The following speech was given at a graduation for middle school girls participating in Emerging Young Leaders, a national initiative of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In the fall, these girls will join Pearl Essence, a mentoring program sponsored by Pi Delta Omega Chapter in Miami.
By Chanel, 18, Class of 2013
There are six important keys to your success as a high school student and member of Pearl Essence. Some of these points may seem repetitive, but I ensure you that they’ll enable you to be the best that you can be.
1. A Pearl is quick to listen and slow to speak. Push yourself to become a good listener. You may not always like or want to hear what is being said, but you wouldn’t want to miss out on something essential that could benefit you.
2. A Pearl is selfless and gives back to the community. One of the main goals of Pearl Essence is to continuously give back and volunteer. In high school, community service is vital to receiving your diploma.
3. A Pearl has integrity. She is dedicated to doing the right thing, even when she isn’t being watched. In high school, your hand is no longer held, and you are expected to speak up if something isn’t right.
4. A Pearl is prompt. She makes sure her priorities are in line and takes care of business. She never waits until the last minute to get things done. When wrong, she accepts responsibility for her actions. Organization is key in high school. Agenda books are no longer handed out, and you’re required to write down everything, and get every assignment and project in on time.
5. A Pearl is well rounded. She doesn’t limit herself to just one project. She participates in numerous clubs, activities and events, and can still manage to get school work completed. When exiting high school, a high GPA is not the only thing that gets you into college. Universities take a look at what activities you participate in and leadership roles.
6. A Pearl is FIERCE. She has style and class. She takes pride in all that she does and holds her head high. She doesn’t boast about her accomplishments but humbly accepts new challenges. She never steps away from her morals and is willing to fight for what she believes in. As you move on to high school, stay true to YOU. Friends come and go, but who YOU are should never change.
I want to leave you with my favorite quote by my inspiration and namesake, fashion mogul Coco Chanel.
“Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped adolescence but those who have already taken possession of their future.”
Raise your heads high class of 2013. We did it! You have emerged, and now it’s time to take your place as FIERCE leaders.
Chanel, president of Pearl Essence during her senior year, will attend Bethune-Cookman University. She plans to major in psychology.