Dr. Agrella, members of the board of trustees, faculty and staff, family and friends, fellow graduates, I am very honored to have been invited to speak to you today as a student representative. Growing up in the Midwest, I had a buddy who inspired me to dream big and pursue those dreams. His name was Snoppy and I followed his adventures faithfully through the comic strips. Little did I know, as a kid back in Wilmet, Illinois, that someday I would be living in the same county as the late Charles Schultz, creator of Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, the most widely read comic strip in the world.

Snoopy gave me the notion that I could become anything I wanted to be. Snoopy, as you know, went on to become a World War I flying ace. He was also a surgeon, an attorney and a writer of mystery novels. In all cases, he achieved world famous status in each of these occupations. He also became a multi-sport athlete. He played in the Master's Golf Tournament and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. In the same year, he even entered the Petaluma Wristwrestling Championships as the Masked Marvel. Such a triple accomplishment I don't think any other athlete ever achieved.

Somehow Snoopy managed to succeed in all his endeavors the easy way—for I never saw him studying in college. Rather, he seemed to spend those years hanging out as Joe Cool, the big beagle on campus. Perhaps old campus records here would indicate that one Snoopy Brown, Charlie Brown's dog, did actually attend Santa Rosa Junior College. While success came easily to Snoopy, for the rest of us, we probably made it to this momentous occasion the more difficult way, by sacrificing, studying and hard work. We probably put in more hours at the library or with our books than we did just hanging out looking cool on campus.

Sitting in front of me today are some students who will choose the same pursuits as Snoopy—our next doctors, lawyers, writers, athletes. Others will succeed in one of the hundreds of other world…worthwhile for which your degree here has well prepared you. As Snoopy had his nemesis the Red Baron, who sought to block his path, so too you have overcome your own Red Barons, be they work or family obligations, financial or time constraints. As the little bird Woodstock helped Snoopy out along his way, you each have found your own Woodstocks in the form of an understanding, supportive family, or perhaps a faculty or staff member who encouraged and inspired you.

Snoopy recently turned 50 and, like some of us, he continues to ignore the worthless saying about old dogs and new tricks. As a reentry student, I gave up full-time employment to pursue one more dream, to obtain my registered nursing license. After three years at SRJC I am reaching my goal. You too can dream dreams and work toward any goal. You can become anything you want to be. There's no end in sight, only opportunities. You have already reached today's goal and I congratulate you. I encourage you, in the near future, to spend some time lying on top of your respective doghouses dreaming of new dreams and goals for your lives. And if nothing comes to mind, of if you feel the slightest doubt or insecurity starting to creep in, just climb down, find your supper dish and celebrate with food, family, friends and fun all of your wonderful accomplishments, beginning with today's. Congratulations and thank you.