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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Mr.Donald McCartney
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Freeport, Grand Bahama - Enclosed are photos and
Commencement Address delivered
by
Donald M. McCartney
at the
Commencement Ceremony at
Sunland Baptist Academy.
The graduation was under the theme: “Moving with Purpose Towards Excellence: The World Has Changed.”
Commencement Address
Delivered
At
The Commencement Ceremony
At
Sunland Baptist Academy
By
Donald M. McCartney
On
Thursday, 11 June 2009
The Theme: “Moving with Purpose Towards Excellence: The World Has Changed”
The eminent American Poet Robert Frost in the poem “Snowy Evening” wrote what I think provides an appropriate point of commencement for my remarks tonight:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Reverend Dr. Godfrey Williams Chief Executive Officer, Sunland Baptist academy and sr. pastor of st. john’s jubilee cathedral; Minister Williams Chairman of the Sunland Baptist Academy Board and serving board members; Principal Mrs. Myrton King and Mr. Thomas king; representatives of the ministry of education and visiting principals; Vice Principal Reverend Dr. Jonathan Carey; pta president and executive members of the pta; faculty and Staff of the Sunland Baptist Academy; Parents; Invited Guests; and Graduates…. You have kept the promises you made, and as a consequence, you have reached this important milestone….your commencement exercise…. A right of passage which allows you to enter the halls of higher education or the world of work.
However, despite your success, as Robert Frost wrote, you still have “promises to keep” and “miles to go before you sleep.”
In traveling the many miles to your next destination, you must understand that the world that existed when you entered the hallowed walls of Sunland Baptist Academy has been changed, and will never be the same again…but let me pause here to tell you that…
I stand before you tonight as a testimony that a bare feet boy from East Street, farm road, blue hill road, Andros Avenue, Kemp Road, and places in between has traveled many miles to speak to you, and I still have many “promises to keep and I have “many miles to go before I sleep.”
Principal's Award Mrs Myrton King & Tristan Phillips
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I stand before you tonight as one who was born in poverty, but I am happy and pleased to announce that poverty was not born in me.
I stand before you tonight as one who was conceived in illegitimacy, but I am happy and pleased to announce that it did not make my actions illegitimate, as I moved with purpose towards excellence. Instead, my illegitimacy propelled me towards the pathway of success.
I stand here tonight as a man who did not know who my father was until I was 50 years of age. By the time I found out who he was, he was deceased [as we would say in the Bahamian vernacular, he was dead.]. I did not use this as an excuse to fail, because failure was not an option.
I stand here tonight as the son of third grade dropout who was an immigrant from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
I am happy to proclaim to the world that I am an educated, full blooded Bahamian whose navel string was buried in Ms. Gertie’s yard on Young Street in Nassau.
Graduates, I made two decisions when I was very, very young, and what I am about to share with you is not to make a boast, but it is a fact. I am sharing this with you to teach a lesson… I am always the teacher wherever I go.
The first decision was to get the best education possible because I realized that education was the only way out of poverty.
You see, I realized that I had no rich relatives, and if I did, no one in my family was going to die and leave me the funds that were necessary to pursue an education.
I am the product of the public school and catholic school systems. In the days that I went to school only the poor went to catholic parochial schools.
Secondly, my mother had thirteen children. I was the eleventh of thirteen children. Yes by the time my mother was forty, she had given birth to 13 children.
My mother died not owning as much as a shack. As I looked at my mother’s situation, I determined that I would live a chaste [sex free] life until marriage. You see, I did not want any children outside the bounds of marriage.
I wanted all of my children to be under the same roof with me. It is possible if that is your desire, and if you do not allow the opinions of others to define your actions and who you are.
It is possible if it is your desire. Ladies and gentlemen of the graduating class, your desire is your choice; but remember that your choice has much to do with mind over matter.
Prior to coming here tonight, I had to make a decision as to which of my colours to wear. Because of education I was able to make a choice as to which of my colours to wear tonight.
If you remember nothing else that I say tonight, remember this: Education gives you choices and options.
When you have choices and options, you do not have to accept what life throws at you.
If you live a chaste life, you do not need to take on adult responsibilities before you are equipped to handle them.
Young men and women of the graduating class of 2009 when you live a chaste life, you do not ever have to be tested for HIV and AIDS.
If you live a chaste life, you never have to account to anyone after you are married for children you had prior to marriage.
I stand here tonight to tell you that there is always an excuse for failure but none for success; and indeed if you are moving with purpose towards excellence, there is only room on board this train; this aircraft; this space ship; this ship that you are now boarding, for success…there is no room for failure.
If, however, you do stumble, if you do fail, pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and start all over again! When this life gives you some rosy lemons, squeeze them and make sweet [“Switcher”] lemonade.
Indeed, tonight when you look at me, you are looking at the “finished product;” but you should have seen from whence I came; and you should have seen the place from which I was running.
Despite my accomplishments, I have promises to keep, and I still have miles to go before I sleep…the journey and the struggle continues.
Graduates, what, then, is the state of the world into which you are to commence Moving with Purpose towards Excellence?
Graduates, you are graduating into a world where people have to be begged to live in peace and abhor [avoid] violence. If you are moving with purpose toward excellence, it is your duty to promote peace and avoid violence.
l to r Donald McCartney,Mrs Myrton King,Virginia Cooper (GBPA Award),LaShawn Dames 'GBPA' and Bishop Godfrey Williams.
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The world, into which you are graduating, has an economic climate that will call for the deferment of your dreams of going to college or to find employment.
In fact, only the lucky few will find themselves entering the doors of colleges and universities; and precious few will be able to find employment.
According to your theme, you are moving with purpose towards excellence, therefore while your dreams of college and finding employment may be deferred, you must work assiduously and diligently to find positive alternatives.
Graduates, Have you considered the College of The Bahamas as an alternative to going abroad? Are you prepared to take any legitimate form of employment until you can get the job you want?
Have you given thought to starting your own business as an alternative to working for someone else? Have you considered working and saving your money towards college education in the event you do not receive a scholarship?
Langston Hughes posed a series of questions with respect to a dream deferred:
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Graduates, what will happen to you if your dreams are deferred? Only you can answer this question.
As I address you or before I complete my address, somewhere in this edifice, a cell phone will ring.
I make this observation because the world into which you are graduating has been impacted by the fast pace by which technology has developed and the influence it has had on your lives.
Indeed, you are the technology driven generation. Knowledge of technology [knowing how to navigate your way around a computer] does not constitute intelligence or wisdom.
Intelligence is displayed when as young persons you know the advantages and disadvantages of technology and you are able to use the advantages of technology to your advantage.
All I can say about wisdom is that it comes with age. Age gives you the ability to marry experience with knowledge you would have gained along life’s way. Wisdom equals experience plus knowledge.
The new communication tools nowadays are twittering and fringing. Among the other communication tools are blogging, instant messaging, cell phones, facebook, you tube, my space, and the list increases daily.
The internet provides an endless source of information. Some of this information is negative and some of it is positive.
The iPod allows the storage of music and video. Yes, Graduates, as Miss Daisy would say, “I’m connected, honey.” Graduates, how meaningful are your connections?
Graduates, as young men and women who are moving with purpose towards excellence, you must ensure that what comes out of your mouth and your brain is representative of your values, morals, and the pursuit of excellence.
Everyone is talking, twittering, blogging, instant messaging, emailing, fringing, and having much to say on facebook, you tube, and my space.
graduates what is the quality of your communication? Examine the content; Ask yourselves: Is what I am saying makes sense? Does my level of communication reflect a 21st century young man or woman?
What is the purpose of what I am saying? Writing? Am I growing intellectually as a result of what I am saying, hearing and writing in these fora?
Is this the manner in which young men and women keep on the path that moves them with purpose towards excellence?
Graduates, the world into which you are graduating is a topsy-turvy world. It is a world where young men expose their underwear and their rear ends in an effort to make a fashion statement.
Yes, these young men would rather walk with their legs astride in order to keep their pants from falling below the level of what might be considered indecent exposure.
On the other hand, young ladies are exposing those parts of their bodies that should be most precious to them.
The young men are wearing too much clothes, while the young ladies do not wear sufficient clothes.
Young ladies, it is alright to cover up those parts of your body that are your prized possessions; it is alright to keep your clothes on. Decent young men are still looking for young women who know how to keep their clothes on.
Young ladies, if a young man cannot keep up his pants, how can he keep up with you as you move with purpose towards excellence?
Young men if a young woman cannot keep those parts of her body covered that are part of her womanly assets, the only thing she can do for you is to derail your efforts to move with purpose towards excellence, which will propel you toward success and real manhood.
Indeed, Graduates, it is a world where you have to look at least twice to determine the sex of an individual…you know the rings in the ear thing.
When you are looking for a job, and you do not get the job (young men)… have you considered that it may be the ear rings?
Young ladies have you considered that it may be because of the inappropriate clothes that reveal too much or the overwhelming hair style or the outlandish fingernails?
Yes, the world into which you are graduating has a pathway that is strewn with many craters and potholes called distractions. Know them and avoid them like you ought to avoid HIV and AIDS, and you will surely be moving with purpose towards excellence.
The world into which you are graduating is a world where adults appear not to know their role or the difference between right and wrong.
Graduates, as young adults who are moving with purpose towards excellence, you must recognize that what is right will always be right, and you cannot make that which is right wrong, but What is wrong can always be corrected and made right.
Yes, the world into which you are graduating is a world where people do not care for each other anymore.
As you move with purpose towards excellence, you must re-establish and resurrect the old Bahamian tradition of caring deeply for the people around you.
As I watched the CBS national news on Saturday, 16 May 2009, an 18 year old high school senior was threatening to take the governor of south Carolina to court over his refusal to take the federal government’s stimulus funds ($700 million] for the improvement of schools in that state.
What is the lesson in the action of this young lady?
As you move with purpose towards excellence, do not be afraid to take on the goliaths of this world.
Do not be afraid to stand up for what you believe. Stand up for truth! Stand up for justice! Stand up for honesty! Stand up for integrity! Stand up for sexual purity! Stand up for righteousness[d15]!
You are graduating into a world where youthfulness is worshipped and maturity and age is sacrificed on the altar of uselessness.
As you move with purpose towards excellence, you must be the generation to harness the enthusiasm, excitement, and innovation of youthfulness and marry it with the experience and history that is resident in maturity and age. If you can accomplish this, what a wonderful productive world this will be.
You are commencing a journey into a world where image is seen as more important than identity.
Image is created by how you look; what you wear; how you present yourself; and the people with whom you associate. Image is important because what you present and what others see is what gets you in the door… but remember: image is only skin deep.
Identity is what really counts [after you enter the door]. Graduates, your identity is created by that which is at the core of your being; identity is what makes you unique; identity is that for which you will always be searching because it will assist you in answering the important question: Who am I?
Unlike your image, your identity is that which no man or woman can touch, change or destroy. Indeed, if it is touched, changed or destroyed, it is because you have given others permission to do so.
Your identity is that which is the essence of your heart and you soul. If you have the smallest sense of your identity, image becomes unimportant because the real you will come to the fore. Having an identity is your safety net when your image fails you.
You are graduating into a world where retirement is the beginning of a new phase of life for older people.
It should be clear to you that for you this commencement exercise is just the beginning of a new phase of your life.
You are at the point of no return. Those of you who move forward will more than likely experience the joys of success and perhaps the pains of failure; but you must have the courage to continue forward.
However, those of you who turn back from this point will never realize your dreams, but will more than likely have many collisions with failure.
The path YOU take is up... to… you.
What you have learned in high school only opens the door to your new life.
You will discover that within two weeks of commencing college or entering the world of work, what you will have learned in high school will be of little use to you, because the learning process starts all over again.
As you move with purpose towards excellence and the future, be open to learning new and wonderfully positive things about life.
Be prepared to explore new frontiers of knowledge. If you are a “trekky” you will remember William shatner on the television series star trek. He use to say: “Space…the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship enterprise. Its five-year mission to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
As you chart your course for the final frontier; as you move with purpose towards excellence; see yourselves as the Starship Enterprise.
Your lifelong mission is to lay out a plan for your life; to explore strange, exciting new worlds; to seek out new life and opportunities for yourselves; and to go boldly where those who have gone before you have never gone before.
Until Next time… Be well; do good work; keep in touch; and God Speed.
[d1]There are 66 graduates in this graduating class. 20 [30%] of you have attained first class honours;
21 [31%] have attained second class honours;
6 [9%] of you have attained credit;
And 19 [28%] of you have attained good passes.
Not one of you have failed! You have set the standard of excellence… none you must maintain it!
My mother use to say that poverty is not a disgrace; it is only a put back.
James Allen once wrote: “He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”
If you are the son or daughter of immigrant parents [Your parents were not born in The Bahamas], you are their product, and looking at you, it appears to me that they have done an exceptional job. Be proud of you parents and the heritage they have given you!
Graduates, all of you should be proud and grateful for what your parents have done for you. Please stand now and face your parents and applaud them for their efforts!
The colours that I am wearing tonight represent my achievements in My Master of Public Administration Degree. The colours in my hand represent my achievements in my Master of Science in Education degree.
There is a mindset nowadays that “babies are in style.” Young ladies if this is your mindset, you are taking on an adult action that is fraught with adult consequences.
Young men if you feel that your manhood is resident in how many children you can sire, you are already less than a man, and not aware of it. It takes more than siring a child to be a man!
Beyond the fact that babies are cute, they require the kind of attention and responsibility for which you are not equipped at this point in your lives.
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better start running.
Excerpt from The World is Flat – Thomas L. Friedman 2005
My mother use to say if you [a sensible person] were seen arguing with a fool, It would not be said: “look at that sensible person arguing with that foolish person. IT would be said: look at those two fools arguing. Learn to walk away from fools and their foolishness!
Embrace technology with all of its wonders, but do not become a slave to it.
Please be careful about the message you send in the choices you make when choosing your sign in names that you use on your instant messaging sites. I saw one attachment the other day that boldly proclaimed: “baby you cud get anything u want.” I realized that this is the title of a song, but when taken out of the context of that song and used in the way it was used, it sends the wrong message.
I admonish you to be careful what you place on facebook. The statements you place on facebook can come back to haunt you in ways that you can never imagine. Remember, prospective employers are now registered on Facebook, and if they are connected in anyway with someone who is your friend, they have access to your postings on facebook.
Stop posting your personal business on facebook. What you give to the world, you cannot take back!
Be careful what you say about others on facebook. You can be sued for slander and defamation of character. There is such a thing as cyber stalking, which is now an offence.
In making your connections be aware of the lyrics of the songs to which you listen. The other day I was listening to a local radio station. The song that was playing had the following lyrics: “I want to take your clothes off and lay on top of you.” Why did I listen? I listened because I wanted to hear what is being played and to what young people are listening. You become that to which you listen. You are tempted to act out what you hear.
When you are on the job, it is the company’s time. When you are in a College or university classroom, it is your time. This time should not be used to play games, send your personal emails, twittering, blogging or instant messaging. Leave these activities for your leisure time. Delay your craving for instant gratification.
Fall into them and great will be your fall.
You can live on bland food so as to avoid an ulcer; drink no tea or coffee or other stimulants, in the name of health, go to bed early and stay away from night life, avoid all controversial subjects so as never to give offence, mind your own business and avoid involvement in other people’s problems, spend money only on necessities and save all you can. You can still break your neck in the bathtub, and it will serve you right.
Excerpt from God, I’m bored – Eileen Guder 1971
Some of us look exceptionally well on the outside, but on the inside we are empty shells.
© Copyright 2009 by thebahamasweekly.com
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