Publisher’s Message to the Class of 2024

By Willie Brown

Dear Graduates,

I am so proud of you! 

I get a kick out of talking to young people, and lending my guidance wherever I can.  So, since I didn’t get invited to speak a big graduation event like Denzel and Oprah, I figured, why not do it here?

At a time when the idea of becoming a self-made millionaire has never seemed more possible, it’s not hard to find shining examples of men and women who have made history and billions of dollars without a college degree and a few without a high school diploma.  You may look at Drake, Rihanna and Mark Zuckenberg, and say, “If they can do it, I can do it too!”

As a young person coming into your own during this wonderful age that we live in, full of promise, personal freedoms, and medical advancements, you have many advantages that did not exist even a decade ago. 

My piece of advice—for whatever it is worth—is building multiple streams of income by pursuing multiple careers.  If making it big is your goal, consider that it may not be as easy as it seems.  And I want you to get there with as few pitfalls as possible.  Despite all the wonderful attributes that you possess—faith, tenacity, courage, and drive—everyone is not going to make it to the same level of success. 

There are only a minuscule number of NBA players and successful rappers available.  Go ahead and dream.  Work hard, but also get your education. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2022, there were 2.1 million high school dropouts.  The overall status dropout rate decreased from 7 percent in 2012 to 5.3 percent in 2022.  The dropout rate for high schoolers is way better than it used to be.  And many think graduating from high school is a given.  But that’s not always the case.  It’s still a big deal and if you’ve made it through high school, consider yourself fortunate.   

Approximately 40% of undergraduate students in the U.S. drop out of college each year, which presents a significant concern for the education sector, according to Best Colleges.com.  There are a number of reasons for this alarming statistic: lack of financial resources, personal problems, life changes such as pregnancy or illness, etc.  But where there is a will, there is a way.  With more educational institutions offering online courses and classes geared toward working students, obstacles to continuing your education are becoming less of an issue. 

What continues to be an issue lies more in the willingness to finish what you start.  More and more students are leaving university and state colleges, pursuing trades and job training programs.  However, it will take the same level of commitment, no matter what you do.  Never equate alternative education with lower expectations.

Knowing what you want to do can save a lot of time and frustration (not to mention loads of money).  So, if you’re not sure what your next step is, consider attending an adult school or community college.

No matter where you are now, and how far you go, be thankful.  Everybody did not make it,  There are people who wish they were in your shoes.  I hope each and every person in the Class of 2024 will take time to appreciate and celebrate how far they have come right now, before moving onto the next shiny goal.

Going to a big university is a dream come true, but don’t be in such a rush that your educational experience becomes a blurred experience—something you did just to get somewhere else.

Remember your friends, your favorite teachers, and the hard-learned lessons (academic and otherwise) that you’ve learned along the way.  Take stock of your personal growth from the time you first entered high school and college until now.

May your journeys be memorable, and may you feel fully alive as you go through each one.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024.  Now, go out and have some fun!