At this year’s Harris-Stowe State University Commencement, recently appointed Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges or Universities John Silvanus Wilson Jr. delivered the commencement address.
“Our HBCU’s have friends like we’ve never had before,” Wilson said.
Numerous White House administrators are speaking at HBCU Commencements: First Lady Michelle Obama speaking at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan E. Rice at Spellman, United States Defense of Secretary Robert M. Gates at Morehouse, United States Secretary of Education Arne
Duncan at Xavier University and President Barack Obama at Hampton University.
Wilson was on his third HBCU commencement appearance when he visited St. Louis.
Wilson explained how his office is focusing on building up the reputation of HBCU students and showing the world their potential.
“My office is on a mission to turn more HBCUs into cathedrals, by that converting high potential-students and even those that are less-prepared into world-class achievers,” Wilson said.
Throughout the evening, Wilson gave numerous questions for the students to think about.
“What is your perspective as you prepare to leave this place?” Wilson said, pointing to his theme: “having the right perspective.”
Wilson gave the graduating students three perspective questions to ponder before they went out to the world.
“Will you be rich?” Wilson said.
“You are not poor, but if you think you are poor then you’ll never be rich. You can be so distracted by what you think you do not have that you can miss the opportunities that are all around you to be rich in knowledge, ambition and perspectives.”
“Will you be great?” Wilson said.
“Harris-Stowe State University has given you all a great foundation and what you do next will determine whether you can reach the level of greatness. If you think you worked hard then work harder.”
“Will you be beautiful?” Wilson said.
“Real beauty is what you do in this world, what you achieve in this world, what you help to heal and fix in this world.”
Wilson defined real beauty by values, ethics, goals and ambitions. Wilson also stressed on how important it is to do the work that needs to be done in this world.
“The best research has not yet been conducted, the best sermon has not yet been preached,” Wilson said.
“There are people out there who need you. They need you to live a life of consequence. There is work for you to do if you want to be the best. You can’t be the best if you don’t have the right perspective,” Wilson said.
Wilson gave one last question to HSSU graduates.
“Will you be true?” Wilson asked the students.
HSSU has 3,000 living alumni but only about 10 percent actually gives back to HSSU. Wilson challenged the graduates to give back and try the hardest at what they want to do. Wilson also wanted the graduates to remember the moment they are living for they may not see everyone ever again.
“I want you to take heart and savor the moment,” Wilson said.
“If you have the right perspective you will be more oriented, make the right decisions and be more purpose-driven.”
