WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT VERY KIND INTRODUCTION. TO THE PLATFORM GUESTS, TO THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL OF H.D. WOODSON, AONA JEFFERSON; TO THE FACULTY AND OTHER STAFF OF H.D. WOODSON; TO THE PARENTS, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS GATHERED HERE TODAY; AND MOST OF ALL TO THE GRADUATING SENIORS, LET ME SAY GOOD EVENING.

THIS IS TRULY A GREAT DAY–A DAY THAT HOPEFULLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET BECAUSE IT MARKS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT AS THEY TRANSITION TO A NEW PHASE OF LIFE.

I COME HERE TODAY AS SOMEONE WHO IS DEEPLY CONCERNED AND DEEPLY CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THIS CITY AND IN THIS NATION. I AM A PROUD GRADUATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, HAVING ATTENDED LOGAN ELEMENTARY, LANGLEY JUNIOR HIGH AND DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS A STUDENT, AN ATHLETE AND A PARTICIPANT IN MANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I AM A FAR BETTER PERSON BECAUSE I ATTENDED OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE IN THIS CITY.

I HAVE MANY FOND MEMORIES OF HIGH SCHOOL. AND ALL THESE YEARS LATER, MY GRADUATING CLASS IS STILL ACTIVE, STILL MEETS AND STILL CONDUCTS LOTS OF EVENTS.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO I REMEMBER WELL WAS MY PRINCIPAL AT DUNBAR, DR. CHARLES LOFTON, WHO WAS A GREAT LEADER, A SCHOLARLY MAN, A REAL INSPIRATION TO MANY STUDENTS. HE, HIMSELF, ATTENDED THE VERY HIGH SCHOOL FOR WHICH HE SERVED AS PRINCIPAL.

NOW, AT WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL, YOU, TOO, HAVE A GREAT PRINCIPAL, A PERSON WHO, AFTER 37 YEARS OF SERVICE HAS DECIDED TO RETIRE. IN 1972, AONA JEFFERSON WAS HERE TO HELP OPEN THE DOORS TO WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS SPENT THE LION’S SHARE OF HER CAREER AT H.D.

HER DEDICATION, LOVE OF THE SCHOOL AND COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS OF H.D. WOODSON IS KNOWN AND RESPECTED ACROSS THIS CITY.

SHE HAS TOUCHED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE GONE ON TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS BECAUSE OF HER INFLUENCE ON THEM. WHAT SHE HAS SHOWN YEAR AFTER YEAR IS A UNIQUE ABILITY TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE, TO RELATE TO THEM, TO GAIN THEIR TRUST AND TO SHOW THEM THEY ARE LOVED. BECAUSE OF THAT SHE RANKS AMONG THE BEST EDUCATORS IN THIS CITY.

AS WE MOVE TO BUILD A NEW H.D. WOODSON---AND WE WILL BUILD A NEW H.D. WOODSON EVEN THOUGH THIS PROJECT IS LONG OVERDUE---IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR MS. JEFFERSON AND HER ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTION OVER ALL THESE YEARS.

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE FIND A FITTING AREA OF THE NEW BUILDING—MAYBE EVEN THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE—AND NAME IT IN HONOR OF AONA JEFFERSON TO MARK HER EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS CITY.

AONA JEFFERSON IS A TRUE WARRIOR WHO, FOR YEARS, HAS SUCCESSFULLY WAGED THE BATTLE TO SAVE THE CHILDREN OF THIS GREAT CITY.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE SENIOR CLASS SPONSORS:

· LATARA MEYERS

· KENNETH FRIEDMAN

· GARTH MCINTOSH-PETERS

I UNDERSTAND THIS OUTSTANDING TEAM OF TEACHERS HAS WORKED EXTEMELY HARD WITH THE CLASS OF 2007, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FACULTY IN BRINGING OUR YOUNG GRADUATES TO THIS KEY POINT IN THEIR LIVES.

AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE:

· VALEDICTORIAN CHARLES STEPHENS

· SALUTATORIAN CHRISOTPHER GARNER

· MOST IMPROVED STUDENT STEVEN GIBSON

LET IT NOT BE LOST ON ANY OF US THAT EACH OF THEM IS A YOUNG MAN. IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME THAT I HAVE ATTENDED A GRADUATION WHERE ALL THE TOP HONORS HAVE GONE TO YOUNG MEN.

NOW, I SAY THAT NOT AS A SEXIST COMMENT BUT AS A HOPEFUL SIGN BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST SO MANY OF OUR YOUNG MEN TO VIOLENCE, DRUGS AND THE FATE OF BEING A DROPOUT.

LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN! WHAT A GREAT THEME FOR THIS CLASS OF 2007. IT IS A CHARGE AND A CHALLENGE AT THE SAME TIME. IT IS A STATEMENT OF FACT AND A STIMULUS FOR ACTION. IT IS HOPEFUL AND CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. AND, MY FRIENDS, IT IS TIMELESS.

CLASS OF 2007, IT IS THE SAME CHALLENGE THAT SO MANY BEFORE YOU HAVE FACED AS THEY WALKED OUT THE DOORS OF H.D. WOODSON INTO A WORLD CRYING OUT FOR CHANGE, IN NEED OF INNOVATION, IN NEED OF COMMITMENT, IN NEED OF FRESH IDEAS AND IN NEED OF YOUTHFUL NEW ENERGY.

OURS IS A WORLD OF UNCERTAINTY, A WORLD OF UNPREDICTABILITY, A WORLD WHERE NOTHING IS PROMISED. BUT A WORLD THAT HAS BEEN MASTERED MANY WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE YOU. H.D. WOODSON ALUMNI LIKE:

· DR. BRENDA BELLAMY, WHO BECAME A PEDIATRICIAN

· DR. FREDERICK HALL, WHO BECAME A PODIATRIST

· REGINA HART, AN ATTORNEY AT FANNIE MAE

· KAREN SMITH, CURRENT PRINCIPAL OF BALLOU HIGH SCHOOL

· ORLANDO BROWN WHO PLAYED FOOTBALL WITH THE BALTIMORE RAVENS AND CLEVELAND BROWNS

· AND BYRON LEFTWICH, STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR MARSHALL UNIVERSITY AND NOW, OF COURSE, THE NFL JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS.

JUST AS THEY BEGAN THEIR JOURNEY UNCERTAIN OF WHERE IT WOULD TAKE THEM, NOW IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO BEGIN YOURS CLASS OF 2007. AND WHAT EACH OF THOSE OUTSTANDING WOODSON GRADUATES HAS IN COMMON IS VISION, LEADERSHIP, FOCUS AND COURAGE. I CHALLENGE YOU, CLASS OF 2007, TO LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF, PULL UP THOSE VERY SAME QUALITIES AND USE THEM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION.

AS YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS, CLASS OF 2007, YOU, TOO, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CHANGE THE WORLD. NOT NECESSARILY IN SOME EARTH-SHATTERING MANNER BECAUSE MOST CHANGE DOES NOT HAPPEN THAT WAY. IT HAPPENS ONE STEP AT A TIME.

AS YOU NOW MOVE INTO THE WORLD, GOING TO COLLEGE, OR OTHER POST-SECONDARY SCHOOL, OR GOING TO WORK, THE CHALLENGES ARE THERE BEFORE YOU.

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE BATON TO RUN THE NEXT LEG OF THIS RACE WE CALL LIFE?

YOUR JOURNEY AHEAD CAN TAKE YOU IN MANY EXCITING DIRECTIONS---ROADS WHERE LEADERSHIP IS DESPERATELY NEEDED NOW AND INTO THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

AS YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS, IT CAN TAKE YOU INTO THE IMPORTANT BATTLE FOR VOTING RIGHTS, SO THAT ONCE AND FOR ALL WE ENJOY THE RESPECT OF BEING TREATED AS FIRST-CLASS CITIZENS. IT IS WELL PAST THE TIME MY FRIENDS THAT THE DISTRICT RECEIVE VOTING RIGHTS IN THE CONGRESS.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA’S TWO CENTURY-OLD COLONIAL STATUS IS AN INTERNATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT, A TRAVESTY THAT TAKES HYPOCRISY TO A NEW LEVEL.

· WE PAY FEDERAL TAXES LIKE OTHERS WHO ENJOY VOTING RIGHTS.

· WE SERVE ON FEDERAL JURIES LIKE OTHERS WHO ENJOY THESE RIGHTS.

· AND WE SEND OUR SONS, OUR DAUGHTERS, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, OUR NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AND OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO FIGHT WARS IN FAR AWAY PLACES.

WE ARE THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC NATION IN THE WORLD TO DENY REPRESENTATION TO THE PEOPLE OF ITS CAPITAL CITY. WHY IS IT DEFENSIBLE TO FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, YET NOT LIFT A FINGER TO RIGHT THE VERY SAME INJUSTICE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY. IT IS TIME FOR THAT TO END AND YOU CAN HELP CLASS OF 2007 BY MAKING THAT CAUSE A PART OF YOUR JOURNEY.

AND WHEN THAT BATTLE IS WON CLASS OF 2007, GO FOR STATEHOOD, SO WE WIN EVERY RIGHT TO WHICH WE ARE ENTITLED. WHY SETTLE FOR LESS?

· AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, YOU CAN HELP TO RESTORE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION TO A POINT WHERE CHILDREN AND PARENTS ROUTINELY CAN EXPECT TO WALK INTO DECENT BUILDINGS AND SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE A RICH CURRICULUM. YOU CAN HELP TO IMPROVE OUR GRADUATION RATES SO THAT EVERY STUDENT WHO ENTERS HIGH SCHOOL ACTUALLY GRADUATES THREE YEARS LATER. YOU CAN DO THAT BY BECOMING A TEACHER, A COUNSLEOR, A PRINCIPAL, OR AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR LIKE AONA JEFFERSON.

AND, MOST OF ALL, YOU CAN DO THAT BY MAKING SURE YOU ARE A RESPONSIBLE PARENT.

· AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, YOU CAN HELP TO MAKE OUR CITY A DIVERSE PLACE WHERE ANYONE CAN LIVE NO MATTER WHAT THEIR INCOME LEVEL SO THAT WE DON’T BECOME A PLACE WHERE ONLY THE RICH CAN AFFORD TO LIVE WHILE WE PUSH OUT OTHERS.

WE NEED TO BE A CITY THAT HAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR POLICE OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS, TEACHERS AND YOUNG FAMILIES RAISING THEIR CHILDREN. THAT IS WHAT MAKES A CITY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND YOU CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN CLASS OF 2007.

· AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE BY MAKING SURE WE ELIMINATE THE INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH CARE SO THAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE NO MATTER WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND NO MATTER WHAT THEIR STATION IN LIFE. IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE EAST END OF THE CITY IN WARDS 7 AND 8 HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF HEART DISEASE, CANCER, DIABETES, HIV-AIDS, KIDNEY FAILURE, ASTHMA AND ALMOST EVERY ILLNESS IMAGINABLE. AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, THINK ABOUT BECOMING A DOCTOR, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, NURSE, DENTIST, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, SPEECH PATHOLOGIST, X-RAY TECHNICIAN OR ONE OF SO MANY FIELDS IN HEALTH CARE.

NOT ONLY IS IT A GREAT CAREER, JUST THINK WHAT YOU CAN GIVE BACK TO IMPROVE THE FAMILIES IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES THAT PRESENTLY DON’T EVEN HAVE A DECENT HOSPITAL TO SERVE THE 140,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE EAST OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER.

· AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, WORK ON MAKING SURE THAT NO MATTER WHERE ONE LIVES, THERE ARE NICE GROCERY STORES, MOVIE THEATERS, BOWLING ALLEYS, SIT-DOWN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER CONVENIENCES IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS OF THIS CITY. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND IT SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON WHERE YOU LIVE.

· AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER PLACES.

AS WE LOOK OUT OUR DOORS AND WINDOWS, WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FACE A REALITY THAT THE BIGGEST BUSINESS AROUND IS SELLING DRUGS AND THAT FAR TOO MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THINK THE BEST JOB IN TOWN IS HUSTLING THE DRUG OF THE DAY. DON’T ASPIRE TO GET YOUR EDUCATION AND GET OUT OF HERE. GET YOUR EDUCATION, YES, BUT THEN STAY AND WORK TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.

· AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU BECOME A PARENT TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN TO BE LAW ABIDING, RESPECTFUL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, THE VALUE OF A GOOD WORK ETHIC AND MAKE YOU PROUD BY ALSO DOING THE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE BETTER. THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT CALLING THAN BEING A PARENT. AND THE WORLD NEEDS YOU TO BE A GOOD ONE.

· AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO AS YOUNG ADULTS TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES IN YOUR CIVIC ASSOCIATION, ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION OR BLOCK CLUB TO MAKE LIFE BETTER BY WORKING TOGETHER. WE DESPERATELY NEED NEW, YOUNG WARRIORS TO KEEP US MOVING FORWARD.

· AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, TAKE STEPS NOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A JOB—A JOB THAT HAS MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE, LET ME TELL YOU CLASS OF 2007, MONEY MAY BE IMPORTANT, BUT THERE IS NO SUSTITUTE FOR GOING TO A JOB EACH DAY WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THERE IS NOTHING MORE BORING THAN WATCHING THE CLOCK WAITING FOR THE WORK DAY TO END. THAT IS MISERY.

· AND, AS YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY, CLASS OF 2007, HAVE A VISION FOR YOUR LIFE. HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS AND A FOCUS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO, EVEN THE TOUGHEST OBSTACLES CAN BE OVERCOME. THAT IS WHAT MAKES LIFE FUN, GIVES MEANING TO TOMORROW AND KEEPS YOU HOPEFUL AND UPBEAT.

IN 2017, YOU WILL COME TOGETHER FOR A TEN-YEAR REUNION. FIRST OF ALL, RESOLVE NOW TO GO TO THE REUNION. AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT WHETHER YOU MAY HAVE GAINED A FEW POUNDS AT THAT TIME.

MOST OF ALL, PLAN TO GO SO YOU CAN TELL YOUR CLASSMATES THE EXCITING THINGS YOU HAVE DONE WITH YOUR LIFE SINCE LEAVING WOODSON. AND IF BY THEN, YOU HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE, IT DOEN’T MATTER IF IT WAS SUMMA CUM LAUDE, MAGNA CUM LAUDE, CUM LAUDE OR THANK YOU LAWDY. YOU HAVE IT!!!!

YES, CLASS OF 2007, YOU HAVE CHOICES AND I BEG YOU TO GRAB THE OPPORTUNITY.

IN CLOSING, I AM REMINDED OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES ABOUT A VERY WISE MAN. ONE DAY, HE WAS STANDING ON THE STREET WHEN HE WAS APPROACHED BY TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE DETERMINED TO MAKE HIM LOOK FOOLISH. ONE SAID TO THE WISE MAN, “WE WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.”

HE SHOWED HIM HIS CLOSED HAND AND SAID. “WISE MAN, I HAVE A BIRD IN MY HAND. IF YOU ARE SO WISE, TELL US, IS HE DEAD OR ALIVE.

THE WISE MAN KNEW IT WAS A TRICK. IF HE ANSWERED THE BIRD WAS ALIVE, THE YOUNG MAN WOULD SQUEEZE THE BIRD AND KILL HIM. IF HE SAID THE BIRD WAS DEAD, THE YOUNG MAN OPEN HIS HAND AND LET THE BIRD FLY AWAY.

THEY WAITED FOR HIS ANSWER. THE WISE MAN PAUSED FOR A MOMENT, LOOKED AT THEM AND SAID, “THE ANSWER, MY FRIENDS, IS IN YOUR HANDS.”

AND SO CLASS OF 2007, I SAY TO YOU THE SAME THING, “THE ANSWER IS IN YOUR HANDS.”

THANK YOU.