The High Achievers and the YES Program met Dec. 10 in the Georgia College Arts & Sciences Auditorium to hear from two local leaders, Yvonne Brooks-Ferrell and State Representative Floyd Griffin.
Brooks-Ferrell is a retired service director at Central State Hospital, a former mental health specialist at Georgia College, and was one of the first employees of the High Achievers program among many other titles. Originally from Florida, Brooks-Ferrell moved to Georgia to attend Paine College in Augusta to receive her degree in social work.
“I learned from a young age to accept what you have and if you don’t like it, to use it as a foot stool,” said Brooks-Ferrell.
Brooks-Ferrell summarized her life story to the youth, reminding them of values that were instilled into her by her mother, who was a nurse, and her grandfather, who helped raise her and took care of her mother. She also spoke of challenges and let downs, things that life gave her that she could not change, like a distant father or being forced to change how she ate to accommodate her college’s lunchroom schedule.
“Challenges are not always big. Change is a part of life and there are some things we cannot change. That is why you take what you have and use it to better yourself,” she told the youth. “You can travel alone. Be your own person and be confident in yourself.”
Brooks-Ferrell also spoke on the importance of community service and how her desire to serve any community she was a part of led her to receive scholarships, make an impact on multiple lives, and better herself.
“I always ask young people, ‘Do you want to be a palm, or do you want to show the back of your hand?’ My mother says that if you only see the palm of a person’s hand, they are receiving. If you offer the back of your hand, you are giving,” said Brooks-Ferrell. “You never want it to be about what you can get, but what you can give.”
Griffin also spoke on the importance of being a servant leader, emphasizing that leaders “solve problems, not create them.”
“Leadership is about courage and service,” said Griffin.
Griffin’s speech summarized the ideals and skills that make up leadership. He stressed to each student that to become a leader of the future to read and extend their thinking, seek challenges, make goals, and let themselves stumble to learn a lesson.
“Leadership is not about perfection. Leadership is measured by what you can give,” Griffin stressed.
Concluding his speech, Griffin told students the three things that he keeps close to his heart to stay a leader.
“Remember to believe in yourself, that success is a result of preparation and progress, and greatness comes from giving,” said Griffin.
The High Achievers Program and Yes program are both leadership groups for high and middle school students under the Afterschool Achievement Department in GCSU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
“We aim to introduce to local role models and state leaders that they can learn first-hand from,” said Kenneth Daniels, program coordinator for High Achievers. “I’m thankful for both Yvonne Brooks-Ferrell and Mr. Griffin for taking time out of their schedules to speak to our students.”