The following is excerpted from the valedictory address delivered at the Elmore Stoutt High School graduation on June 28.
Thomas Fuller, a British clergyman and one of the most prolific authors of the 17th Century, once said, “An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.” Ladies and gentlemen, Class of 2012, success is not for the weak or faint at heart. Success is not for persons who think they want it, and it’s definitely not for persons who “kinda-sorta” believe that they can possibly achieve some measure of greatness.
Eric Thomas, known across the United States as “The Hip Hop Preacher,” in a speech at Michigan University, recalled a story of a young man and a very successful guru. After challenging the young man multiple times about his desire to succeed, the guru told him, “When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.”
It has been our sheer determination that has gotten us to this point. And from here on out, if we don’t want success as badly as we want our next breath — if the thought of merely existing is more important to us than actually succeeding — can we really expect to succeed in life? Without an unwavering determination to succeed from day one of high school, I surely would not have been here today.
‘Unbridled support’
Another chief factor that has contributed to my success is the unbridled support of my family and friends. A disturbing precedent has been set in today’s society, a precedent that seems to suggest that in order to achieve true success one must be bombarded with life-altering hardship, pain and tribulations. This is not so! In the Virgin Islands, we must choose to cultivate success by ensuring a nurturing environment for our youth to grow.
I was one of the lucky ones! I didn’t grow up struggling on the streets of Long Look/East End. I had both of my parents at home, food to eat, clothes on my back, and transportation to school every morning. So by the media’s standard, my success is inferior to that of Jay Z, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne; what I have done simply doesn’t compare because I didn’t have to sell drugs, join a gang or get shot nine times. These guys must not define the men in our society!
Young men
Ladies, permit me to address the young men for just a moment. Ever since the announcement of the school leaving results on June 18, men, both young and old, have approached me to express just how proud of me they were. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of appreciation for my hard work and congratulations for my achievement. But what had I done? I simply worked hard, studied harder, and stayed focused. What salutatorian Jason Williams and I had done, to me, was not that big of a deal. Then I found out that the last time two young men achieved the positions of valedictorian and salutatorian in the same year at this school was before I was even born! Jason and I are just the beginning, and we are positive that our success is not a fluke. However, the young men after us must choose to validate our success. I am sure the young men of the Class of 2012 will agree with me when I reiterate, we are just the beginning. We have to be!
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Right now, men are facing times of challenge and if we don’t choose to reach our full potential, our society will suffer. What kind of man will you be?
In the VI, we must choose to cultivate healthy, supportive family structures and nurture academic environments so that our young men can reach their full potential. We don’t need negative influences impeding the success of our young men and our young ladies.
Living ‘abundantly’
At our valedictory service, Pastor Frankie Rathanum implored us, the Class of 2012, to make proper decisions in order to better our future and ensure our success. He told us to choose our friends wisely and to choose to live “more abundantly” rather than to die unfulfilled.
First formers, choose to take this time to discover yourself and build a positive foundation.
Second formers, choose to make wise decisions when it comes to your friends and to eradicate all negative influences from your life.
Third formers, choose to focus on your studies and be mindful of your behaviour. For the difference between lower school and upper school is much greater than anyone can explain.
Fourth formers, as you move into your final year of high school, choose to have no regrets. For your last year will go by quickly and at the end of it all, you will have no time to ask, “What if?”
And finally, to the Class of 2012, choose to savour this feeling of accomplishment, right here, right now! We have built a positive foundation. We have chosen our friends wisely, and we have been diligent in our studies. And now as we stand here, ready to leave the protective gates of the Elmore Stoutt High School, we must choose to change our community. No, we must choose to change the world.