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Early College graduates 41
youngstown
The 41 students in the Youngstown Early College Class of 2015 had persevered through some particularly tough challenges to earn their spots on the stage Sunday at the Ford Recital Hall in the DeYor Center.
They were Youngstown high-school students from an urban environment trying to take high-school and college courses at the same time, pointed out the keynote speaker at their commencement, the Rev. William J. Blake, director of the office of student diversity at Youngstown State University.
Yet out of those 41, he said, 16 already had their college degrees.
When the early college, in which students can earn between 30 and 60 college credits
for free, began in 2004, there was “no love for it,” Blake remembered.
It was, however, he insisted, “way behind the times.”
“It should have been done long ago,” he said.
He called YEC students survivors, adding: “Not only are we surviving, but we are thriving. We changed the world – and you,” he said, turning to the latest graduates sitting nearby, “have the responsibility to change the world.”
“Don’t let anyone stop you,” he said, turning then to face the audience.
“Parents!” he continued. “They are no longer babies! And excuses are not acceptable.”
He addressed the graduates again.
“You are responsible for you,” he said. “You can’t do it for Mom. You can’t do it for Daddy. You have to do it for you. And your help is coming from the Lord.”
“When you don’t understand,” he advised, “keep praying.”
He quoted Mary McLeod Bethune, an educational, public and civil-rights leader who started a school for black girls in Daytona Beach in 1904 that eventually became Bethune-Cookman University. She served as its president.
“‘Knowledge is the prime need of the hour,’” he quoted.
“When we educate folks, ugly behavior is wiped away,” he said. “Fear and ignorance is wiped away. It elevates all of us.”
“Mary said, ‘I leave you the thirst for education,’” he continued, “Somebody’s going to tell you, ‘You can’t get a bachelor’s degree.’ Don’t stop! Somebody’s going to tell you, ‘You can’t get a master’s degree.’ Don’t stop!” He quoted again from Bethune: “‘You can do the impossible with faith, but you can do nothing without faith.’”