Graduation speech.

Last night I had the honor of giving the keynote address at Waiakea High school's graduation. I gotta tell ya, even though I talk into a microphone everyday, this is something completely different.

People say "Ah, but you do radio. Should be a snap, eh?"

Hardly.

Most times on my morning show, I'm winging it. There's always a basic structure but I enjoy flying by the seat of my pants. It's funner that way. I think the audience enjoys that too.

Seeing my audience doesn't bother me either. I also emcee a lot of events so I'm used to working with a crowd.

But this is a graduation speech, it's a whole different matter.

This isn't giving away lucky number door prizes. This is a historic day for these students and their whole families. To add to the pressure, there's a good chance the speech will be recorded for posterity so you want to make sure you have something to say. There would be no winging it.

Took me about two weekends in a row to write something I was satisfied with. What do I know? What could I tell these graduates about life? I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

My wife told me to just be myself. Don't try to be something you're not. Keep it simple and to the point. Relate to the graduates.

Oh, and try to be kinda funny.

No pressure there, right? As usual, she was absolutely right.

I just went with what I knew: do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life.

I've always wanted to do radio and I still enjoy going in everyday. Not a day goes by that I don't get excited about the next day's show. And all the other aspects of radio like making commercials and doing live events. It's still fun for me. So that was my basic premise for the speech.

Here's the funny part: if it's something you love, you'll work MUCH harder than you would a job that you hate to do.

I concluded by thanking the students on behalf of the parents for teaching us how to learn to LET GO. From pre-school to Intermediate school...from high school to Drivers Ed..it's all been about us learning to LET GO. And today is the ultimate LET GO event for them.

It's Sunday now and I am so relieved...

Again, mahalo to Waiakea High School for asking me to speak. It truly was an honor.

Congratulations, graduates!

DC


(DC is the morning man at B97-B93. He graduated from high school in 1983..back in the "Fast Times" era..)

Me and Vanessa. How did she end up with this goofball?