The following is a convocation address delivered by Joyce Loveless, Senior Director, NC New Schools to Stokes Early College High School - August 10, 2015

I hope you don’t mind me exercising a bit of personal privilege. As I think about the first day of school, I only have to think back to this past weekend where I scoured the mall with my son going “Back to School” shopping. I am finding that the more I go back to school shopping, the more I am turning into my mother, uttering things like “school isn’t about fashion” and “are you sure you’ve outgrown everything?”

Tomorrow is the first day of school for my own son. He will start as an early college student at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy in Wake County. Like you, the excitement for him in starting at a new school is palpable as well as the undercurrent of nervousness. However, when you are teenager, you want to be appear that you’ve got everything under control. So, when I asked what I should talk about today, he said his infamous “I don’t know”. The parents in the room know what “I don’t know” means. It means although there is a lot of stuff going on behind those eyes, it may be hard for our students to figure out the words to express it… hence, “I don’t know”.

Meanwhile, I’ve been reading about state mottos. I find the concept and process of unifying a community under one phrase very telling. I am originally from Virginia, who’s state motto, Sic semper tyrannis which in English means “thus always to tyrants” is a rallying cry against the abuse of power. South Carolina’s is “When I breathe, I hope” meaning that when things aren’t going your way, remain optimistic. Does anyone know what NC’s means? In Latin it is “Esse Quam Videri” meaning “To Be Rather than to Seem”.

To Be: Who you really are
To Seem: Who you want people to think you are

So, it is the intersection of “I don’t know” and what all that is unstated in that phrase and the NC’s state motto, “To Be Rather than to Seem” where I want to focus my remarks today.

As early college students, you have a tremendous opportunity in front of you. You will have the opportunity to attend a school focused squarely in ensuring you have the knowledge, skills and supports to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree. As you look around the room and see your teachers, principal and parents, they are all here to support you, but know that the state of NC has also invested in you. You will enroll in college classes free of charge to you and your parents. When you graduate, you will have an edge students in many schools will not have… you will graduate already as college students… not just college ready.

To Be Rather than to Seem

But despite these supports and resources, none of it will matter if you do not do your part. Everyone has something they are good at. Everyone has something to offer. You have a responsibility during your time here to discover what that is for you. We need you to develop your talents; to set your goals and soar like the Silverhawks you are.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine. Why are you here? What do you hope to achieve? What are your goals? What does success look like? What do you see? Hear? Who is around you? And now think what will it take to get there? What do you need? Who do you need? When you open your eyes, I want you to turn to the person next to you and answer these questions

“Today I hope…”
“I am excited about…”
“I am anxious about…”

As the year goes on, it will get challenging, I promise you. As an early college student, the expectation is for you to work hard and reach higher and higher standards. You won’t be like a college student, you will BE a college student.

To Be Rather Than to Seem.

The goals you spoke may get buried in the busyness of school. When those goals seem too far away, remember what you just shared with your partner. Do not let that light go dim. Allow school to challenge you, you will be stronger for it, but do not let your struggles go unexpressed. When the only answer you can think of is “I don’t know”. Take time to discover why. Talk to your parent, your classmates and your teachers. They are here for you. Success is hard, but so is sticking to your goals. Do it.

So going back to the NC state motto. NC was the last of the original 13 colonies to select their motto. It wasn’t until 1893 that “To be rather than to seem” was decided upon. It appears that NC didn’t want to have a motto just for a motto sake. They wanted to make sure it was a motto that they could stand behind.

Commit to your goals. Be your goals.

I wish you good luck this school year and I look forward to hearing about your many successes.