Divide by Null - undefined

So this will be my unofficial Salutatorian address. Odd how such a speech is supposed to welcome everyone to graduation, yet here I am making something up well after the day. I've had many random thoughts, and I'm merely going to consolidate them here. It will probably not be on par with Choi's, much less formal, but it may be meaningful to my fellow graduates.

So here I am, a high school graduate, eager to live a new life as a college student. A few months ago, all I could think about was the great times I will have at UCLA; I'll meet new people, forge new paths, live on my own. Yet, now my focus is not on the future, but on the past; all the people I've met, the choices I've made, the memories I cherish.

Graduation didn't feel too special. Walking up to the stadium, the only thing different from the practice was the gown and the thousands of people waiting for us. I did feel some surges of emotion listening to all the speeches, but it felt too informal. Was it the setting? Did the practices kill the feeling? Something felt amiss. Confetti popped out of nowhere, a mass of caps flew threw the air... it was done? We graduated?

After the ceremony, it was all about pictures. Look for people you know, say hi, congratulations, hug, then pose for the cameras. There were happy faces, sad faces, faces I've seen almost daily, and faces I didn't know existed at our school. We said our hellos, our good-byes, our call me during summers, but it didn't hit me until the drive home.

Wait a minute, that may have been the last time I ever saw many of those people. All the friends I've made each year will soon be much more distant. In just about everyone's yearbook, I wrote "keep in contact" in the most sincere way possible. So sure, we can talk online, but is that quite the same? As much as I enjoy computers, there's something quite different from online communication to face-to-face contact. This hovered over my mind for the night.

But then, grad parties. So many familiar faces. It seemed like nothing really changed. Hanging out with the same friends. Keeping in contact with those close to me. We may be far in distance, but those who truly meant something would make the effort to stay in touch.

Then I recalled, the day before graduation, I went to Mike Yeh's house. We went to meet with Anita. Sina arrived later. Three good friends who graduated last year still get together when they can.

We will all be going our separate ways. But that doesn't mean good-bye forever. Get together over breaks. Call each other. Instant message. MySpace if you must, just keep in contact with everyone in high school. And always keep the memories close.