Stephen Dale Project

I graduated from high school...

Saint Paul's High School

I graduated from high school this week it has been a very busy time in my life. Finishing up at school, proms, and interviewing/auditioning for colleges has kept me very busy. I was very happy to receive a vocal scholarship from the University of Southeastern Louisiana just north of New Orleans.

I did look at other schools including NYU but the Big Apple will have to wait as my voice matures besides the Big Easy (New Orleans) is an exciting place to be right now.

The Salutatorian of my graduating class gave a great speech about how our school and student body changed after hurricane Katrina. He went on about as a graduating class our common experiences at Saint Paul's High School not the physical structures are what bind us as a group. He used post Katrina New Orleans to drive his point, it is the people that make the city so unique and the buildings and structures (that make up the physical part of the city) are just the stage for the spirit of the people.

He concluded his speech by quoting author Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most
frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be
brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually,
who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world. There
is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
other people won't feel insecure around you. We
are all meant to shine, as children do. We were
born to make manifest the glory of God that is
within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we liberated from our own fear, our
presence automatically liberates others."

I think Marianne Williamson's words are something we can all take to heart and I am glad to make them part of The Stephen Dale Project.