A message for our graduates:

Congratulations! One of your biggest dreams has been realized.  You have made your parents, aunts, uncles, teachers and all of us proud! Most importantly, you had a dream, you worked hard to achieve it, and you succeeded.  The class of 2020 is incredibly special; special because you are graduating in the midst of a global pandemic, as well as a national and international fight for basic human rights for people of color.  Most of you expected to feel pure joy at graduation but it has been a mix bag - a mix of joy, gratitude, excitement and fear of a now uncertain future. Most traditional ceremonies have been cancelled, jobs that were promised have been rescinded, and the future doesn’t seem as bright as you expected.  The future is bright but there are clouds blocking your view.  Think about how many cloudy days and stormy nights you have survived to get to graduation; you are prepared, the challenges  of 2020 will not defeat you.  

In the meantime, be mindful of this moment in your life. You have earned the right to be joyful! Use any fear that you feel as fuel for your dreams that are still waiting to be realized.  You may not be able to see it but your hard work and dedication has started you down a path of excellence. I pray that your journey will offers more rewards than challenges, and that those that are placed in your path will embrace you with arms extended, ready to give you the love and support that you need. God-speed as you embark on a journey of self-discovery.  When you walk down a dark path, always remember that there is a light within you.  Always remember that greatness is within you.  There is much to overcome but you are ready for the challenge.

Starting today, walk confidently into your purpose. Your teachers, your parents, your ancestors, your mentors have guided you and left powerful footprints in the sand just for you. Rise up with a sense of purpose and as you embark on this incredible journey, remember to be kind, walk with a spirit of gratitude, and treat everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of their race or socioeconomic background. Find a charitable endeavor that you are passionate about so that you can leave your own unique footprints in the sand. Finally, roar to your own beat - don’t try to be like anyone else because you are uniquely made. Be authentically you and your light of greatness will always shine.

Congratulations!  We love you. We believe in you. Now, more than ever, the world needs you - your youthful energy, your optimism, your activism and your ability to make this world a better place for us all.

Janet is an author and administrative law judge. She is the author of Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Create an Abundant Life (June 2020), Growing into Greatness with God: 7 Paths to Greatness for our Sons & Daughters (youth), and Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul (poetry). Her books are available on Amazon. https://amzn.to/2Ykrl3f