Lalo Alcaraz Commencement Speech
for UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, May 17, 2015
Hello Wurster Hall Class of 2015!
Good evening graduates and long suffering families.
CONGRATULATIONS PARENTS! YOU’RE ALMOST FREE.
And graduates, it won’t cost you anything: how about the loudest most tremendous cheer for your families?!
Good, NOW this is sounding like the Chicano/Latino graduation! Next year, may I suggest mariachis?
Author, editor and POCHO amigo Gustavo Arellano delivered this commencement speech yesterday to the graduates of Long Beach Community College:
Gracias for having me here, Vikings. I come from that evil land over yonder on the other side of the 405 — Orange County. Por favor don’t hold it against me, as I come to ustedes in peace and with a message about our shared background as products of California’s magnificent community college system.
I graduated in 1999 from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, just down the 405. My experience there was similar in many respects to yours. I had a full course load, took intersession, took as many summer school courses as possible, and did all of this while working full time, no financial aid, and helping to support my family. The classes were crowded, the parking horrific, the professors ranging from Einsteins to idiots.
Mas…Gustavo Arellano: This one goes out to all the community college grads