it here without our parents who deserve so much thanks for chauffeuring us everywhere for the first 16 years, paying for our gas after that, and all the unconditional love and support you’ve given to us. From all the late nights to tonight’s Grad Night, thank you for everything you have done for us.
Another vital part of high school were our dedicated, supportive, and encouraging teacher who we’ve learned so much from these past four years. Thank you for your all your hard work in and out of the class. You have truly touched and shaped our lives.
Although we learned so much in class, a lot of things learned at in High School occurred outside class like - how to ask a girl to a dance, how to pull an all nighter while still looking really good the next day. How to evade street cleaning tickets every Monday on Sierra Vista—or at least try to; how to project your voice over the loud and often annoying construction; how to ignore the fire alarms when taking AP tests; and most importantly, how to make amazing friends.
High school was a time where we got close to so many people – and I’m not talking about the closeness during passing periods. I’m talking about the remarkable people we’ve met and shared high school with that we want to have as friends 40+ years from now. Friends that we shared hotel rooms with at State tournaments. Friends that plan surprise birthday parties during Calculus airband practice. Friends that we hypothetically tell all our secrets to through catharsis. Friends that we’ve spent our whole lives with. Friends that we never ever want to let go of.
A flurry of emotions fills my heart at this very moment in time – some happy to leave this place we’ve called school and some extremely sad to leave this place we’ve called home. I’m scared, like most of you, to take our first steps out of high school and into real world, but have faith in the brains in your head and the feet in your shoes for you can steer yourself any direction you choose.
The class of 2009 not only leaves behind our legacy, but also tree that will be planted near the entrance of new science building in the lunch courts as a reminder that the class of 2009 still thrives and grows even after we’ve graduated and left. One of my very good friends here at Keppel once told me that when a tree loses a branch, what grows in its place is often stronger. Each of us Seniors is this tree that have and will continue to experience many raging storms, occasional lightning strikes, strong winds, and ultimately fallen branches, but when that happen always continue to reach for the sky and grow because these trial and tribulations are what shape you into the amazing person I know you all can become.
Even though this is the last time we may all be together as the class of 2009, you will always have the knowledge, experiences, and friendships you made here, and when you’re real Seniors, 65- years young, the same memories and experience you made in high school will still linger through the hallways of your mind.
Our lives have been under construction for the past 12 years. This long process is not yet complete, but high school has been that exciting time where we’ve laid down the foundation and seen our lives come to shape. This graduation is our very own topping off party.
Class of 2009, thank you for everything - for every memory, every smile, every experience, every hello and this final goodbye. Be proud that you graduated from the best high school in the district. Be proud that you endured construction and became a part of Keppel history. But most importantly, be proud that you will forever be a Mark Keppel Aztec.
And I’d like to end in the words of Dr.Suess, Seniors, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.
I love you class of 2009. Goodluck and see you all in 10 years!
So we didn't completely win back our graduation, but we salvaged what we could. The past month has been somewhat stressful, somewhat relaxing, and definitely interesting. Senior Council fought against Love who wanted our backs faced to our parents rather than our faces, but she realized that we are not South Pasadena, Alhambra or SG after I said something during one of the MANY meetings with her about graduation. I almost feel sorry for Love because no one supports her decisions, but no one has the courage to tell her. I'm happy I did get angry when I did because I wonder how our graduation would be without my little burst of emotion.
Although we don't get our names announced at graduation for NHS, CSF, Debate, C&S, and other clubs, we do get our names in the program in an special area and we get to stand when the Presidents ask us to. The presidents were almost silenced as well. Gosh, graduation would've significantly sucked even more without all the diligence and hardwork Senior Council put in. We had to seat all the graduates too which sucked so bad becasue it took so long. If you're not satisfied with your placement deal with it. If you want to sit in a different order in your group do it secretly and don't cause any drama.
Even though this IS the VERY LAST WEEK of High School, it hasn't hit me. I still assume I'll have a life next week, but I know when school ends so will my life. I've been working so hard still that when high school ends my life will hit a wall and get a well deserved, but unwanted break. High school is ending SO abruptly. I don't feel graduation at all even though it's 2 days away. This time next week I don't know what I'll be feeling. I'm more scared than excited. My life has been high school for the past four years and when high school ends I feel as if I'll have to learn how to live again. FML. Hang out with me becasue I know I'll be trying to relive high school even after it ends becasue I'm pretty lame.
I'm going to finish my speech now. I will attempt to make you all cry. If I don't, sorryz. I <3 09 forever.
So for the world to know. I have chosen UC Berkeley. I am going in the Spring of 2010 so I'll be loafing around Monterey Park and going to ELAC. (Anyone know what classes I should take?)
Time is accelerating faster these days, and now in thirty something days, graduation will occur. I remember vividly the graduations I've attended in the past four years at Keppel. I admit I was bored at the Class of 2006 graduation, but then again I only felt a connection to a few graduating seniors (mostly debaters). As the years past, graduation developed into an event that was aweinspiring. I especially favorited the times when the club presidents announce the names of those who have shown sooooo much commitment for the clubs and organizations they've participated in. I always wanted my name called, but simply remained patient for my own graduation. Sadly, I don't know if my name will be called during my gradaution for the clubs I love. Today, I found out that club presidents have been silenced at graduation. Instructional Council voted a while back to eliminate reading of names of those who have participated in NHS, CSF, Debate, Drama, AVID, AcaDec, Crown and Sceptre, and FBLA. Your name, however, will have a nice symbol that most likely look like this * that will symbolize your hardwork and dedication to the clubs you have participated in. I would personally like more than an freaking astrick next to my name to indicate my efforts.
And yes. The drama begins. The club presidents shall mobilize and fight, and We will not be silenced. We will fight on the front lawn, we will fight in the hallways, we will fight during our club meetings, we will fight in the meetings of instructional council, and we shall never surrenderrrrrrrr! And if Instructional Council decides they will not revoke their decision, I'll read the names of everyone myself during my speech. Gosh, is Instructional Council stupid? Do they only value themselves? Is it really that hard to wait ano extra 20 minutes so students who make the school the amazing place it is can be highlighted for their dedication?
After 4 long, but short years at Keppel, I finally see why the adminstration is not favored by students. I especially hate this new administration. They really have screwed Keppel up.
