As the keynote speaker at the ‘Harlan High School Career Day Event,’ I was met by friends I hadn’t seen for many years. This reacquainting was humbling and made me pause as I realized the importance of building bridges and not creating divides. Although the years were many, the faces were the same, and our independent journeys’ stories were diverse. Seeing these people, as we all reflected on the past times, the pride was seen nonetheless because we all were successful in our own right, and for that reason, it made us equals. Life is hard, especially in these days and times. The opportunities of yesterday are no longer the opportunities available today. Kids today have a more difficult time and face brutal attacks by those who would rather see indifference, separation, and omission.
The many successful alumni brought their r
iches and were more than willing to share those riches with the students. My message to Harlan students was survival, as I took them down a personal path that highlighted my life journey and the obstacles that met me along the way. Many kids today, and that’s no secret, have no role models and even fewer voices that speak to reason. My view of reason allows me always to tell the truth even when the truth hurts.
As I have interacted with young people across the country, what I have found is disturbing. It seems that youngsters, in particular, high school students have no idea about what is essential and that their lives will continue without a plan of action once their high school days are over. There seems to be no concern for a time, let alone developing a plan of action that can guide them down a very narrow path that will surely bring about the error, failings, and many distractions. While I say this, these kids cannot handle successful ventures in life and would rather be absent in uncovering what life will be like in the future.
Success today, not tomorrow.
This Article was Last Updated On: September 7, 2025