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'Better Luck' This Weekend
April 2003

Old Memories, a New Museum
March 2003

'Twixt Teen and Michael Jackson
February 2003

In a Confused State of Mind
January 2003

In the Trenches with Trent, Jon Lovitz, and Johnny Rivers
December 2002

The Pioneering Performers of The Forbidden City
November 2002

A Letter to Writers, and How the Wiest was Won
October 2002

A Singing Career? I Think Not.
September 2002

Sheryl Crow: All She Wants to Do is Have Some Lunch
August 2002

Bruce Springsteen: Still the Boss
July 2002

Commencement Speech at Thurgood Marshall College
July 2002

A Senior Moment and a Reunion with a Pop Star
June 2002

We Love New York, Part 2002
May 2002

A Flick, a Rock Fantasy, and An Alternative to the Laptop
Apr 2002

March Madness, the Musical, and a Joint Effort with Willie Nelson
Mar 2002

Bringing in 4700 with a Parade of Wild Horses
Feb 2002

Taking a Q from Quincy Jones - It's His Party
Feb 2002

Asian American Males on TV: Old News is Bad News
Dec, 2001

Life's Lessons from a DJ and a Songwriter
May 2001

Gawk and Roll at the Hall of Fame
Apr 2001

Shakin' It Up at Harvard
Mar 2001

Creole Ladies and Crazy Times Down in New Orleans
Feb 23, 2001

A Parade of Dragons, Lions, Serpents -- and Strippers?
Feb 5, 2001

Dear Mr. Fong-Torres,

My name is Seana ("Shawna") and I just graduated from Marshall College at UCSD on Saturday, with a degree in Sociology. I am writing to let you know that your speech was thoroughly fantastic. It truly was the highlight of what was an otherwise very long, hot, and boring ceremony (other than having my name called and getting my certificate of course). I didn't know who our speaker was going to be until the weekend before the ceremony. When they announced it at the rehearsal, they said "You all know who your speaker is right? It's Ben Fong-Torres." I literally let out a cheer and started clapping (something I don't do often), as did numerous other graduates.

I read The Rice Room a few years back for a sociology course called "Chinese Society" and I absolutely LOVED it. It's one of the very few books that I didn't sell back to the bookstore for cash. I finally rented the "Almost Famous" DVD a few months ago, and when your character appeared, I got all excited and told my husband who you were and that I had read your book. My husband asked "What's up with the dude's name? How the hell did a ch**k get the name Torres?" I told him how you got the name, and I suggested that he should read your book The Rice Room since he would really identify with you. My husband is Chinese-American as well. He was born and raised her in California, living in a house with his Chinese-born parents and grandparents. I'm just your average white girl I guess, but having a Chinese in-law family, I was able to identify with some of your experiences myself.

I almost didn't go to the graduation ceremony, but now I'm really glad I did. You see, I am now 31 years old. I first began college back in 1990 and very unwisely decided to get married at the age of 19, then I had a son at age 20. I made the decision to stay home and raise my son while he was little, vowing that I would begin taking classes again just as soon as my son was old enough to go to preschool. And so I did. Almost EVERYONE doubted me and thought I wouldn't be able to do it, or that I would never finish. But I did. Little by little, I took classes, I struggled, I raised my son (who turns 11 today), I got divorced, I struggled more, I applied to UCSD as a transfer student and got accepted, again I struggled some more, I fell in love and got married again "for real", I took a couple years off to work full time, I went back to school full-time, and finally - I graduated. I FINALLY graduated.

I really wasn't looking forward to the graduation ceremony. I didn't know any fellow graduates since I had been gone from school for a while. Plus, I figured that virtually everyone graduating would be in their very early 20's, and I was already feeling a bit like an old fart since one of the last classes I had to take was nearly all 18 and 19 year old freshmen. I really felt old when a few weeks ago I brought in the movie "Sixteen Candles" for a class presentation (to use the character "Long Duck Dong" to show how Asians were often portrayed in the 1980's), and almost no one had ever seen or heard of it. Also, I didn't think anyone in my family would think my graduation was that big of a deal since I was so old to be graduating from college. But, under urging from my loved ones, I decided to go ahead and attend the ceremony.

I prepared myself for the worst - I had heard stories about how long and painfully boring commencement ceremonies are, and that the speeches are always lame and corny. I had high hopes though, having learned a week before that you were going to giving the commencement speech. Of course, I was not disappointed. My dad, who is just a couple of years younger than you, loved your speech as well. His exact words after the ceremony were "Oh god, that was soooo boring. Man...Ben really livened things up though. He woke everyone up. I was ready to take a nap until he got up there and started talking. Yeah, he was totally cool." I have to say that I concur wholeheartedly!

In your speech, you mentioned that you have never spoken at a commencement ceremony before. Well, I just thought you might like to know that I was both moved and entertained. It was an excellent speech. I know this is a long message, but I just wanted to take the time to give a heartfelt "thanks" for making this long-awaited milestone in my life a very memorable one.

Warmest Regards,

Seana Doughty