"It's time to begin, isn't it?"

"The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective."- Jon Stewart

        If  you are attending commencement  exercises  for a high school student in 2014 the lucky graduate probably made their debut in 1996 like my adorable nephew Jared. 1996 was the year The New York Yankees won the World Series, The Chicago Bulls were NBA champions and the Dallas Cowboys took home the Super Bowl Trophy.
      "Show me the money."  and "You had me at, "hello"." were the most obnoxiously repeated movie quotes from  "Jerry Maguire" . Tom Cruise was the hottest actor and  the music world mourned the death of rap artist Tupac Shakur. Frank McCourt's  movingly tender account of his mother "Angela's Ashes" was the top selling novel.  Dancing the 'Macarena" at clubs and wedding receptions was mandatory and  Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men reigned on top of the pop charts for over a year with the sentimental power ballad, "One Sweet Day". Now that you feel sufficiently ancient, lets congratulate the class of 2014.
      Jared chose a different Imagine Dragon's song for his blog but "It's Time" seems perfect for students and young people who are about to start a new chapter in their lives. 

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am 

     My nephew has grown up to be an intelligent, hardworking student who excels at almost every endeavor. He is an athlete, musician, comedian, scholar and remains true to himself. These qualities have much to do with his loving, nurturing parents whose combined personalities created a compassionate, caring, individualistic Super Mind. When I discovered the following quote online it reminded me of his Mom and Dad, "I smile because you are my son. I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it."  All of your aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews love you with all our hearts. We couldn't be more proud. Love you.

Congratulations, Jared. You have always been an awesome inspirational force and will continue to be. Carry on.