In the fall of 2009, I came to Skyline College a broken man. I had just gone through a hip-replacement surgery the year before, a surgery that ended my over 20-year career in the airline industry. I felt defeated when I returned to school, and I only did so due to the constant encouragement of my family. However, as I limped into my first classes with my head hung low, something changed. I actually found out I was enjoying this experience. After years of body-abusing work, my mind was finally being fed what it craved: active stimulation.

Soon, something was happening that never occurred during my high school experience. I was looking forward to seeing my grades on essays and tests. Skyline College had already changed the narrative of my life for the better and I was only in my first semester after a 20-year absence from school. After the amazing grades for my first semester were revealed, I was hooked. I had to see how far I could take this.

My English instructors encouraged me even further with bouts of praise tinged with constructive criticism. The net effect of this started to instill in me the first real sense of self-confidence I had ever really known. Even though it was hard work, and I at times felt a slight sense of self-doubt, I was finally transforming into the man I was meant to be.

Journalism classes and then working on The Skyline View gave me back the teamwork situations I really enjoyed from my past work experience. The flurries of work with deadlines quickly approaching suited me very well after a lifetime of trying to get flights to depart on time at the airline—where seconds count. Journalism and The Skyline View afforded me a home base on campus where I could reflect about my classes and life with other TSV staffers. This further bonded me with the group, and even though most were decades younger than I, I now consider them my close friends.

The journalism conventions I have attended also strengthened my bond with the staff. Here, we competed in our individual areas of strength, and a win for one of us was a win for all. I had great pride for the people I walked into these conventions with, and these events did a lot to increase my competitive spirit and greatly enhanced my ability to succeed in other areas of my life.

Growing up in Pacifica, Skyline College was always a mystery to me. It was always that edifice on top of the hill surrounded by fog. I knew of people who went there, but I had no idea what actually occurred within its walls. I now know the magic that can happen at Skyline College if you let it. This school transformed me. This school healed me, and for that I would like to formally thank Skyline College and my advisers, instructors, counselors and fellow students, for sending me out into the world a much better man than when I first came to you.

Thank You.