Tosha L Otto - Leeward CC Commencement Ceremony 2024 Graduate

Tosha and Phil’s Wedding

Gratitude is all that I need. Thank you to my spouse, who gives me unconditional love and support; my father, for teaching me that I can do/achieve anything; my mother, for showing me that it is never too late to go to school; my new set of parents, who have accepted me as their new daughter and let me live with them; my brother, who made math seem possible; and my sister, for reading my papers. Thank you to my best friends, Dave and Bernie, for always being there for me. A special thank you to Nicole Keim-Fortuno because, without her, I would have given up the process of navigating the enrollment process and could not be graduating today. Thank you to all my professors at Leeward, and a special thanks to the best-looking one -- who we all know is Professor Sakashita. (He told us so.)

This degree has been a long journey for me. I started taking classes here and there over twenty years ago. It took me until a year ago to choose the goals I wanted instead of what I needed for money, stability, or anything else. (I am in my mid-40s.) I kept trying to reach for the goals that life needed from me, but I am making the goals now. I could not be happier. My 2 cents for people on their academic journey: Go for your goals. Your goals might change, but the journey you have been on was not wasted time. Hopefully, it was fun.

I may not catch the biggest fish, but I have the most fun.

I am thankful to graduate

What is better than granddchildren? --Nothing.

I can do anything because my dad said so.