Robinson’s 2016 commencement speaker, 1991 graduate and NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren (center) takes a selfie with class officers. Photo by Tim Peterson.
Graduate Viewpoints
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The students may have been graduating, but their principal assigned one more book for them to read. Robinson Secondary’s Matt Eline sent each 2016 graduate on their way with a copy of Brian Tracy’s “Achieve Any Goal.” He made goals the theme of his address to the young adults on June 15 at George Mason’s Eagle Bank Arena.
Goals, Eline said, “are dreams you write down.” Eline also encouraged each of them to share their goals with other people, and celebrate with them when goals are achieved.
Eline highlighted the boys and girls swim and dive, and lacrosse teams, all of which captured state championship titles this year. These, he said, were people with goals.
He also called out the school’s 157 International Baccalaureate diploma candidates.
“You’re awesome,” he concluded. “You will change the world.”
Student speaker Nathan Park took a pop culture reference as his focus: the mantra “Treat Yo Self” from the popular NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation.”
“It’s easy to anticipate the worst,” Park said. He encouraged his fellow graduates to “be excited about your day.”
Robinson graduate Kjell Lindgren, class of 1991, provided the keynote address. Last October, Lindgren spoke to Robinson students from the International Space Station, where he was serving as a NASA flight engineer.
“We’re all on journeys,” he said. “You need a map to help you get to your destination.”
Lindgren told the story of following his dream to become an astronaut, from an overeager 11-year-old boy living in England, to becoming medically disqualified from being a pilot.
Undeterred yet redirected, he decided to pursue aerospace medicine. Eventually he was re-tested and cleared for flight. In 2009 he was one of nine Americans chosen to go to space.
“What was once one of the most devastating things was actually a blessing,” Lindgren said.
Finally, the astronaut encouraged the newest graduates from Robinson to serve.
“How can I serve today,” he suggested they ask themselves. “Keep the focus off you, and on others around you.”