To my young "Sistah's and Brotha's" ... Thank You. Thank You for listening. Thank you for letting me 'listen' to you, too. Thank You for showing me that I am a role model ... and apparently a "good one"!Thank you for getting my attention, in whatever way it was, even if you were "bad" and I had to tell you ... "you know you're bad,... don't you?" That gave you the opportunity to respond to me, and from there we started a dialogue which ultimately gave me the chance to uphold my responsibility to the "Village it takes" to help raise y'all. In all fairness, if I see you on a daily basis, and don't make it my business to correct you when I see you out of line, then I have no place in "the Village" do I?

Know that you are unique, ...you are intelligent, ...you are important, and you are loved... and today, you made my heart smile. I wasn't in your life when you took your first steps, nor was I there when you learned to talk. But I was there to witness the "pride" you bestowed upon your family, and like the young "Diva's" and "Gentlemen" you are, you wore those Caps and Gowns to the fullest!

Move forward my young Sistah's and Brotha's! Make strides in life. Carry yourself with Dignity at all times. Keep God close and remember "Auntie's" voice in the back of your mind telling you that we "need not be our own worst enemies". I "put it out there" ...that not everybody in your generation is disrespectful, and there were a many of you that were "great kids", ...so don't prove me wrong, 'cause you know you don't want to be on my "bad side". I mean that, cause it's up to y'all to get this whole thing right. There's a world out there that needs to be changed, and y'all may have to do it. As for the "Drama", ... Boo - it ain't that serious, okay? Walk away from it every time it rears it's ugly head, if you can. That doesn't mean you're bowing down, it just means that as a true "Souljah" you'll choose your battles wisely.

This day was long in coming, but oh, so worth the wait. Thank you for making me a proud witness to it! CONGRATULATIONS ! all across the land to the class of "OH ____ !!! dedicated to all graduating this year - 200_ (fill in the blank!!! ...I wish U - peace and love ... (and P.S., when you get that first "job" - buy your "own" Hand Sanitizer, and Trail Mix! ...smile ;)