'I'LL NEVER BE COMMON!' You may shout to the heavens.

However, don't forget that those who have come before you have made the same claims, had the same dreams, and realized after working, existing outside of the academic environment, and looking at their rent payments, car payments, and the first and the fifteenth, that they became common--not to the negative, but for the positive. You see, young graduate, not everyone will make a million dollars their first year out of high school or college.

Not everyone will 'make it' to Hollywood, the NBA, the NAACP, Congress, or to a Fortune 500 Corporation once they toss their hats in the air and pick up the ol' sheepskin.

Your diploma is merely a down payment on life. To make it count, you will need a degree on top of that, and, maybe another degree on top of that.

But, to make a difference, you will need something more.

Character.

And, for you young men in the crowd, there is more need for upright, non-compromising, and honest men these days, than in this nation's past days.

My young brothers, you can't get character from a textbook. You have to develop it living life, in reality.

One wise man remarked: 'Character is who you are when no one else is looking.' I'll give you a solid tip. Character is something learned from common men and women- like your parents, teachers, professors, groundskeepers, and countless others who have done their best to prepare you to be a useful member of society.

AT THE RISK OF BEING POLITICALLY INCORRECT:

I'd also like to remind you where common men and women get their strength. Many get their ability to go on, day after day, month after month, year after year in seeming anonymity because of their firm, and steadfast faith in Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible.

You know, that the church house many of you went to as kids are the same ones you're going to head back to, now that you have become adults.

Oh yes, I've been down that road. Didn't think that I would need God. Didn't think that the 'Bible' was cool. After all, I had my diploma and degree, and thought that I could handle life, all by myself.

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