Virgil Adams
College of Continuing and Professional Studies--Macon
May 12, 2007
University Center, Macon

I. INTRODUCTION
    A. President Underwood, Faculty, Staff, Students
Honor to have been asked to deliver the commencement address this evening.  To me this is a very humbling experience.  I want to personally thank Emily Meyers for this honor.  Before I go any further, I would like to recognize all mothers here this evening and wish you a happy Mother’s Day.  Let’s give all mothers here a hand.

     B. To the graduates, I realize that this is the end of a long journey, a lot of late night hours and you cannot wait to walk across the stage and receive your just rewards.  The thought has probably crossed your mind that I hope this guy doesn’t stay up here talking too long.  Well, guess what, this is truly your lucky day.  When I first started practicing law, a judge gave me three pieces of advice that I try to live by:
        1. Remember to KISS –
        2. Say what you need to say, make your point and sit down. So, I will try to follow that advice today.  I was asked to speak to you for a few minutes and hopefully, provide some words of inspiration and encouragement.  That is a lot of pressure on a day like today so I hope I don’t wind up like the old Baptist minister who went into his office one Friday morning just to clean out some things that had been around for a while.  While doing so, he saw a box with 3 eggs in it and 100 one dollar bills.  He took the box and showed it to his secretary who had been with him throughout his term as pastor and asked her if she knew anything about it………

II. This is a time for which you should feel extremely proud.  You have achieved an amazing accomplishment.  You have raised or are raising families.  You have worked or are working one, maybe two, jobs.  You have summoned up the courage, the discipline, the fortitude to go back to school to continue your education.  That is a lot different from going to college directly from high school – that is expected.  But, you have done it the hard way and for that, I want you to stand on your feet, give yourselves a hand and tell the person next to you, “well done.”

 All those late nights studying, all those distractions at home while you were studying.  All those times when you asked yourself why in the world am I doing this, what was I thinking.  Well, I’ll tell you why you did it, I’ll tell you what you were thinking -- you wanted more.  More for you and more for your family.  You are difference makers, and now you have to realize that although you have reached your goal, it cannot stop here.  You now have to take your degree, along with that same attitude, dedication, and perseverance, and make a difference in your community.  Do not be satisfied with the piece of paper. 

What you have done is bigger than that.  You are the kind of people our communities need.  You are the kind of people our kids need to see as an example of what can be done if you want it bad enough.  You are proof that it is never too late.  You are proof that education has no time limit.

You will probably never fully appreciate the impact you have had on your children and friends who have and will have watched you do what a lot of high school graduates failed to do.  Your hard work and dedication has prepared you to move onward and upward in this ever changing complex world.  You are prepared for whatever lies ahead. 

And, there is no substitution for preparation.  Preparation helps you deal with the unexpected.  That was brought home to me several years ago when I was a young prosecutor with the District Attorney’s Office.   (Insert Case Story)   I could have panicked but preparation saved me.
 
But, you are prepared now it is time to move to the next level and put all that hard work to use.  Be a difference maker.  Be a leader by example.  Our country is faced with a host of problems and they are not limited to big cities, they exist in small towns, too.  Crime, teen pregnancy, illiteracy, you name it.  All of these we see in our communities.  We see many young people with no concern or appreciation for education.  We see many people with little or no hope.  But, what we have to realize is you and I are still impacted by these problems and these people. 

We cannot bury our heads in the sand and say that is not my problem – because it is.  We are affected whether we like it or not.  We are affected by that child that goes to bed hungry.  We are affected by that child who goes home everyday to drugs, violence and little if any parental supervision.  We are affected because the odds are stacked against that child succeeding.  But you, me WE can do our part to help change those odds not for all but even if for just one, it will be worth it.  But the first step is realizing that we are “ALL” in this together.  All of these issues have a negative impact on the quality of life for all of us, and all of our communities struggle to cope with these issues.  They manifest themselves as high unemployment, loss of economic development, loss of job opportunities, high crime rate, high medical costs, high insurance rates, and higher taxes. 

Our communities face a constant battle to cope with these manifestations.  So, we all have a vested interest in seeing these issues addressed.  And, you don’t have to be a politician to address them.  You don’t have to be a “community activist” to address them. 

You can do your part by spreading that attitude of determination and perseverance to those you come in contact with.  By sharing with others your experience and your accomplishments, by not being afraid to say you are an example of what you can do if you want it.

You are special people.  This world needs special people.  People with the drive and hunger to succeed.  You were hungry.   But, don’t let your appetite be satisfied.  Instead, let this experience only wet your appetite.  Go forth and make a difference.  Be proud of what you have done and do not rest until you have changed the life of at least one other person.  Do not underestimate yourselves.  If you had, you would not be here.  And along the way, take with you these life’s lessons:
    1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
    2. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
    3. You don’t have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.
    4. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
    5. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up your present.
    6. Don’t compare your life to others.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.
    7. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.  But, don’t worry; God never blinks.
    8. Life is too short for long pity parties.  Get busy living, or get busy dying.
    9. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
    10. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
    11. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy clothes.  Don’t save these things for a special occasion.  TODAY is special.
    12. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
    13. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
    14. What other people think of you is none of your business.
    15. Time heals almost everything.  Give time time.
    16. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
    17. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends and family will.  Stay in touch.
    18. Believe in miracles.
    19. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. 
    20. Your children get only one childhood.  Make it memorable.
    21. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
    22. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
    23. The best is yet to come.
    24. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
    25. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

I said what I wanted to say.  I hope I made my point so now I think I will sit down.

About the Speaker

Virgil L. Adams is senior partner with the law firm Adams, Jordan & Treadwell, P.C., in Macon and Milledgeville. Among the firm’s clients are the Board of Commissioners of Bibb County and the Middle Georgia Coliseum Authority. In 1992, Adams expanded his practice to include representing professional athletes as their sports agent. Some of the notable athletes he has represented include the late Al Lucas, Carolina Panthers; Larry Tharpe, Pittsburgh Steelers; Eddie Young, Chicago White Sox, and former Mercer basketball stand-out Wesley Duke, Denver Broncos. He has a bachelor’s degree from Albany State University and the juris doctor degree from the Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University. Adams serves on the Executive Committee of NewTown Macon and is a member of the Board of Directors for BB&T, Macon State College and the Albany State University Alumni Association.