Convocation 2008 / News Archive : Plano ISD

Graduate Michael Wu Thanks Employees

Plano West Senior High School graduate Michael Wu was selected to bring a back-to-school greeting to Plano ISD employees at their August 19 morning convocation. According to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto, Michael represents Plano ISD's ideal "Portrait of a Graduate" - a student who is empowered to proactively adapt to new learning opportunities throughout their lives; collaborate with and contribute to the global community; and be both creative and disciplined in their thinking.

Michael attended Daffron and Hightower elementary schools, Frankford Middle School, Shepton High School and PWSH. He plans to attend Cornell University to major in biomedical or operations research engineering. His mother Charlene Wu, sister Michele Wu and girlfriend Stephanie Stoughton joined Michael at Plano ISD's employee convocation.

Plano West Senior High School faculty & staff chanted "WU" as Michael Wu took to the podium to address school district employees.

Michael's Message to Employees

Good morning, everyone! I hope all of you have been enjoying your summer break thus far – taking it easy and sleeping in. I know I wanted to hit the snooze button this morning, but then I considered the implications of having thousands of teachers count me tardy.

Good Ole' Times in PISD

It’s hard for me to believe that I’m standing here today in front of nearly 7,000 members of the Plano Independent School District. Seeing so many familiar faces brings back some good memories. It’s kind of ironic actually. During the 12 years that I’ve been a student in PISD, my sights were always set on graduation. But now that I’ve received my diploma, I often find myself reminiscing about the “good ole’ times” as if I had been out of school for years.

When looking back on my education, I realize that individual pieces of knowledge aren’t the only things that I obtained. In fact, I don’t remember Maxwell’s equations, the Calvin cycle, or anything about Edgar Allen Poe. But what I do have to show after all these years is simply myself – my interests, opinions, and even personality.

Shy Child Encouraged by Teacher

Back in elementary school I was a completely different person compared to how I am now. I was a timid little boy who rarely participated in class, especially during science. All of that began to change when one of teachers requested a meeting with my mom. As I nervously awaited my mom’s return, I wondered how I could possibly be in trouble when I had never uttered a single word in class. It turned out that that was the reason for the conference. My teacher had taken the time to see the potential in that shy little child and encouraged me to become more active in class and more interested in science. On top of that, she even went as far as to don an Einstein-like wig and lab coat while conducting flashy experiments in front of the class for the sole purpose of making science more exciting.

PISD Educators Make Learning Fun

What makes PISD educators unique is their willingness to do everything in their power to make learning fun for kids. It was this trait that propelled my education forward to where I am today, speaking in front of thousands of people and aspiring to become an engineer.

If I think about how much PISD has changed my life, I come to one conclusion – teachers and staff are under-appreciated. Now, I’m not saying this because I have to. I’m saying this because thousands of Plano employees stand between me and that exit right over there. But more importantly, I’m saying this because everyone here deserves to hear it. Everyone deserves to be reminded how vital they are to not only the school district as an organization but also to each and every student in PISD.

You taught us not only the facts and figures, but you also taught us how to learn – how to approach problems in the real world as well as in school. During the school year, students can never fully appreciate you all. We are always too busy with homework and projects to recognize how much effort you put into our education. Of course, that’s also partly your fault for giving us that much work. But I’ll let it slide.

So, on behalf of the 54,000 students in the district, I want to say thank you.