Since last week and concluding today I have had the honor to see the children of the Hempstead Public School District graduate from their respective schools. Graduation does not mean completion but it means moving on to the next stage in your life. As long as your are graduating to the next stage in your life and not moving backwards then that is progress. Progress is even a slow process.
I have seen students in Pre-K state that they are "THE WORLD'S GREATEST" to today seeing the Hempstead High School Class of 2010 reflect on their journey together as a class and as individuals. 10 Years ago I was that student graduating Hempstead HS to now 10 years later graduating Howard University, CUNY Baruch College as a National Urban Fellow to now being elected as a member of the Hempstead Public Schools Board of Education. Now matter how far we move forward we must not forget where we come from. We must reach back and pull forward.
Myself, my colleagues on the board and the entire community are very proud of all of our graduates. Here in Hempstead we have Caleb Canas who is a Bill Gates Millennium Scholar going to Harvard University and Johnathan Nino a Northrup Grumman Scholar going to University of Pennsylvania. Both HEMPSTEAD graduates (not Uniondale, Garden City, or anywhere else) but here in HEMPSTEAD and to not celebrate these accomplishments would be wrong.
The message I want to send to them and the entire HHS Class of 2010 is that you are not just representing you, you are representing your community. Don't just walk in the door and let it close, leave it cracked open so that those who graduated from Pre-K, ECC, Marshall, Fulton, Franklin, Barack Obama, Jackson Main & ABGS can have the same opportunity you are having right now. Enjoy the present, strive for a bright future and but always honor the past. I'm very proud of you all and Hempstead is very proud of you all as well. Congratulations!!!
With All My Love I remain....
Brandon V. Ray, MPA
Trustee
Board of Education
Hempstead Public Schools
Hempstead HS. Class of 2000
ABGS Middle School Class of 1996
Fulton Elementary School Class of 1994
Saturday, June 26, 2010
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