When I graduated from college, I carried the same lessons I first learned at Oak Grove with me to Washington, DC, where I managed communications and strategic policy efforts for a member of Congress. The critical thinking skills I developed at Oak Grove proved invaluable. Working in Congress requires solving complex problems and uncovering solutions that are rarely obvious or convenient. I often leaned into Krishnamurti’s spirit of inquiry, seeking innovative answers to seemingly intractable challenges. It’s for these reasons and many more that I am deeply grateful for the education I received here—it’s something I wouldn’t trade for the world.

I know that every student sitting here today is destined to accomplish their goals and illuminate this world with their unique, powerful, and imitable spirit. Oak Grove is more than a school—it’s a community that nurtures curiosity, resilience, and purpose. As alumni, we carry its values into the world, and it’s an honor to give back to the place that helped shape who I am today. Thank you for supporting this remarkable school and the generations of students it continues to inspire.

Eric recently attended Oak Grove’s annual Fundraising Tea event as our alumni speaker. You can watch a video of the event, including Eric’s remarks, here.