2008 Woodie Awards
Assemblymen speaks to students about his dreams for California
Karyn Gilbert
Issue date: 10/22/04 Section: News
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Alan Nakanishi went from picking grapes to a doctor at Dameron Hospital, the to then Mayor of Lodi, and now is a California assemblyman.
He came to the campus to inform students about his job, his life, and his dreams for California.
Instructor Glen Dolberg came out as he always does to invite the speaker of the week to talk about his life, and answer audience concerns about school, and the upcoming elections.
"Here is one solid individual," stated Dolberg.
"We live in the greatest country alive," said Nakanishi.
He was born in Sacramento to a poor family who worked in a cannery. He went from working in a peach field, to picking grapes in Lodi. After going to school, he became an M.D and chief of staff at Dameron Hospital.
"Six years ago I wanted to make a difference in the health field,' said Nakanishi.
The polls showed he was the favorite of the people, but he said he lost, resulting negative feedback from his name being brought up when his hospital was sued 10 years before.
He didn't let one loss scare him; he ran for city council, and won, he said, by knocking on people's doors. Nakanishi ran for State Senate against Mike Machado in 2000; again he went door to door, but lost in a close race.
"It was like the Bush campaign," he said.
"Two weeks later we looked at the votes and I lost, but it was good in life because I became the mayor of Lodi." Two years after that, he ran for a spot in the assembly.
Throughout Nakanishi's political career he learned three major aspects of life: One: even though you lose, you can be a winner. Two: the better person doesn't always win. Three: keep going and you'll experience victory.
"While in a Sacramento elevator, I saw 'perseverance, perseverance, perseverance, victory,' said by President Roosevelt," said Nakanishi about his third lesson learned.
He also told students what he was happy about. Nakanishi signed into the budget, workman's compensation reform, received $1.3 million for Rancho Cordova, and signed nine bills within his district.
He came to the campus to inform students about his job, his life, and his dreams for California.
Instructor Glen Dolberg came out as he always does to invite the speaker of the week to talk about his life, and answer audience concerns about school, and the upcoming elections.
"Here is one solid individual," stated Dolberg.
"We live in the greatest country alive," said Nakanishi.
He was born in Sacramento to a poor family who worked in a cannery. He went from working in a peach field, to picking grapes in Lodi. After going to school, he became an M.D and chief of staff at Dameron Hospital.
"Six years ago I wanted to make a difference in the health field,' said Nakanishi.
The polls showed he was the favorite of the people, but he said he lost, resulting negative feedback from his name being brought up when his hospital was sued 10 years before.
He didn't let one loss scare him; he ran for city council, and won, he said, by knocking on people's doors. Nakanishi ran for State Senate against Mike Machado in 2000; again he went door to door, but lost in a close race.
"It was like the Bush campaign," he said.
"Two weeks later we looked at the votes and I lost, but it was good in life because I became the mayor of Lodi." Two years after that, he ran for a spot in the assembly.
Throughout Nakanishi's political career he learned three major aspects of life: One: even though you lose, you can be a winner. Two: the better person doesn't always win. Three: keep going and you'll experience victory.
"While in a Sacramento elevator, I saw 'perseverance, perseverance, perseverance, victory,' said by President Roosevelt," said Nakanishi about his third lesson learned.
He also told students what he was happy about. Nakanishi signed into the budget, workman's compensation reform, received $1.3 million for Rancho Cordova, and signed nine bills within his district.