You may or may not remember your high school graduation speaker. However, I hope this year’s TCC commencement speaker sticks with you. James Arinaitwe is from rural Western Uganda, where HIV/AIDS orphaned him at the age of 10. He was raised by his grandmother and was able to attend high school thanks to his own persistence and belief that education could change his life. Then he met the Drs. Cheri and Russell Rainey from Tallahassee, who offered to sponsor his college education. He chose TCC.

Grateful for the opportunity, James quickly overcame the language barrier and culture shock of moving to the U.S. He graduated from TCC in 2006 with a perfect 4.0 and received a full scholarship to Florida State University, where he earned first his bachelor’s degree in computational biology and then a master’s in public health and public policy. He went on to pursue a career in public health and education, earning several prestigious fellowships, including an Aspen Institute 2014 New Voices Fellowship, and working for notable organizations such the Carter Center and BRAC. Today, James is the co-founder and CEO of Teach For Uganda and has been featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, National Public Radio and the Daily Beast for his work in expanding educational opportunity to all children in Uganda.

James is a great example of why TCC is not a destination, it’s just the beginning.

That being said, you don’t have to be featured in the New York Times to be a success. I’m proud of all our students, both current and former, who are working hard each day because they, like James, believe in the power of education to change lives. Our alums represent just about every career field you can think of, and all levels of management. They contribute to their families and their communities and make the world a better place just by being in it.

As a new graduate, you cannot know what doors will be opened to you in the coming years because of your education. But I know we have prepared you well. You’ve learned persistence and resourcefulness, along with a healthy dose of good judgment and integrity. You’ve learned what works and what does not when it comes to classes, studying, working and balancing your responsibilities. These same lessons will serve you well in life. Identify your goal, set a deadline, work hard, adjust as needed. If you ever find yourself in a situation you don’t like, change what you’re doing.

Thank you for choosing TCC and sharing your time with us. We are proud to have played a small part in your journey.

Congratulations and best of luck, Class of 2018!