Los Alamitos High celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2014, at the school’s graduation ceremony on Thursday at the Stub Hub Center, Tennis Stadium in Carson.
Los Alamitos High celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2014, at the school’s graduation ceremony on Thursday at the Stub Hub Center, Tennis Stadium in Carson.
Los Alamitos High Principal Josh Arnold addressed the students and the crowd, noting the abnormality of Los Al High students, staff and community. Arnold wasn’t questioning the abnormality, but rather celebrating it.
Arnold opened his speech by taking a “selfie” picture and used it to illustrate that in this age pictures are easily taken and shared with anyone in the world, and how that is far beyond the norm of any previous generation. And Los Al has embraced the new generation and its new “normal.”
“For you graduates that sit before me, all I ask is that you be original in what you do from here on out,” Arnold said in his speech. “After all, you went to Los Al. So when you can, stray as far away from normal as possible.”
Arnold noted that normal students, teachers and advisors have produced abnormal accomplishments such as the four Grand Championships won by the school’s choir in a five-year span. He equated creativity and abnormality to the success of people like Muppets creator Jim Henson, and he quoted Dr. Seuss on the importance of being true to oneself.
“’Today you are you, that is truer than than true… there is no one on that Earth that is youer than you’” Arnold quoted.
“Be bold. Be Griffins. And never, under any circumstances, succumb to being normal,” Arnold said.