2005 MLK, JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

KELLY MORGAN SMITH’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

When I sat down to write my speech, I had trouble deciding what I would say to you. I thought about it and decided that I would tell you about the principles that have guided my life thus far, which are faith, family, education, friends and community.

The first principal is faith. I have learned from family, friends and church the importance of this principle. For me, faith is a belief in God, knowing that he is responsible for your blessings and is in charge of your life. I believe that if you have faith in God and the plans he has for you, great things will happen for you. As quoted in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” So, I keep faith in everything that I do.

Family is the next principle that I would like to address. I would like to acknowledge my parents, Derwin and Myra Smith, sister, Vonetta Smith, and close family friends, Michelle Capdeville, Marie James and Mrs. Naomi White-Innis. They have been supportive in all of my endeavors and have given me love, inspiration and direction in my life. I have learned from them the importance of giving back to the community and of getting an education. I am very thankful to you all.

My parents told me at a very young age that the only way to succeed in life is to get a solid education, which is the third principle. They told me that if I worked hard, I would be rewarded. Now that I have reached my senior year, I have seen the benefits of working hard in school and this scholarship is one of them. Education is so important because there are so many issues in this world today, and the only way to understand these issues, both political and social, and to offer solutions is through education. Also, this world is so competitive, especially in the job market, but education helps to put you above the rest. So it is key to get and stay ahead.

I did not work on my education alone. I had friends who are here today that helped me. Friendship is the fourth principle. My mother taught me that you cannot live in this world alone. You need good friends, and I am thankful to have been blessed with them. I supported and assisted them and they did the same for me. In middle school, three of us got together and made a pact, similar to that of the three New Jersey boys. We decided that we wanted to become doctors, and we agreed to help each other along the way to make sure that we all succeeded. We agreed that once we became doctors, we would open up our own practice together. Thus far, our pact has been successful. I just want to thank all of them: Adrianne Bailey, Tiffany Jenkins and Kinshasa Fowlkes for being there for me all these years. I would also like to acknowledge my kindergarten teacher, Melva Copes, and her husband, Ron Copes, and Dr. Elaine Anderson for their academic guidance and support.

The final principal is community and it is important because your community is your home. You should be proud of your home. As I said, my parents have always said that it is essential to give back to your community. So I try to get involved in as many activities as time allows because I love helping people. By giving back, you are able to thank those that have helped you along the way. Also, giving back helps the community to grow and prosper. A strong community that is a safe place to live and work will provide the right environment for those that come after you.

I could not end my speech without acknowledging the person to whom this scholarship is dedicated. This scholarship is named after one of the most brilliant humanitarians ever, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King’s message and lifestyle embrace all of the principles that I have addressed and that have made a difference in my life. Every year we need to celebrate Dr. King’s life and remind people of the principles that he fought for his entire life. We should go a step further, though, because reminding people isn’t enough. We need to really examine his ideals of education, nonviolence, peace and respect for all people and practice them. Once we accomplish this, we can make our community better and live more happily in harmony.

I am honored to have been chosen for this scholarship and would like to thank Rev. Cordella Brown, pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, and the scholarship committee. I will work hard to make you proud. Thank you all for being here today and continuing to support “The Dream.” (Reprinted with permission ) n