Why did you choose to study law?
It was 12 years ago that I made the decision I was going to be a lawyer, that I would study law, to change the justice system in our area and also in our country. I was only 13 at the time, and my brother’s friend had been murdered a few months back, the case went cold and I vowed I was going to study law and make sure justice would be served fairly for everyone.
You have been giving talks to children to empower them, encourage them to study and stay on the right path.
Please share your words with us as if we were standing in front of you.
I am here today because I understand you are fresh from school, life is still new, you are now experiencing new things and for some of you, all this is the first time you taste freedom. Listen to me now, use that freedom wisely. Choose wisely.
We should remember that education is key to all of our success, it is a poor mans hope to a brighter future. We can only change our lives through education, change for everyone. Some of you all are firstborns in your family and with that comes a greater responsibility, something that you don’t choose, something that comes your way and means that a lot of people are counting on you.
I’m 3 and a half years into my law degree which I am doing while working, it is tough but that’s where a goal is needed, that’s where you need to have goals for your life and understand that it will never come easy.
I took an ill-advised break for 6 months, because I wanted to be cool again, I wanted to stop working hard, but I realised I was robbing myself of a future, I was wasting my time, so I went back, registered again, now I urge and encourage you to go and register, I encourage you to wake up and find jobs, not rely on your parents to give you things. You go out and choose a better life, work hard and as soon as you are ready you put yourself through school, study hard and never give up.
Sometimes I want to quit, I won’t lie, it gets harder and I just want to stop everything but then I remember why I started, remember the change that still needs to happen in our country and that I have responsibilities. I urge you not to give up, no matter how hard it gets, wake up, sweat for it, get it and better your life. It’s really not meant to be easy, its meant to challenge you.
Denzil Washington once said, “Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship, so keep working, keep pushing and keep on dreaming big even though we are told not to.”
Stay away from drugs, never experiment with any drug and stay away from crime. We are the fathers and mothers of tomorrow, the leaders of tomorrow, the presidents of tomorrow, but we have been called the laziest generation ever. We need to change that, we need to show them that we have a tool, our brains, and we will not hesitate to use them.
I’m standing in front you not because I’m special, but because I made the wisest of decisions, chose to make something of my life and work hard, not only for myself but for my family. Do not be blinded by the nice life, the life of alcohol and all night partying, its always been there, and it will never go away, do not destroy your future with wrong choices. I am not saying deny your self having fun, but prioritize accordingly, because there is a thin line between fun and destroying your future. Choose wisely.
Find something you love, find what you want to do, and find the talents you have, use the tools that God gave you and make sure you work on that and better yourselves, find motivation and dare to inspire and be inspired, I encourage you to dream big black child, and with all that’s happening in the world, may you find your purpose.
I want to challenge you to be better than you were yesterday.