The end is a beginning

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is

to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”

-- T.S. Eliot

As an elected official who has served on the local community

college board for close to two decades, I have come to look forward

to the month of May as my favorite time of year. Spring is in full

bloom, and thousands of graduates step out into the world to begin a

new chapter in their lives.

I have had the pleasure over the last few weeks to officially

accept the graduating classes at Coastline, Golden West and Orange

Coast colleges. It was my honor to be a part of the excitement as

close to 4,000 students received AA degrees and certificates of

achievement at the three colleges’ commencement ceremonies.

Parents, grandparents, spouses, children and friends looked on.

Students of all ages, ethnicities, abilities and majors celebrated

something they all had in common -- their hard-earned achievements.

As I and my fellow board members watched, nursing students, honors

students, English-as-a-second-language students and their peers

reveled in their success. By now, most of these students are already

preparing to take their next step -- whether it is attending a

four-year college, entering the workforce or using their newly

acquired skills to advance their careers -- and attain their goals.

Each year, these graduation ceremonies remind me just how

important our community colleges are. Providing affordable,

accessible, high-quality education and training to students in Orange

County is vital to maintaining and strengthening our economy. Our

colleges provide skilled workers for local businesses. Despite fee

increases over the last two years, Coast Community College District

colleges still offer the most affordable educational opportunities

around. Our faculty members are highly qualified and genuinely care

about teaching and their students’ success.

I am proud to be a part of this institution, and feel strongly

about its importance to this community, our economy and our students.

As you buy those graduation cards, balloons and gifts for the

successful students in your life, I hope you will join me in

appreciating the community college faculty and staff who help make

that success possible, and urge your local legislators to continue to

support funding to keep the doors of our colleges open to all

citizens seeking an education.

A wise person once told me that education is the answer to every

social and economic problem in our world. I am just thankful to be a

small part of that answer.

* WALTER HOWALD is the president of the Coast Community College

District Board of Trustees.