Commencement Address
Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind, St. Augustine, FL
?May 18, 2018
W.C. Blackmon


Good afternoon Everyone,

FSDB Graduating Class, it is my honor and pleasure to have this opportunity to speak with you on this monumental occasion. 

I know that there are a lot of people here in the building as well as watching on their phones and computers who are tremendously happy and proud of what you have accomplished over the past twelve or more years.

Parents, faculty and staff, family and friends, everyone, please, stand with me to give these future builders and leaders a well-deserved applause!

Future Builders and Leaders, it has been over twenty-five years since I sat where you now sit; and in that time, a great deal has changed, the landscape, the buildings, the teachers and staff, but most of all, the tools used to learn and attain the great education that you have successfully achieved.

It was just as easy to see those points that has not changed.

These are the great quality of education that is being provided and the sincerity of purpose exhibited by those who have partnered with you in your transformation into the individuals you are today.

Another point that I dare say has not changed in all this time are the feelings and thoughts experienced while sitting in those well-earned chairs

I’ll take an educated guess, a hypothesis.

You’re excited, nervous, a little Jittery, but at the same time elated because you did it!

Then too, there’s, some fear.

I know all those years ago even though I had plans in place for my progress, the question in my mind was “with all the transformation and achievements of high school being over and done, where will I go from here? What now?”

I’d like to provide you with an answer of sorts to that question today.

Future Builders and Leaders, right now, you stand on the brink, on the edge, on the very doorstep to all that life has to offer.  Before you step through that doorway and on your journey, I want to give you a life fact and a life truth.

The fact is that there will come times in the living of life when you will stumble, fall, feel lost, or make a turn that causes you to go the long way around to your destination and goal.

That’s the fact, and here is the truth.

Successful people stumble! Successful people fall! Successful people become confused and turned around. The truth is that the only thing that successful people don’t do, is give up.

Upon graduating from FSDB, two of my greatest passions were writing and helping others to be their very best.  Consequently, my plans were to someday be a successful writer and speaker.

That summer following graduation, I wrote the first half of a novel, and over the following months, I had both a short story and an article published in local magazines.  I just knew that I was on my way, but I didn’t account for the stumbles, the near falls, or the time it would take to get back up again.  

However, I did get up, not just once, but many times, because there were many stumbles and falls.

But the two important points to remember about falling is 1, understanding that falling, no matter how many times, does not make you a failure.  The second is understanding that when you get up, you’re not only stronger but that much closer to reaching your goal.  

Over twenty years later, my book can be purchased from stores all over the world.

Remember my second passion, speaking.  Knowing that I’d need to put in work, during my second semester of college, I took a speech course.    It was then that I came to the belated realization that I was afraid to speak in public. During my first presentation my knees shook, my hands trembled, and my voice sounded like my lower jaw had frozen into solid ice.

I wanted to speak and motivate, but I was afraid!

However, future Builders and Leaders I share with you the wonderful truth that as times change, we grow, and as we grow, achievements are made.

Now, rather than feeling fear, I experience joy every opportunity I get to work with children or adults on communication, problem solving, enhancing their self-esteem, or bringing out their very best. 

Rather than feel fear, I experience joy every time I go into a prison to mentor inmates through the Gavel Club program as they prepare to transition back into society.

Rather than feel fear, experience joy, humility, and gratitude for Toastmasters International recognizing me in 2017 as one of the 30 best speakers in the world.

But most of all, rather than feeling fear, I am filled with joy and excitement because I am here with you on this very special day!

Future Builders and Leaders, I Of course can’t tell you what actual experiences you will face as you take these next steps, but I can tell you that upon your journey, you will come to walls that will appear impossible to hurdle, and yet,

Because of your passion, because of your faith and belief, and because of the positive, don’t quit, I don’t know what give up means attitude learned as a Cobra as a Dragon, you will climb those walls; or knock them down!

I can also tell you that upon your journey, you will find yourself before great gulfs that seem unimaginable to traverse, and if you can’t find a bridge to span that gulf, because of your passion, your faith, because of that positive don’t quit, I don’t know what give up attitude learned as a Cobra as a Dragon,

You will find that bridge or find other builders and leaders of like mind and together, you will build that bridge.

FSDB Graduating Class of 2018 I leave you with this, make your passion your tool, make a positive attitude your tool, make honesty and sincerity your tool, make holding tight to your realistic dreams your tools. the 

Always keep these tools connected to the belt that wraps about your heart, and you will “do more, be more, and achieve more.”

Then rather than asking the question “what now?” Following each accomplishment, you will instead say with joy and confidence, “What’s Next!”

FSDB Graduating Class of 2018, builders and leaders of tomorrow, in advance I salute you and your success!

Now take that step out of this door and go into not just the rest of your life, but the best of Your Life!

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