"I am honored to be here speaking tonight on behalf of the 2008 graduating class.  It is hard to believe this day has finally arrived.  It seems like it was just yesterday we were sitting in an unfamiliar room for our first nights of criminal law, torts and contracts.  Balancing the scales of justice in an Andrews/Cordozo analysis, being totally confused in contracts, tying to figure out what in the world mens rea meant and learning to be comfortable with handing over our lives to the study of law.  We finally thought the stress of the first year was winding down and that’s when we realized we had to take what we all refer to as the baby bar.   

I would like to take a moment to speak directly to this evenings’ graduates.  Take a look around you….I ask that you take note of your surroundings.  The people that are sitting directly around you are your fellow classmates who have spent the last four years challenging you, usually disagreeing with you, spending late evenings with you in class and most importantly, helping you to make it to where you are today. 

As you look to your left, you will see your professors who have made you brief countless cases, have pushed you, broke you down and built you up all at the same time and most importantly been there to guide you through this tremendous process. 

As you look out into the audience, you will notice your family members, friends, spouses, children, significant others and alumni.  These are the people who have loved and supported you through this process, who have stepped aside and helped your dream of graduating law school become a reality. 

On a personal note, law school has been an experience I will never forget.  It has challenged me in ways I never thought possible.  Some of my closest friends are up on this stage and I cannot imagine life without all the wonderful people I have met at PCU.  Today is the close of one chapter and the beginning of another.  We are all so excited to be here tonight but we now must turn and focus on the upcoming California Bar Examination.  The only word that comes to mind when I think of what lies ahead is persistence.  Persistence is what has brought you to where you are today and it’s the one thing you need to get you through where you’re headed.  I read a quote during law school that has helped me during times of disappointment, frustration, etc.  It reads………

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all”

Some of us have already started bar review.  Nobody said it would easy.  You have come this far and as you are studying for the bar exam, please keep this phrase in mind.   

I would like to thank my family and friends for coming this evening to support me.  A special thanks to my boss, Mr. Scott W. Landis, Esq., without your continued support and dedication to my education, I would not be up on this stage tonight.  Congratulations to the class of 2008 and best of luck on the upcoming bar examination."  "