02-11-11 | FEC Executive Director’s Speech at African American Student Achievement Conference
FEC is a principal funder of the African American Student Achievement Conference (AASAC).
Following is a speech by Russ Taylor, Executive DIrector of FEC, delivered to the AASAC at Purdue Calumet, Friday February 11, 2011:
The Foundations of East Chicago established a collective of nonprofit agencies in 2007 which learned how to collaborate to build more successful programs. This African American Student Achievement Conference is one of our collaborative grants. Our grant of $24,000 supports an initiative valued at $98,000, where Purdue University, The Boys & Girls Club, Community In Schools and Purdue Education Talent Search worked together to bring you this conference.
I tell you this not to impress you with the dollars, but to show how one can leverage resources to get something better than by working alone.
This conference will address your needs and the needs of all students in Northwest Indiana; the need to graduate High School – and – Graduate College.
This may sound scary today, but you will progress through school one day at a time and if you prepare yourself, you will accomplish your goals.
A great motivator, Stephen Covey, said that we should learn like the farmer, not cram information into our heads a day before the exam. Imagine, he said, if a farmer plowed his field in the spring and began to play all summer when the weather was nice. Knowing that harvest time was coming in the fall, the farmer planted his seed so he could harvest them next month. It didn’t work, in fact, the work to prepare the field was wasted as well.
This conference is important. In this time as you continue your education take time to learn, to study, cultivate your mind and then harvest your return. If applied well, that harvest will be a diploma.
If you find yourself going down a dead-end alley, don’t think this your dead-end, look around, find other alternative, know that there are more choices. Deepak Chokra said that when you decide, you in a place of infinite possibilities, so when you choose know that you have unlimited options.
And, remember you won’t be alone. If you have problems, reach out, to your teacher, Pastor, counselor, after-school coordinator, Parent, siblings or friend. Everyone who cares will want to help.
Get a good start today! Good Luck!
Read NWI Times Correspondent Lu Ann’s Franklin’s article ‘A taste of college life’ about the conference here:
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