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Follow your dreams: Hazelle Goodman's Baccalaureate speech to the Class of 2005
May 13, 2005 10:52 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Read the full text of the speech given by Hazelle Goodman at Darlington School's Baccalaureate Service for the Class of 2005 Sunday, May 8:
First, I must thank Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Rhodes for this wonderful opportunity to salute the Class of 2005. Yea!! I'm truly happy to be here this evening. It's an exciting occasion for our seniors. It's the beginning of new beginnings, awesome possibilities, the threshold of wonderful dreams.
Some of you may ask, "What is my dream? I don't know what I want to do, what I want to be." It's simple to find your dream. It's the thing you would love doing even if there was no money! It's the gift that God placed in you and no one can do it quite like you. It's the call that you hear deep down in your soul that no one else can hear. It's the thing you came on the planet to do. The gift you brought to give. The difference you are here to make. And if you don't do it, you will never be truly happy or fulfilled. You may be rich, but you won't be fulfilled.
A lot of times we block our dreams because it's not approved of, or people say "you can't make any money doing that" and so we let ourselves become discouraged and we choose something that's more conventional, perhaps ordinary. We choose something safe while deep in our hearts there is that constant nagging that says, "There's more! I know there's more for me!"
You can live a lifetime never answering the call, but you will live an unhappy lifetime even if you make lots of money. However, it is possible to have a quality life, able to enjoy the things that make you happy and at the same time do the work you are inspired to do.
There are times when the road will get rought. Disappointment will definitely raise its head, but always remember - rejection is direction! Rejection does not mean you can't have your dream. It is simply God leading you to where it is. The divine plan is often greater than anything you can imagine. Sometimes the rejection simply comes to build determination. But you miss out because you accept NO as the final word - you must persist!
I am reminded of a young women who led the parents on a tour when I went with my son to Carnegie Mellon. She was a beautiful young woman in the theatre program. I was stunned when she shared with us that when she first applied to Carnegie Mellon and a number of other top acting programs at various universities she was rejected from them all. I couldn't believe it - she was blond, blue-eyed, beautiful and had a great personality - truly all-American. But I was so inspired when she said that she went to her local college in Colorado and the following semester reapplied to all the colleges. This time all of them accepted her. Don't give up!
Spend quiet time by yourself often. Ask yourself, "What do I really want?" Write it down. A study was done with Harvard students where a graduating class was asked what their dreams were for the future. When they followed up with them 25 years later, 3 percent had achieved their dreams. They were the only ones who had written them down.
So it doesn't matter if you didn't get the "yes" you were looking for this time. Stay focused, polish your vision, your dream, get clear about it, write it down. Don't allow anyone to discourage you. Stay away from negative people; they will hold you back. Be an encourager. When people tell you of their goals and dreams, give them your support.
When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, stop, breathe, connect with the God within. That's where all your answers are. Ask for guidance. It will be given. You will know what the next step is to take, and people will be sent to help you. Believe.
Don't allow yourself to drown in drugs, alcohol and sex. So often when you feel the fear, or you feel like you're not enough, or you're going through a tough time, it's easy to do drugs to numb the pain. But that's a temporary solution. I guarantee you that when the high wears off you will be even more depressed and you will have to drink again and then you are on the road to nowhere. In college, drinking and drugs may seem like fun, or a release from the pressure of a new environment, competition, etc., but remember you are in competition only with you to be the best you can be - to follow your dream!
And finally, above all else, SERVE SERVE SERVE! "Who can I help today?" should be the question that you wake up with daily. "How can I make a difference today?" Look around for someone who is facing a challenge and offer your support, your words of encouragement. Be keenly sensitive to the needs of others. Sometimes your friends will be laughing on the outside but crying on the inside. That's how come suicides happen when we don't suspect them.
Service beyond self, beyond Georgia, beyond America. Christ served. So don't just be a Christian; be Christ-like. Don't just be a Muslim; be Mohammed-like. Don't just be a Buddhist; be Bhudda-like.
When I think of an example of service that you can relate to, I think of a recent experience I had with Mr. Hendrix. While everyone was in line waiting to give their respects to the McKemie family, he came out with a big crate of water serving those of us who had been waiting in that very long line. I was touched by that. He didn't have to do that. I shared it with Brandon, and then he told me an experience he had with Mr. Hendrix. He had dropped the back to his earring, and Mr. Hendrix walked by and saw him looking for something and asked what he had lost. He told him the back of his earring. He said, "Mom, Mr. Hendrix put on his glasses and got down on his hands and knees and started helping me to look for it. Mr. Hendrix found it." That's service. Don't ever be too great to get down on your hands and knees to help someone. By doing so, you will not only live your dreams, but you will help others to live theirs.
Be bold, courageous, follow your dreams and serve serve serve! I love you, and may God's Holy Spirit go before each and every one of you making safe, joyous and successful your way. Goodnight.
Hazelle Goodman is the mother of Brandon Goodman, Class of 2005. The 2003 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship recipient, she is often called a one-woman powerhouse. Reviewers praise her unique ability to transform into many different characters, which has propelled her to the forefront as a multi-dimensional actress.
Featured in Vogue, People and Vibe magazines, Goodman’s self-titled HBO Special received unprecedented ratings and was nominated for two Cable Ace Awards – Best Comedy Special and Best Performer. Among her many credits, Goodman starred opposite Woody Allen in the role of “Cookie” in Allen’s Deconstructing Harry; as “Georgia Rae Mahoney” on NBC’s Homicide; and as attorney “Lynette Neal” on ABC’s All My Children. Additionally, her Shakespearean debut as the “Queen” in the Public Theater’s production of Cymbeline won her rave reviews.
In addition to her busy performance schedule, Goodman has created an Art & Spirit volunteer program for the inmates of Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. She has also established a life-long scholarship fund at The City College of New York, which she attended, in honor of the slain African immigrant Amadou Diallo – The Amadou Diallo Criminal Justice Award.
First, I must thank Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Rhodes for this wonderful opportunity to salute the Class of 2005. Yea!! I'm truly happy to be here this evening. It's an exciting occasion for our seniors. It's the beginning of new beginnings, awesome possibilities, the threshold of wonderful dreams.
Some of you may ask, "What is my dream? I don't know what I want to do, what I want to be." It's simple to find your dream. It's the thing you would love doing even if there was no money! It's the gift that God placed in you and no one can do it quite like you. It's the call that you hear deep down in your soul that no one else can hear. It's the thing you came on the planet to do. The gift you brought to give. The difference you are here to make. And if you don't do it, you will never be truly happy or fulfilled. You may be rich, but you won't be fulfilled.
A lot of times we block our dreams because it's not approved of, or people say "you can't make any money doing that" and so we let ourselves become discouraged and we choose something that's more conventional, perhaps ordinary. We choose something safe while deep in our hearts there is that constant nagging that says, "There's more! I know there's more for me!"
You can live a lifetime never answering the call, but you will live an unhappy lifetime even if you make lots of money. However, it is possible to have a quality life, able to enjoy the things that make you happy and at the same time do the work you are inspired to do.
There are times when the road will get rought. Disappointment will definitely raise its head, but always remember - rejection is direction! Rejection does not mean you can't have your dream. It is simply God leading you to where it is. The divine plan is often greater than anything you can imagine. Sometimes the rejection simply comes to build determination. But you miss out because you accept NO as the final word - you must persist!
I am reminded of a young women who led the parents on a tour when I went with my son to Carnegie Mellon. She was a beautiful young woman in the theatre program. I was stunned when she shared with us that when she first applied to Carnegie Mellon and a number of other top acting programs at various universities she was rejected from them all. I couldn't believe it - she was blond, blue-eyed, beautiful and had a great personality - truly all-American. But I was so inspired when she said that she went to her local college in Colorado and the following semester reapplied to all the colleges. This time all of them accepted her. Don't give up!
Spend quiet time by yourself often. Ask yourself, "What do I really want?" Write it down. A study was done with Harvard students where a graduating class was asked what their dreams were for the future. When they followed up with them 25 years later, 3 percent had achieved their dreams. They were the only ones who had written them down.
So it doesn't matter if you didn't get the "yes" you were looking for this time. Stay focused, polish your vision, your dream, get clear about it, write it down. Don't allow anyone to discourage you. Stay away from negative people; they will hold you back. Be an encourager. When people tell you of their goals and dreams, give them your support.
When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, stop, breathe, connect with the God within. That's where all your answers are. Ask for guidance. It will be given. You will know what the next step is to take, and people will be sent to help you. Believe.
Don't allow yourself to drown in drugs, alcohol and sex. So often when you feel the fear, or you feel like you're not enough, or you're going through a tough time, it's easy to do drugs to numb the pain. But that's a temporary solution. I guarantee you that when the high wears off you will be even more depressed and you will have to drink again and then you are on the road to nowhere. In college, drinking and drugs may seem like fun, or a release from the pressure of a new environment, competition, etc., but remember you are in competition only with you to be the best you can be - to follow your dream!
And finally, above all else, SERVE SERVE SERVE! "Who can I help today?" should be the question that you wake up with daily. "How can I make a difference today?" Look around for someone who is facing a challenge and offer your support, your words of encouragement. Be keenly sensitive to the needs of others. Sometimes your friends will be laughing on the outside but crying on the inside. That's how come suicides happen when we don't suspect them.
Service beyond self, beyond Georgia, beyond America. Christ served. So don't just be a Christian; be Christ-like. Don't just be a Muslim; be Mohammed-like. Don't just be a Buddhist; be Bhudda-like.
When I think of an example of service that you can relate to, I think of a recent experience I had with Mr. Hendrix. While everyone was in line waiting to give their respects to the McKemie family, he came out with a big crate of water serving those of us who had been waiting in that very long line. I was touched by that. He didn't have to do that. I shared it with Brandon, and then he told me an experience he had with Mr. Hendrix. He had dropped the back to his earring, and Mr. Hendrix walked by and saw him looking for something and asked what he had lost. He told him the back of his earring. He said, "Mom, Mr. Hendrix put on his glasses and got down on his hands and knees and started helping me to look for it. Mr. Hendrix found it." That's service. Don't ever be too great to get down on your hands and knees to help someone. By doing so, you will not only live your dreams, but you will help others to live theirs.
Be bold, courageous, follow your dreams and serve serve serve! I love you, and may God's Holy Spirit go before each and every one of you making safe, joyous and successful your way. Goodnight.
Hazelle Goodman is the mother of Brandon Goodman, Class of 2005. The 2003 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship recipient, she is often called a one-woman powerhouse. Reviewers praise her unique ability to transform into many different characters, which has propelled her to the forefront as a multi-dimensional actress.
Featured in Vogue, People and Vibe magazines, Goodman’s self-titled HBO Special received unprecedented ratings and was nominated for two Cable Ace Awards – Best Comedy Special and Best Performer. Among her many credits, Goodman starred opposite Woody Allen in the role of “Cookie” in Allen’s Deconstructing Harry; as “Georgia Rae Mahoney” on NBC’s Homicide; and as attorney “Lynette Neal” on ABC’s All My Children. Additionally, her Shakespearean debut as the “Queen” in the Public Theater’s production of Cymbeline won her rave reviews.
In addition to her busy performance schedule, Goodman has created an Art & Spirit volunteer program for the inmates of Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. She has also established a life-long scholarship fund at The City College of New York, which she attended, in honor of the slain African immigrant Amadou Diallo – The Amadou Diallo Criminal Justice Award.
