'Be authentically you'
"You are enough. And when you feel that moment of standing in your own power and showing the world exactly who you are, you will find that you are more than enough, because your light will shine so brightly that it will illuminate your amazing gifts, talents, strengths, and abilities for the world to see." – President Christina Royal
Commencement Address 2023
By HCC President Christina Royal
"The past seven years as president of HCC have been an incredible experience where I've had the pleasure of working alongside world class faculty, relentlessly supportive staff, an amazing leadership team and board, and an ambitious and engaged Student Senate – This is a college that believes in every student who walks through our doors.
Over the past several years, I've had an opportunity to connect with thousands of students, including many of you these past few weeks during Honors & Awards ceremony, Cap and Gown pickup, the Nursing Pinning Ceremony, TRIO, Transitions Program Graduation/Transfer Celebration, the NSF STEM Scholars Project Presentations, and EL Centro's first birthday celebration, among many others.
I want to share just three brief reminders that I think every graduate could benefit from hearing as you embark on the next chapter of your lives:
First, Dream big and spend time nurturing those dreams.
Every commencement is special because it is the realization of intentions you set forth when you first became an HCC student. For some, this was a two-year dream; others, this was a two-decade dream to earn your college degree. Don't stop dreaming BIG for your life. As we celebrate you today, you get to finally put a gold star or checkmark next to your dream of becoming a college graduate. This is huge.
And sometimes as we get older, there is a sense of responsibility that takes hold and we push those wild dreams aside for more practical considerations. While you attend to the practical matters of your life, always have a big dream to aspire to. And nurture it. Visualize it. Tell others about it. Take baby steps towards making it happen. Before you know it, you'll be celebrating another big accomplishment that you never dreamed possible.
Second, Spend time with lots of different people.
You are a reflection of the 5-10 people you spend the most time with. At HCC, you have had the opportunity to be in class with people of different genders and gender expressions, races, religions, abilities, people with different sexual orientations, speakers of many different languages, people from differing political persuasions, with differing ideologies, and cultural backgrounds. You've had a chance to interact with, debate and discuss, and participate in clubs and activities with people who are very different from you. Diversity is our strength as an institution. And your uniqueness is your strength as an HCC graduate. I encourage you to embrace your unique gifts and leverage them to help you accomplish your goals in life. What makes you so amazing is your individuality. And that is enhanced when you widen your circles. So, spend time with lots of different people. And when you meet new people, keep being curious. Ask more questions. Seek to understand rather than judge. Stay open to new experiences.
And finally, be authentically you. And, be the best you that you can be. We spend so much time in life trying to please others. I'm encouraging each of you to be proud of who you are.
The messages about what I couldn't be or do – when I was younger – were louder than the ones telling me that anything is possible:
I wanted to play baseball, but I was encouraged to play softball.
I wanted to wear pants, but was asked to wear dresses.
I was encouraged to omit that I'm half-Black because I could pass for being white.
I was told to not to "be so assertive" as it wasn't becoming of a woman.
I was told not to display a picture of my girlfriend on my desk at work IF I wanted to get promoted.
Somewhere along the way, I started listening more to my inner voice rather than these outside voices, and I realized that I had to become an example of the authenticity I wanted to see in others.
All you can be is you, and as long as you are authentically you, it is enough.
You are enough. And when you feel that moment of standing in your own power and showing the world exactly who you are, you will find that you are more than enough, because your light will shine so brightly that it will illuminate your amazing gifts, talents, strengths, and abilities for the world to see.
Or as some would say, JUST DO YOU!
Thank you for the honor and privilege of being your president."
PHOTO: President Christina Royal hands out diplomas at Commencement on Sat., June 3.
