Leading From Authentic Identity
Student 2025
Week8Responses.docxRespond to both articles with 250 words and must include at least one scripture.
Patrina
Distinguished alumni … family members … and staff, it is an absolute honor to be part of this celebration, of this extraordinary class of 2022 graduation ceremony.
My name is Patrina and I am honored to stand before you today as your graduation commencement speaker. It is a pleasure and honor to share in the intensity of emotions filling this stadium. As to those of you who are graduating today, you’re closing this chapter of your life story. Only to move on to begin writing a new chapter in your life storybook.
Parents, you are probably wondering where the years have gone. As you marvel at your sons’ or daughters’ accomplishments, I’m sure it doesn’t seem that long ago when these young adults we honor today were toddling off to start preschool or kindergarten. Living through those years between kindergarten and graduation may have seemed like an eternity for the students… and some parents as well.
It's no secret or debate that you have proven yourselves to be the most resilient class. You have all fought known and unknown battles by those around you. And stand here today to tell you despite your struggles, you have made it to this moment. I say stand and find strength in having overcome these obstacles. Although they may have caused some pain and hardship, they did not keep you from accomplishing this important dream.
I am addressing all of you today, coming to you as a source of inspiration. You are the Class of 2022. You graduate in a century still in its infancy … a time in history when our world is dealing with enormous challenges… but at a time when the opportunities created by those challenges have never been greater.
Just know that you have been armed with skills and knowledge you’ve attained … I can clearly see your eagerness to tackle this next phase, whatever it might be. Whatever direction you go, I can surely guarantee that your world will change as you move on to the next chapter and because of whatever it is you decide to do, our world will change as a result of your contributions. Contributions will be determined by how you follow your dreams and imagination.
As we celebrate your academic accomplishments today, I want to challenge you to continue your quest for knowledge and discover your own unique ways to contribute to our society. Take risks, live outside of your comfort zone, and set goals, sometimes we have to take detours that inevitably may poop up and learn from them.
You live in a world where we can worship as you wish, gather where you want, and pursue any opportunity that you happen upon regardless of your sex, your race, or age. You are part of a generation where professional opportunities, recreational travel, and explorations may take you to the furthest reaches of the earth and beyond.
I want to challenge you to take that same enthusiasm that surrounds you today out into the world with you and use it to obtain your goals and change this world for a better place and the next generation. As you go forward, don’t forget the friends and mentors you’ve met along the way. Continue to care – care about yourself – your joy - your family – your friends and most of all your world.
As Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
As I remark on points in my life where I have overcome feeling inferior and suffered life’s tribulations, my prayer and hope is that you will be able to identify in your own, personal way my struggles and triumphs.
As a woman of color, I’ve had to overcome my share of intimidation, specifically those who targeted me as a woman and a woman of color. Being called names that I’d never heard before that I had to look up to find the meaning. The whispers or conversations that I would not be included in when it can to work business and then to be penalized by management because the workflow changed, and I would not be following the new workflow.
Let’s talk about effective leadership, we can define or characterize effective leadership as having the willingness to sacrifice for others first. The hunger and desire to push past patterns and boundaries that limit life’s fulfillment. Effective leadership can be identified as possessing knowledge and understanding of life successes as well as failures. Having a heart of compassion and the fight not to give up, encouraging the ability to take risks, and or having a heart of a pioneer are some attributes along with being transparent, being able to have integrity and ethics, and having the ability to influence others.
“A leader leads by example not by force.” Sun Tzu
My advice to you, for you to be able to accomplish these goals and become an effective leader is to learn, grow, and mature in life’s challenges. I employ to connect with successful leaders, mentors, and anomalies that have broken through barriers.
Proverbs 1:5 (nasb) says “As wise person will hear and increase in learning, and a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel.”
Remember this, never hesitate to ask for good counsel or advice. Life is all about learning and moving forwards, if you never ask, you’ll never know or learn.
Today I would like to validate each and every woman her today, letting you know that you are valuable, you are important, you are loved, you are necessary, you are unique, you are strong, and you are worthy. I encourage you to look at those that have gone before you and those that have been trailblazers, those that have placed a footprint for you to follow.
If you look at Rosa Parks was honored by congress as “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement”, Jeannette Pickering Rankin was an American politician and women’s rights advocate and was the first woman to hold federal in the United States. Harriet Tubman, who escaped to Philadelphia in 1849 only to return to the south to help hundreds of slaves reach freedom. Scientist Marie Curie French physicist and chemist, who’s renowned for discovering polonium and radium with her husband, first person to receive two Nobel Prizes ever. Kamala Harris first woman and woman of color to become vice president. Miriam was the first female Prophetess in the history of Christianity. My favorite is Queen Esther, the Israeli liberator a powerful Christian woman in history.
If you allow me to, I would like to give you a few tools to equip you for leadership as a woman. Become a Servant leader, offer an environment of inclusion and diversity, and actively listen to those you are leading, always making sure you spend time getting to know your team and their heart, Be a multiplier leader and not a diminisher.
Always remember that some obstacles come and are there to perfect and build you up. Obstacles are never meant to stop you, but to teach you many things. Here are a few barriers/Obstacles for women in Leadership.
The “qualities” of a leader — as well as the path to achieving leadership roles — are still largely based on an outdated male model that shuts women out.
Old Stereotypes -Because men have been leaders for so long, the traits associated with leadership are often thought of as masculine and not viewed as favorably when exhibited by women.
Fewer “connections”- Men still surpass women in having the networks to learn about opportunities and find mentors and sponsors to champion their advancement.
Bias and Discrimination - Sexual harassment, hostile work environments, and subtle biases are still obstacles. Women of color face even further obstacles to their advancement and, as a result, are even less likely to move into leadership roles.
Lack of Flexibility - Balancing work and family can be a challenge that limits women from seeking leadership roles. Workplaces are still designed with a decades-old notion of male and female domestic roles.
To overcome these obstacles, 1. seek a role model. Look to other women who have succeeded in the workplace and in ministry, who have also the same responsibilities. 2. Look to change your mindset. 3. Never be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. 4. Look for peer support groups or leadership training. 5. Expect men to advocate for women in the workplace, politics, and ministry.
The opportunities that await you are endless, and your ability to inspire and empower women like yourself in their careers, ministry, and in the marketplace or whatever stage of life they are in. A sizable majority think that having more women in leadership positions would have significant positive impacts in the workplace, ministry, and politics. Including helping reduce the pay gap between men and women doing the same work and changing the policies in many ways.
Be encouraged that you were born for such a time as this, you are called to be fresh emerging leaders, bursting onto the scene of a weary world that so desperately requires your light, energy, ingenuity, resilience, and vision. As fulfilling as today may seem, senior year is not the end. Graduation is not your ultimate goal. Take everything this school, life, and the world has taught you thus far, and go forth. This is your launching pad. Now take flight.
In closing, I would ask the graduates to join me in a round of applause for the family members and faculty who helped them reach this milestone. And to those in the audience who are here to honor these amazing young adults, please stand and join me in saluting our Class of 2022!
Rosana
Thank you for allowing me to be part of the conclusion of this chapter on your lives and the commencement of your next chapter. I believe today is a defining moment in a blessing journey.
As I reflected on the responsibility to share something inspirational and relevant with this beautiful group of young women, I thought about a crucial value that, if present in your lives, will generate the highest return.
As graduates of a fantastic school such as this one, you have learned that life in itself has no specific value to us unless we experience genuine interaction with the environment and with others. I am sure that as you enter into a new season of your life, you will carry unforgettable memories in your heart. I had many amazing memories, fun times, and laughter; if you are anything like me, your body will be a testimony of your good times, stamped with several scars and a few broken bones.
I want to help you create memories of the future, and tonight I asked my best friend to help us. She is truly my BFF. It is safe to assume you have made wonderful friends in this chapter of your life; some will last for a season, and others for a reason. This is a bittersweet moment. You are cheerful sitting next to your best friend, but tomorrow your best friend may take a different path, and only the future will know if your best friend of today will last tomorrow. This friend of mine wants to be your Best Friend Forever.
Before I introduce her to all of you, allow me to tell you some of her attributes: She is a delightful girl, knowledgeable, loyal, and caring. On her TikTok posts, she is famous for her style, simplicity, and hilarious ways of making something positive about everything. She is so much fun, and I adore her. We meet every day, and we do everything together. My friend is eager to meet you all, and this is the best part of having her as a friend: she has more than 2.54 billion followers. Wow!
Her name is “Wisdom,” and she desires to be your best friend forever! Why? Because she wants you to succeed above and beyond your wildest dreams. You might be asking yourself: how can “Wisdom” help you to succeed? Well, if you haven’t learned yet, life is a test! Sometimes we win, and sometimes we learn [i] . Eventually, you will stumble and fall; when that happens, you can have Wisdom by your side to help you get back on your feet, and she will guide you to overcome any obstacle you may face.
According to the dictionary [ii] , wisdom is the ability to discern qualities and relationships: insight. Don’t you want to have the right friends, live in the right neighborhood, have the best job or business, the best mate? Wisdom knows what to do every season of our lives. A book in the Bible called Proverbs says that Wisdom teaches us to be successful and friendly to people. Don’t you think these two assets would help you to add followers to your Instagram account?
Let’s imagine for a few minutes that you and I are eagles flying to the year 2036. As we get there, we realize we have a birds-eye view of your future! I see some of you as leaders in your communities, churches, businesses, and your own family. Wisdom is the right friend to have by your side. I hope you are inspired to dream big dreams as a young woman. If you desire to be an influential leader, the first lesson we all must recognize is that the true measure of Leadership is influence [iii] ; when you allow Wisdom to teach you to be significant, you will differ from all others. Do you know why? Because Wisdom will show you how to lead by transforming lives. I heard Wisdom teaching a historian named James MacGregor Burns, “leaders and followers make each other advance to a higher level of moral and motivation." [iv] Your class of 2022 has the opportunity to make your world a better place! If you don’t remember anything I said to you today, please remember this one thing: Choose Wisdom above all your friends. If you allow Wisdom to enter your heart, you will live a life full of joy, she will keep you safe, and you will be a leader carrying longevity in your right hand and riches and honor in your left hand.
I felt so encouraged when I understood that Wisdom is a woman, and so are you. Let Wisdom teach you to be the woman of your generation, feminine by design. “Beauty is as beauty does.” A famous philosopher, Aristotle, said, “Beauty is a gift of God [v] . When I look at you, I see exquisite gifts ready to be unwrapped at all levels of society. God has engineered every one of you. Be that gift as you lead your sphere of influence! At the appointed time, Wisdom will empower you to reach the highest level of your potential to fulfill the purpose and destiny of your life. Each gift carries unique assignments, abilities, and purpose. You are each of these things divinely wrapped for such a time as this.
I insist that you see your future from a birds-eye view to be aware that some people will not receive you. Even though you are a unique gift of God, I promise you one thing for sure; you will experience the pain of rejection, disappointment, regret, and failure. This is the time to reflect and be prepared to avoid the pitfalls. When that happens, Wisdom will hold you in her arms, and she will not let you go. Her love for you is unconditional, and no one can separate you from her friendship. Wisdom will not allow anyone to rob your destiny.
Before we fly back to the last day of this journey you are leaving behind; I am hoping you could look at your future again. Now use your imagination. What opportunities do you see in your future? How big is your dream? Do you see your goals being fulfilled? Are you leading well? Are you full of joy and satisfied with your life? How many lives have been transformed because of you? Most importantly? Does Wisdom have a place in your heart? I want you to photograph this moment in your mind and post it on the Instagram of your heart with the words, “This is me in the future, and I look much better than right now!”
Let’s land on our chairs in this beautiful building where your families and friends come together to honor you. Just like Wisdom, you are gorgeous! You should be proud of yourselves. Graduating is a significant accomplishment, but the best is yet to come!
Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your lives. Destiny awaits! You will encounter destiny opportunities in many seasons of your lives. If you can imagine your future right now, you have a chance to have a destiny-fulfilled life that is much greater than you realized. If you can dream, you can achieve! Unlikely Wisdom, Destiny needs to be chased. The future is not something you wait for it. You reach it; if you allow your imagination to accomplish its purpose by validating your dreams, wishes, and ideas that flow from your heart, you will secure the results. One of my favorite writers, Dr. Mark Chironna, says: “The world has always been an equal-opportunity environment-not necessarily a place of equal ease comparable results, but a massive field of destiny treasures waiting to be unearthed by people of every personality”. [vi]
I hope our time together can help you to unfold the secrets of your destiny. As a feminine woman, an influential leader in the marketplace, government, and non-profit organizations around the world, I can stand tall in front of you, your family, your friends, and the faculty of this school, and boldly say: There is hope for the United States of America because I stand in front of greatness!
I close this commencement by echoing the words inspired by God himself, the creator of females: For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [vii] You are equipped to bring into existence what has never existed before. The total distance between today and tomorrow is right between your ears. As long as you remain BFF with Wisdom, your thoughts will inspire you to make great choices, and your actions will lead you to the outcome of your dreams and aspirations. “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”-Alan Kay [viii] . Make it happen. Be the female leader of your generation.
References
[i] https://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-You-Win--Sometimes-Learn-Greatest/dp/1599953706/
[ii] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wisdom
[iii] https://quotefancy.com/quote/841040/John-C-Maxwell-The-true-measure-of-leadership-is-influence-nothing-more-nothing-less
[iv] Allen GP, Moore WM, Moser LR, Neill KK, Sambamoorthi U, Bell HS. The role of servant leadership and transformational leadership in academic pharmacy . Am J Pharm Educ. 2016;80(7):113. doi:10.5688/ajpe807113
[v] Aristotle, quoted in Diogenes Laertius, Live of Eminent Philosophers (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1972), vol, 1, p. 461.
[vi] Mark Chironna, Seven secrets to unfolding destiny, preface, p. 14.
[vii] https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/29-11.htm , Amplified Bible
[viii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Kay
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