By Hazel Scott/ASU
Hope Michelle Ayers, the General Counsel for the Black Voters Matter Fund, told excited fall graduates to have faith in following their dreams during 海角直播鈥檚 310th Commencement on Friday, December 6, at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
Ayers, who served as Deputy Attorney General for the state of Alabama鈥檚 Secretary
of State鈥檚 Office, delivered a lively address full of inspiration across two fall
commencement ceremonies, which included a celebratory walk across the stage by graduates
and a live conferring of degrees.
She began her address with a simple statement. 鈥淭his is your day鈥ou have come this
far by faith.鈥�
Ayers spoke words of wisdom cultivated by her success. She encouraged graduates to have a 鈥測ou-can-achieve-anything鈥� attitude through faith, family and self, the heart of her message.
Ayers used this time-honored celebration to share powerful keys to success 鈥� keys that have served her on her successful journey.
鈥淟et me pause to say to each of you 鈥� If you did this, if you accomplished this goal in this season of life, there is nothing that you want to do that you can鈥檛 do going forward from today. You already know the formula for success. You are what successful looks like鈥ou got where you are today by faith. Faith in God, and faith in yourself and your dreams,鈥� she said.
The speaker鈥檚 four keys to success:
--Find God. Know God. Hold on to God: 鈥淎ccepting Christ as my Lord and Savior has been the most powerful resource and effective action on my part鈥here is nothing to compare to having God in your life. Not just having God but knowing God for yourself. My life is an example of the reality of God鈥檚 love.鈥�
--Find Yourself. Know Yourself. Hold on to Yourself: 鈥淚n this life you will have to discover and you will have to get to know yourself over and over again鈥nowing who you are at your core is going to be key to fulfilling your purpose in a way that is prosperous and that also maintains your sense of peace鈥s a writer, my gifts make way for me. As a writer, I鈥檓 in existence on this earth to love and to serve, and I use my pen to do so. Knowing myself as a writer, who is here to love and serve, anchors me when things get topsy-turvy. This knowledge of myself helps me to know who I am, and it helps me to accept success where I am in my given dream at the time.鈥�
--Find Your Dreams: 鈥淜eep dreaming. When one鈥檚 dream is realized, dream another dream. Dream two dreams at the same time. Dream three. Once you know your dream, understand this, you are not going to be alone. Everybody has a dream. Everybody is fighting for their vision. You did not come to 海角直播 to simply earn a degree. You have a goal, I call it a dream鈥our dream is for you, first and foremost, and then that cup full of your dream would run over to others situated in your life. Do not let go, no matter what鈥ou dream will come to fruition. If mine did, yours will. Keep the faith. Keep your dream alive in your heart and do not give up. Remember, you are sitting here today, One dream accomplished while a lifetime of dreams to go. God did it for me and doing it for me even as we speak. He has and going to do it for you.鈥�
--Find Your People: Once you have your dream in tow, make sure you find your people. Know your people and hold on to your people. One of the most prominent, prevailing access that I have acquired in this life is what I call my trials. My village is my treasure chest, and I cannot imagine life without my love ones, especially my select village that I call my friends鈥 employ you to take the time and don鈥檛 be so driven, so ambitious, so overwhelmed with producing outcome in accomplishing work that you miss the magic of finding your and holding on to your people. Your family and friends will be your lifeline. They will be your life saviors. They will be your life support as you realize that dream of yours. The decision to surround myself with people who dare to accomplish the most extraordinary of feats have been one the best gifts I could have given myself.鈥�
Ayers also advised the graduates to keep life simple, be godly, be yourself, love yourself, be grateful, move forward with an attitude of gratitude, and follow your dreams with all your devotion, strength and courage.
She praised ASU for providing her and the graduates with the skills to be competitive and successful in their careers.
鈥淚 encourage you to celebrate this accomplishment as long and as often as your heart desires. I鈥檓 still celebrating my graduation from Alabama State 31 years ago鈥 love myself some 海角直播. For me, ASU is more than the academic institution where I earned my Bachelor of Art in Political Science. Quite frankly, ASU is home! 鈥here is no place in the world like 海角直播 and no better people populating this earth than the members of Hornet Nation鈥� To you, the most brilliant and resilient Class of 2024, I welcome you to the fantastic world of the ASU Alumni Society. Welcome to the family.鈥�
She summed up her speech by citing a saying from world-renowned boxer, the late Muhammad Ali.
鈥淚mpossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact, it鈥檚 an opinion. Impossible is not a decoration鈥t鈥檚 a dare鈥mpossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing at all because with God everything is possible.
鈥淪o, Class of 2024, if you ever wonder if your dreams will come true, remember this day, your graduation day.鈥�
As the fall Class of 2024 from the morning and afternoon ceremonies prepared to receive their diplomas, there were radiant smiles and perhaps a few nervous butterflies as they savored their few final moments together before coming to the most important part of the ceremony -- walking across the stage.
Each row of graduates was escorted to the foot of the stage where they waited in line. Once they heard their names called, they took their first step on stage to receive their diplomas among cheers, whistles and applause from family and friends. It was a celebration of a milestone.
As is the tradition at ASU Commencement ceremonies, President Quinton T. Ross, Jr. presided over both ceremonies as the University awarded degrees to 344 graduating students 鈥� 198 undergraduates and 136 graduates.
Amid cheers and applause, Ross encouraged parents, other family members and friends to stand to be recognized for playing a vital role in each the graduates鈥� success.
The Commencement ceremonies were live-streamed and may be viewed at