My sincere thank you to the organizing committee for giving me the opportunity to address this illustrious group. It is in deed an honour.

You were and are a special group. Not only did you excel in drama, sports, community involvement (remember the national wake-a-thon? ) You also did well in the academic field, You were the 1st class to be given Honour Roll status. In 1981, 19% of you achieved a 3,75 CPA. This was almost twice the percentage of the previous year, had they been-on the Honour REl system.

But enough of History!

As I thought about what to share with you tonight, what do you think came to mind? You guessed it, Physics. You know at the high school level, at any age, for that matter, we need something to believe in, something predictable, something or someone to trust. How will we ever believe in ourselves if we can't learn to trust an idea, a person? Physics gives an opportunity to do just that - learn to believe and trust.

Let me illustrate with the pendulum.  The laws of the pendulum are many. One of them is that if the "bob" of the pendulum is displaced, say 6" to the left from rest position it will never be able to swing 6" to the right. There is always some friction. You can never get out of a machine what you put into it. Does this happen every time. Can I trust this idea or law?

I asked Marg, my life's partner of almost 46 yrs, to place her face 6" on the right side released the pendulum, and guess what - she flinched even though I had demonstrated this at least 6 times. I managed to "stay put" when she tried it on me. But would I really believe it if someone suspended a 40' pendulum from the Atrium of the Hospital if the bob of the pendulum were a 300 lb wrecking ball? I have a feeling, I too, might flinch.

-But, enough of physics!

It is so important that we believe in ourselves, that we as teachers believe in you, our students. If we can learn to trust ourselves and others, we can accomplish a lot and you have all accomplished much.

My challenge to you is this!

Love your family, your friends and care for one another. If we don't do that, then what have we really accomplished. 

Thank You!

Doc Penner