Article Options

Here's my advice: Never, never quit

Saturday, May 10, 2008 5:08 PM CDT

As the editor of this newspaper, I am expected each spring to present awards for the Southern Illinois Society for High School Achievement.

I've done this twice, most recently Tuesday night in the Student Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It's quite an event - complete with a good meal, entertainment, great students and an awards presentation.

It's an enjoyable obligation. The ballroom is filled with well-dressed students representing 33 high schools across Southern Illinois - beginning with Anna-Jonesboro Community High School and ending with Zeigler-Royalton.

I presented each student with an award certificate, shook their hands and said congratulations nearly 200 times. Aside from my mishandling one certificate and needing to quickly pluck it off the stage floor, the awards presentation was flawless.

It also was a pleasure to again see Ashley Hatfield, the reigning Miss Illinois. She was the featured speaker and encouraged the kids to follow their own, unique dreams. Hatfield said there were many times in her life when others questioned her ambitions, but she pursued her own goals and succeeded.

I followed Hatfield to the podium so the program might have been billed as "Beauty and the Beast." Actually I should be getting used to it. Last year, I got a chance to speak after the kids were absolutely wowed by Nelly, a famous and handsome rap star from St. Louis.

Nelly wore more diamonds and gold than you'd find in a jewelry store window. As I told the kids Tuesday, Nelly not only looked like "he went to Jared," as they say on TV, he actually WAS Jared.

Nelly could have said anything and the students would have applauded. But he's also a great speaker.

Hatfield really knows how to work a room, too, and though she didn't carry as much bling on her fingers and wrists as Nelly, she was wearing a jeweled crown.

Then it was my turn to talk. You don't walk behind elephants in the parade and you never book clowns after the high-wire act. So I felt a little jittery following Hatfield as a speaker, just as I had following Nelly. But I still managed to offer some personal advice to the students.

I was a late bloomer as a student, but didn't let it distract me from pursuing a career in journalism. I didn't quit. I also didn't get discouraged when it took me longer to climb the career ladder than I hoped. I didn't quit.

I like where I'm at right now, and the route to this place looks much kinder and gentler through the rear view mirror than it did through the windshield.

I hope it works out that way for all the graduates of 2008.

GARY METRO is the editor of The Southern. You can reach him at (618) 351-5033 or gary.metro@thesouthern.com.