Upload
darshun-kendrick
View
340
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1 | P a g e
ITT Tech Graduation Speech (December 18th, 2015)
Good afternoon. Good afternoon to graduates and guests. Thank you to ITT Tech, its President,
Board of Trustees and everyone that made it possible for me to speak for you today.
I tell you it is quite a wonderful turn of events to be before you today---My mother, Daisy Kendrick,
graduated from this very spot exactly 1 year ago with her Bachelors in Project Management. She
was 53 years old and I could not have been more proud of her. She says I inspired her with my 4
degrees but nothing is more inspirational than a full time working grandmother going back to get her
degree. So give yourselves, and my mom, a round of applause for this accomplishment.
Again, it's quite serendipitous to speak with you today. First, because I would never have imagined
that I would be back here 1 year after cheering my mom on as she graduated and Second, because
my mom threw my a surprise Sweet 16 party in 1998 right across the street here at the Ramada Inn.
So I have fond memories of this area all around as I went to church for most of my childhood in
Clayton county. So thank you again for giving me 1 more fond memory to add to this area.
Now, as I was deciding what I should speak to you about, lots of topics came to mind. I just finished
having my 1st Legislative Hack-a-thon event here a few weeks ago and one of the topics was
Techology, particularly Techology jobs. We had a group of individuals who were tasked with coming
up with solutions for how we keep tech jobs in Georgia and encourage those in the tech industry to
hire tech jobs. And the solutions they came up with ranged from offering tax incentives to employers
who hire Georgia trained graduates to starting tech training earlier in a child's curriculum. All good
solutions and a good discussion but I decided not to talk to you about tech because I am sure you
have heard it enough in your time here. I don't want to do the usual political thing and bore you with
numbers since this is supposed to be a motivational speech. Instead, I am going to talk to you about
answering your call in life. Yes--we all indeed have a call in life and it is to use our talents to serve
others.
Now that you have your degree, you have an awesome responsibility to not only use it for good but
to make your world a better place. You see, I am a big proponent of the belief that we were all put on
this Earth, not for ourselves, but to be of service to others and share with the world the God given
talents we have to make our communities more bearable our short time on this Earth. It's one of the
reasons I stepped up to run for office but let me explain my story and why each of you MUST answer
2 | P a g e
this call to action to serve others with the degree you have before you. I'm a lawyer, a legislator and
a preacher's grandkid so bear with me as I get excited and passionate ok?
On August 28th at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, I was born to Daisy and Ricky Kendrick, ages 20 and
21 respectively. Young couple, little money. Now I know what you are thinking---she's giving us a
long biography BUT---please---please listen to what I am saying and the timing of how things
occurred in life because there is an important message at the end about making sure you answer
the call for service when its placed before you. Only if you listen to the events that I describe and the
ORDER in which I describe them, can you get the magnificent message at the end so give me 10
minutes of your time ok?
So continuing, a few years later I would have 2 siblings, 2 brothers. I grew up in a household where
my dad worked tirelessly everyday---THE hardest working man that I know. My mother instilled in us
not only Christian values and principles but she NEVER, EVER let us think that our dreams were
limited because of our economic, racial or gender status. She would say "Excuses only serve the
one that make them." But she would also follow up with a whisper in my ear "But you do have to
work twice as hard as anyone else because you are black and you are a woman."
Fast forward to 2000, I graduated from Towers High School at the top of my class. That summer I
volunteered to work in my then Member of Congress district office in Decatur. I was a precocious
teenager you see--because my mom said that I could do anything---and guess what? I believed her.
I even dared---dared to want to be President of the United States all through high school. I went on
to Oglethorpe University where I knew I had a talent for leadership and getting things done. I worked
for another member of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. when I was 20 years ago. There
I had an opportunity to meet 38 other wonderful interns and plan a seminar on "Black Men on
Campus" for my Congresswoman discussing the rates at which black men were incarcerated versus
enrolled in college. I came back my junior year of undergrad and worked 2 years for a Committee
chairman at the State Capitol for 2 years before graduating and going on to law school.
Now during law school---and this is important---I forgot about politics. If any of you are planning on
going to law school, remember I told you that law school is one of the most humbling experiences of
your life. It forces you to focus on IT and your passions are often forgotten. So in 2007, I graduate
from law school. I get hired at a small boutique law firm after passing the bar---yada yada yada.
3 | P a g e
ok so here is the part of the story that should make you smile at the end: In 2009, my law firm
implodes. Everyone is laid off. Perfect timing right---during the middle of one of the biggest economic
recessions? So I thought "What am I going to do?" I never wanted to own my own law firm. It was
the middle of the financial crisis. So I applied for jobs but no one worked out and eventually did
contract work for a former partner of the firm that just imploded. In 2010, I took a leap of faith and
decided to open my own law practice---now someone believed I could do it and it wasn't me.
Now here comes the answer to WHY you must answer the call to use your talents---it betters your
community and it leads you into your destiny. So in January of 2010, everyone with me?, I not only
started my law firm but I entered into an M.B.A. program at Kennesaw State---because as my mom
says, I like school. In April of 2010, it was an election year for all Members of the Georgia legislature,
so all senators and state representatives were up for re-election. I knew this but I wasn't paying
much attention because I had a law firm to run and an M.B.A. to obtain right? The 3rd week in April
of 2010 was what we call "qualifying week" where you take your money to the Capitol and register to
run for either State Representative or State Senator.
So the 3rd week in April 2010, again not knowing it was qualifying week, I had set up a meeting with
a State Representative whom I got to know while interning at the State Capitol. I wanted to have
lunch with him and talk about planning a business forum in DeKalb county where I grew up---totally
unrelated to politics. My meeting was scheduled for Wednesday at lunch. (repeat) But something
came up on my part----I had to reschedule to the next day or Thursday. Listen carefully---something
came up----I had to reschedule to the next day or Thursday. So I arrived a few minutes before our
scheduled time Thursday and as we are walking on the Capitol steps, this Representative turns to
me and says "What district do you live in?" and I said "District 94---Randal Mangham is my
representative." (Because of course I knew that) What he said next changed the course of my life:
He said "You are running for that seat. 2 hours before you came, he decided to run for Governor.
That seat is open." I was silent for about 30 seconds. You have to understand that open seats are
rare and asking a 27 year old to run is even more rare. I think it took me a while to form the words
but eventually they came out and they were "no" because of the law firm and the graduate program
and ---you named it---I had an excuse. And I proceeded to say "no" for about 10 more times during
and after lunch.
Well on the way home, I called a friend of mine who is now the Mayor of Clarkston in DeKalb county
but was then a political operative. I told him what happened and fully expected him to support me
4 | P a g e
and think this idea of running for office was nuts. Instead he said "That's a great idea. You already
have an endorsement. I will pay your qualifying fee if you do it." And by this time I am thinking
everyone is crazy right. So I call a city council member I knew and said "I need you to run for this
seat. I have too much going on to do it." She said "ok." I was like "great", I have passed on that call
to serve to someone else! Well Friday morning, the next morning and last day to qualify, she calls
me early in the morning and says "I still have things to do on the city council. You have to run. Do
you need me to take you down there?" You'd think I'd be happy because not only did I have a State
Rep's endorsement but the endorsement of a city council member and that's a candidate's dream
right? But I remember the words of my mom who said always to give 100% in anything I do or not at
all---and I didn't feel I could give 100%.
So I decide "Fine. I will at least go down to the Capitol and make a decision there." On my ride to the
Capitol, true story, I get a call from Edmond Richardson. He and I interned together on Capitol Hill in
D.C. when I was 20 years old---remember for working with my Member of Congress. Well, turns out,
he is the Chief of Staff to the commissioner that represents the area with the now open seat. So
Edmond puts the commissioner on the phone and the commissioner says "I've never met you. But I
have heard great things about you from Edmond. I'll support you." BAM!!! At that moment, it was like
God was telling me this was my time to serve and I had NO EXCUSES---the timing of events all
pointing to a time to use my talents to serve, even though I ran away and seemed to try to avoid it
numerous times.
Long story short: I went on to win 87% of the vote against 5 people. Since the time I have been
elected to serve, I have completed my M.B.A. with honors, found my fiance John Jackson by
meeting him at a political event, had an opportunity to become a Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Inc., which was a childhood dream and had an opportunity to travel to 5 countries and meet
with diplomats and business people all over the world. But MOST importantly, I have had the
opportunity to produce 2 small business conference that were free and drew hundreds of crowds
each year, trained other elected officials on efficient and effective ways to communicate with their
constituents through social media and other marketing tactics, advocated on behalf of numerous
constituents who were having problems with state agencies, personally given tours of the state
capitol to hundreds of school children who have never been to the state capitol and completed
Georgia's first ever Legislative hack-a-thon that took place here a few weeks ago all while fighting for
foreclosure reform, criminal justice reform, access to capital for entrepreneurs and for working
families.
5 | P a g e
All that is to say---your degree is not your own. You have been given this degree...from this place...at
this time...to use it for the greater good. You will develop and grow as a person and be able to fulfill
your personal dreams but more importantly, you will be able to share your talents with others. So
don't be hard headed like me and ignore the call to serve when it comes---embrace it and be
thankful for the opportunity. Technology is an emerging industry and one that needs your talents---
particularly if you are a minority or woman. So here are some ways to use your talents and just note,
even if you try to run from the responsibility of service, like my story, it will hunt you down so don't
ignore it:
1. Teach a tech related course to kids or elders for a non-profit of your choice. Offering a once a
month class will teach our future generations about the importance of this field and serve
society at a whole. The digital gap between those over 60 and others is staggering in Georgia--
-you can help narrow that gap.
2. Give money to your alma mater. The strength of alum participation in bringing in other funds to
your school cannot be overstated. This makes your degree more valuable and opens up more
opportunities for you so its in your best interest to stay engaged but also become an alum
contributor.
3. Engage in the policy making process. This means finding a trade organization or a group of
people you trust to advocate for the technology policy changes you think would benefit Georgia.
I am not saying get political because I know that can be frustrating but voting at the ballot is the
very lowest part of your duty as a citizen. Go further. Your degree requires it.
In closing, I hope that each of you will answer this call to action---and make it your goal to do 1 or all
of these things to ensure that your talents are used when they are needed. Your action or inaction
can cause a delay in someone else getting help or realizing their destiny---because are are all
connected with purpose. So go forth and do good-----and congrats on today and this
accomplishment. I am proud of you and on behalf of all Georgians, thank you for letting me speak
today.