30 years ago today, I was standing on the grass above my high school football field waiting in line to graduate. Standing in front of me was my friend, Erik Franklin, and in our hands were pieces of paper with our names on them.

I was thrilled that Mr. Babel, the business teacher at the high school, was going to be reading off the names to the crowd. He went to high school with my Dad so I knew that for once my last name would not get botched.