My Special Letter to Students

Anti-apartheid leader Steven Biko said, "Nothing in this universe is attained by doing nothing."

Today is your graduation day thus you have taken another step toward marking your future.

Adults often call you "the leaders of tomorrow." I cannot agree with these words because you can make a difference RIGHT NOW; you can be a leader RIGHT NOW; you can make great contributions to your community RIGHT NOW.

No doubt, life will present difficult challenges from time to time, and you might feel tempted to take a wrong road. With this in mind, I offer you these ALTERNATIVES FOR LIFE:

If you have to lie…
Lie down so you can look up at a sky filled with possibilities

If you have to cheat…
Cheat death by not going to the places where he's sure to hang out.

If you have to steal…
Steal an education. The smart person is the one who does not stop learning
just because school is closed.

If you must overdose…
Overdose on books and go get your "fix" at the library!

If you must take a life…
Take a life out of the gutter and help them become whole again.

If you must gamble…
Gamble on God, the only sure and consistent thing in this life.

Remember, "Your life is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God!"1 YOU are a vital part of your family, your community and your country. Positive changes only come from people with a vision to make it happen. Be a person of vision, and a person with a positive purpose.

This beautiful letter was written by a poet in whom I hold near and dear to my heart and her name is RuNett Nia Ebo

Thank you RuNett

Elder J. Andres Vazquez