.... that the white people would punish us. I never learned to read or write. My dad said that if the white people knew I could read and write that they would end up selling you. And I didn’t want that. I never had known my mother. Father said that she died in the course of having me. I felt sad because I felt it was my fault she died. Father said it was nobody’s fault and that he’s very happy I was born. And that he’s happy I am his daughter. Dad said she was beautiful and kind. He has no pictures of her because he was never allowed to have a camera. She worked on the .....

.... quenches an unending and growing thirst for bandwidth. For me E-Dak has meant working at the fourth fastest growing company in Silicon Valley, with $500 thousand of revenue exploding to over $60 million in four short years. It has also meant playing a role in the information revolution. E-Dak gives me a broad business perspective. It's relatively small size facilitates a close interaction with department heads. If had I stayed in public accounting or gone to a larger corporation, I would not have earned the same breadth of experience, most likely being limited to working .....

.... I believe that in order for a person to clearly understand their own culture, they have to go research and experience it themselves. Playing Thai traditional instrument manifests one of my researches. I learned to cooperate, function and focus with other people. I also learned to try my best as a leader of the band with full responsibilities and never give up. My other research would be my relation with my religion as a Buddhist. What I learned from my religion definitely uplifted my spirit and souls. I discover more of my inner self each time I meditate. This is the .....

.... out of this country many times. The dreams I have after I sleep with this woman are so incredible that it makes me a little crazy the next day. Why do my parents keep bothering me? I can hold my own now. I am mature, I am a man. I do get distracted real easily and my parents keep ruining my distraction, I am upset because of that. I have my own apartment in Santa Cruz, I live in a pardise. California has it all, beautiful beaches, pretty girls, great bars, money, palm trees, and tons of smog. Can't live without it. This girl really is a trip. All the things people have sai .....

.... me as being polite, easy going, and stress-free, I have many stresses causing me to become frustrated. Growing up had been no easy task for my brother and I. My parents hardly ever got along and it seemed that each time they would argue, we were in the middle of it or the cause of it. After graduating from high school, I left home. Since my brother had recently moved out, only my parents would be left to live together, but that didn’t work out. My mother became desperate to leave my father since their marriage wasn’t working out and also due to her daily responsibilit .....

.... we could just not tell them and pretend we do. They would never know the difference anyway. When we got to the truck, I ask mom if Jake and I could ride in the back. “Its too cold to ride back there!You’ll freeze to death! And what if we wreck? There aren’t any seat belts back there!” she yelled back. I was hoping she wouldn’t yell like this. Then dad butted in. “What are you two talking about? Why do I always get left out of the conversation?” “Tina wants to know if she and Jake can ride in the back. It’s too cold and if we wreck or something, they won't hav .....

.... They had convinced me to take my first cigarette and policemen nearby caught us. I could not escape because of the cigarette's strong smell. It was a small offence to my friends, a big one to my parents and an eye opener for me. My father was raged, my mother was crying, and I saw that they actually cared about my doings. They were concerned for me after all. With a hint of tears in his eyes, my father turned to my weeping figure and asked once again, in a warm voice, "Why did you do it?" As I began to reveal my feelings, my mother hugged me and healed where it hurt the most. .....

.... a misconception I was forced to reconsider(1) after requesting a hall jacket and being turned down and(2) by the hall name that I was recently given. Tonight I want to thank all involved for giving this VAGRANT a home in which to live and to plead for the opportunity to express my gratitude by serving this great hall. I accept your nomination with a deep sense of humility. I accept, too, the responsibility that goes with it, and I seek your continued guidance and support. The task would be too great for anyone, who does not have the heart and hands of mine. And I promis .....