You Are Not a Mistake

Let me start right here. Some of y’all have walked around feeling like maybe you are not enough. Not smart enough. Not cool enough. Not confident enough. Maybe you feel like you do not fit in.

I need you to hear me clearly.

That is a lie.

You were perfect just as you are.

There was a time in my life when I felt like I was just floating. Just existing. But then I had teachers who spoke life into me. People who prioritized me. People who supported me and had my back. And that made me start thinking, wait a minute… maybe it is possible for me to do great things.

Next level living is not about saying look at me and look at what I did. It is about asking yourself, what good am I doing in the world?

I want you to be like trees that produce fruit. And inside those fruits are seeds. Those seeds grow. Those seeds take root. Those seeds produce more fruit. That is how your life should work. You are not just here to succeed for yourself. You are here to impact others.

When I look at students today, I can already see the greatness. But I am going to tell you what changed everything for me.

First, I humbled myself. I realized I could not do life alone.

Second, I tapped into community. Counselors. Social workers. Teachers. Clubs. Support systems. I needed all of it.

Third, I put the work in. And yes, it was hard.

Fourth, I became disciplined.

And fifth, I made the necessary sacrifices.

Those five things shifted my entire life.

Let me tell you something. When you humble yourself, when you lean on community, when you stay disciplined, when you make sacrifices, and when you put in hard work every single day, your wildest dreams start becoming real. Your family gets proud. You get proud. Your school gets proud. Your city gets proud.

But you have to stop giving 72 percent.

You have to stop giving 95 percent.

Show up every day and give 100 percent.

Give yourself 100 percent. Give the world 100 percent. Because somebody on the other side of your destiny is waiting on you to show up.

Freshmen and sophomores, you are just getting started. Juniors and seniors, before you know it, you will be out in the real world. And listen to me closely.

The world does not give you what you deserve.

The world gives you what you work for.

Students, take a few minutes to watch the video below and really listen. Speak life over yourself, support each other, and commit to showing up fully. I promise you, when you do, you will go from one level to the next. And we will see you at the top.