By April C. Turner<\/p>\n
At the Career Bridge 2022 Graduation ceremony, approximately 80 graduates stepped onto their next level. Smiles bounced happily from face to face, and excitement animated the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited that I have completed the Universal Banking course,\u201d said Jareema Warner. \u201cI\u2019m really looking to start a new career path and anything that comes after that.\u201d<\/p>\n
HVAC program graduate, Jordan Tyson, also expressed his excitement about having a new career in the HVAC industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am most excited just to be able to work and to be able to provide for my family.\u201d Tyson said. \u201cAnd to be able to do something I love and not just get a job where I am not really loving what I\u2019m doing. I get to go to work everyday with a smile. And it just brings joy to me to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Petisha Sturdivant said she was excited about completing her high school equivalency for a list of reasons.<\/p>\n
\u201c(I\u2019m excited) that I can further my education, my career and my money,\u201d Sturdivant said.<\/p>\n
Robyn Hamilton, Interim President and CEO of the Urban League of Central Carolinas, offered wise advice in her pre-commencement remarks. \u201cDon\u2019t forget what made you do this. That\u2019s the thing. Sometimes we forget why we started all of this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Your journey) might not be a straight line. It might curve a little bit, but that\u2019s okay. A lot of us have gotten a lot of places that we\u2019ve never even imagined. So I\u2019m glad that you took the time to open yourself to the world of possibilities,\u201d Hamilton said.<\/p>\n
Raki McGregor, Senior Vice President of New Business, Digital Equity and Community Growth at Novant Health, gave the commencement address. He offered poignant remarks encouraging graduates to walk confidently into the biggest, best future they can imagine for themselves. \u201cYou are built for success,\u201d he said. \u201cNot building. You\u2019re already built for success. You already have everything you need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shamar Farley, League Advocacy Manager and Universal Banking Instructor, agreed that this group of graduates have all the tools they need to be successful at their next level. \u201cThese students came and were very tenacious in the program. They had a lot of aspirations to take it on and complete it. And they did such. They were literally our fastest class to complete this program,\u201d Farley said.<\/p>\n
Despite some of the challenges the graduates faced during the process, Makeda Holley-Johnson, ULCC Director of Education and Emerging Programs, encouraged everyone to believe in themselves and keep moving forward.\u00a0 \u201cYou are somebody. You (were) somebody when you came here. You are somebody when you are now leaving here. You are strong. You are powerful. You are mighty. You deserve the education you got,\u201d Holley-Johnson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I say that to each of you because you are more than a piece of paper. You are more than your story. You are everything. And you are everything to all of us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
HVAC instructor and industry professional, Ty Baldwin, affirmed the mutual impact shared between instructors and students. \u201cI promise you, I learned a lot more from you than you learned from me. They say that if you do something you love you will never work a day in your life. So, I enjoyed it. And you guys helped me continue to grow, as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Baldwin also recited a few words of wisdom that he said helped him to change his perspective on life and continue to move forward. He said, \u201cThe best thing in the hands of a fool may be turned to his destruction, and even out of the worst, the wise will find the means to do good. So just keep growing and you guys will be blessed in this field.\u201d<\/p>\n
With her inimitable warmth and sincerity, HSE instructor, Gwendolyn McClellan offered a similar commission in her remarks. She charged graduates to \u201cBe thankful for the honors and distinctions you have on this Wednesday. And may this be the gift that God has given you and that you will cherish it forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
HVAC graduate, Tracey Gainey, beams after the ceremony full of excitement. \u201cIt was an amazing experience,\u201d Gainey said. \u201cOne of the best experiences I had was (having) a great teacher. My future is bright and I most definitely appreciate the Urban League. Thank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n