according to my ability, as well as be properly acknowledged and compensated for it, in an attempt to control, is manipulation directed at my most basic rights! These forms of expression, along with others, effectively comprise my free speech! Defending, preserving, and protecting these rights are critically important, especially in a paradigm where veiled racism, sexism, ageism, nepotism, and deliberate economic control are still blatant realities!!!”
Despite the rants, stories and what you’ve heard about Ms. Lauryn Hill, the mother of 6 has raised a beautiful tribe of children and seems to be back on track.
She recently penned a letter praising the class of Temple University:
I hope that you understand the power of your youth—its grace and vitality.
I hope that you understand the power of opportunity and the privilege of knowledge.
I hope that you protect your youth, value your opportunities and continue to grow your
knowledge.
The world desperately needs youthful optimism and people prepared to help lead and guide
its course with wisdom and informed perspective.
Make no mistake, our times aren’t easy, but they aren’t impossible to alter and positively
affect either.
Acts of kindness,
acts of courage,
acts of responsibility,
acts informed by wisdom and preparation can help bring stability, clarity and positive
vibration back.
Knowledge is a cure for ignorance.
Confidence and preparedness, a cure for insecurity and instability.
Respect the fact that a paradigm still exists to teach, enlighten and encourage young minds
to walk into the future with a tool-kit full of possibilities and solutions.
Remember that in this age, learning HOW to learn is just AS valuable as learning a particular
subject, skill or trade. Consider yourselves and work hard to be assets in whatever field, lane
or space you find yourself.
You can be living, breathing, and dynamic, solution and possibility-makers.
Do your best to contribute to the health of the world, to add to it and not to subtract,
BECAUSE, you can. Begin to imagine and then create the world as you know it has the
potential to be when intelligence, ingenuity and optimism enter the room.
Be that intelligence.
Be that ingenuity.
Be that optimism.
Be that light.
I look forward to experiencing the impact of your particular charge and contributions to the
world. Don’t be afraid to shine in your most authentic form, nor should you be afraid to self-reflect and fine tune that light as you go.
Extend gratitude to your families, and to the faculty and administrators who assisted in the
development of your full-of-potential young minds. You’ve grown from promising students
into mature, more-than-capable young adults ready to accomplish incredible goals in your
respective fields and beyond.
We celebrate you.
You invested in yourselves.
May the return on that investment lead to accomplishment,
fulfillment,
happiness,
and a most meaningful journey!
Here’s what we all all can learn for the rise and education of Lauryn Hill:
1. Don’t kick a person when they’re down – no matter kind of mental illness, real or fake, that Ms. Hill was facing or is facing, no one can benefit from targeting and putting someone down. Everyone has a rough patch sooner or later, so let’s get all the facts and then make a decision on how to help, not tear down.
2. They love you and then they hate you – make no mistake, in the public eye, everyone may love you at one point, there are many who don’t want to see you succeed. Take care of your business so when that happens you can ride the wave without many bumps.