[quote style=”2″]1980 HHS Grad Shares Secrets to Success with Class of 2015[/quote]
The Hermiston High School Class of 2015 received a few words of advice Saturday from a former HHS graduate: It’s time to make a plan.
Stuart Allen graduate from HHS in 1980. He is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award and was the guest speaker at Saturday’s graduation ceremony.
“This, right here, is your last high school lesson,” Stuart told the graduates – but only after taking a selfie with the graduating class in the background.
Allen told the class that it’s critical to have plan in order to carve out a meaningful life – but keep in mind, plans change.
“At your age, I didn’t really have a plan,” he said. That changed pretty quickly. After graduating from HHS, he attended Blue Mountain Community College before transferring to the University of Oregon where he earned degrees in finance and political science. He then went on to earn his law degree.
After working for two of the largest national bank trust departments in Oregon, Allen founded Allen Trust Company and Allen Capital Management in 2001. Since then, he’s traveled to all 50 states and 43 countries and has taken part in a Mercy Corps humanitarian aid trip to North Korea.
Allen said he’s proud of his roots in Eastern Oregon and shared a few memories from his high school days.
“It was a different time,” he said. “It was the time of disco and bad haircuts.” He also recalled his tennis playing days, including a 2 a.m. match in which he and his partner wore only tennis shoes and a cowboy hat – that is until the football coaches showed up. He also recalled the Bulldog football team was in the midst of a 54-game losing streak to Pendleton.
“Think about that,” he said, before remarking on how things have changed with a new state-of-the-art athletic complex and a football state title.
He offered some words of wisdom to his fellow HHS graduates.
“I got better grades in law school than in college,” he said. “And I got better grades in college than in high school. I recommend you doing it that way. It’s possible if you have a plan.”
And while they will never forget their high school buddies, the newly-graduated young men and women most likely haven’t formed their most important relationships yet.
“Most of you have not met your best friend yet,” he said.
He also advised them not to take shortcuts. “You’ll regret it and you’ll miss the journey.”
And, stay true to yourself.
“Disappointment and shame happen more often when we abandon our principals,” he said.
Every success in life starts with a plan, Allen said, even if the plan continues to change.
“If you plan for it, you will have a meaningful life.”
