"We must never fight the contradictions within us, we must learn to honor them." -- Joss Whedon

This was the resonating message that Joss Whedon rang out yesterday as he spoke at my University Class' commencement. A little background on Whedon: He was a five-year student at Wesleyan University, graduating in 1987 and in addition to delivering the commencement speech for my class, was receiving his honorary degree for his amazing career.

Being spoken at in such a funny, down-to-earth, yet illuminating fashion made my GRADUATION DAY all the more exhilarating and unforgettable. Simply being a film major and given the ability to interact with Joss this weekend made me feel far more special and deserving than I know I am. I've attached I pic with Joss, my girlfriend, and I AT A COLLEGE PARTY. What an awesome guy. He is so nice and without vanity, which takes a genuine heart when faced with so much fame.

His commencement address and particularly the quote above is something I will carry with me as I progress in my film, animation, writing, whatever career. I will never stop reinventing myself everyday and will never ignore the parts of me that contradict the other parts of me, because it is through honoring these contrasting features that I learn who I really am.

AND TODAY.... I'M ONE HAPPY SON OF A BITCH!

After four years of theory, practice, and barely making the grade, I am officially a Wesleyan University Alum. If you had told my high school where I would be today, I would not have believed you. But it's true. And not only was I able to graduate through one of the most prestigious film programs in the country, but my journey culminated in several events that, to my eyes, makes me very excited for the future.

My animation thesis, while not yet completed, has been a true passion project. And what made it even more rewarding was the fact that my professors did not get angry at the fact that I did not finish. Quite the opposite, they (led by the great Jeanine Basinger) gave me the time I wanted such that I could keep on animating up to basically Graduation Day. Wesleyan's film program truly is the place to be to make films if the your reason for making films is that you freakin' love films.

Congrats to me and Congrats to Wesleyan's class of 2013.