2009 PNMA Guest Speaker
Mike Falivena, GHS Class of 1963

I want to thank Peter Navolanic for asking me to say a few words today. And I want to acknowledge the four candidates, their parents, grandparents and siblings. You must be very proud. I know I would be if my kid was up here.

Pat, we’re all here because of you, buddy!

Who knows why a young soul is taken so early in life. Maybe we're not supposed to know. But I'm here today to celebrate Pat’s life and you're here to witness that. 

Pat was a great person. An excellent student, a leader, an athlete, a good friend. Pat was on our great football team back in '62. I was also honored to be on that team. Pat played right safety, I played middle safety and his brother Peter played left safety. I couldn't be in better company. 

Let me tell you a little football related story about how I found my self-confidence, which I'm going to need today.

Back then I was 125 pounds and I went out for football. Because I was so small I played B football the first two years. I went from fourth string to first string inside of one afternoon. I made every tackle in this one drill that lasted for about 45 minutes going around the end. I played two years on the B football team, which we had a great two years, we won all-league and only lost one game our second year. And then we moved - Peter and Pat - we moved to varsity football and played on that great team which was coached by the icon Roy Vujuvich. So that was truly a great experience, but you know, greatness comes with a lot of sacrifice, not only in football but in life you're going to see this. If you're going to great you're going to have to sacrifice something.  

Here’s a saying you may have heard or you’re going to hear. The future is yours for the taking. This is an oft-quoted expression of hope passed on to graduating seniors, new employees and wide-eyed couples on their wedding day. Yet we all know that while some people grab life with enthusiasm and take control of their futures, such grandiose promises doesn't always pan out. Why is that? What makes the difference?

Happy, successful, fulfilled individuals have learned how to live their best lives now. Just like these four candidates made the most of their high school experience by taking advantage of all that was offered here at Glendale High. And you can too. No matter where you are or what challenges you are facing, you can make the most of your life right now.

Today is the only day we can be sure of. You can’t do anything about the past and you don’t know for sure what the future holds. But you can live at your full potential right now. And that’s what Pat Navolanic did.

The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine here in high school. What’s important is how you choose to fill each of those days.

There’s a world out there. What do you think of the world? What does the world expect of you? You're only a high school student what do you know? You have to prepare yourself for that world. And this is how you do it. You have a dream, a purpose. Don't let anybody take your dreams away from you. Ask yourself how can you change the world around you? That's a big question. How can you change the world around you? And here's the answer. It's simple. One act of random kindness at a time. I bet you thought I was going to say you had to be a humanitarian or a physicist or scientist. No. Just respect your parents, listen to your grandparents, help your siblings, help an old lady go across the street and pass it forward. And that's all you have to do. And that's what Pat Navolanic did with his life. He was kind to everyone.

Now listen to this. Inside all of us is a fool and a king. Which one do you aspire to? Choose your friends wisely. Because you're going to have them for a long time and these are some of my friends down here. If you hang around fools you become a fool. If you hang around students acting like kings you become a better person.

Now here are some thoughts about friends that put some perspective into life. We need reminders like this sometimes to get on with living. Here's one.
“To the world, you may be just one person, but to one person, you may be the world.”

 “A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”

So get off the cell phones and get close and personable with somebody. Face to face.

Now I know there’s somebody in the auditorium right now that wants to be one of these 4 candidates next year. That’s your goal, your dream and that’s a good thing. But most of us won’t be up here. I don't think I would have been up here because I didn't have the grades. I wasn't in any of Pat Navolanic's classes. But that’s OK. Just go around campus with a smile on your face and wait for that moment to find your “assignment in life” - your chance to step up and be a king.

So keep dreaming, push through, stay the course. Tell yourself you’re closer than you think to your dream. This could be the day. You have to believe in that dream to see it. Become a prisoner of hope.

You have the greatest opportunity to find yourself right here at Glendale High. Join an acting class, take up a sport, join a social or service club. These teachers and counselors are here to help you. Some of you won't even go to college so make the most of what you're doing today.

Life is going to get you down there no two ways about it. Just keep this song in your heart.

This is my quest, to follow that star ...
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ...
To fight for the right, without question or pause ...
To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause ...

To dream ... the impossible dream ...

So just remember - do it now!  Don’t wait.  Experience life today with the best Glendale High has to offer and walk tall.

Thank you Glendale.