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JSU President William B. Bynum Jr. raised the rafters of the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center with a resounding message Sunday to parents and first-time enrollees during New Student Convocation as he credited grace and mercy for their start to a life-changing academic journey.
Bynum told new arrivals that “a lot of people go to college, but very few people finish. Even today, with all our advances, only 13 percent of the African-American population has earned a bachelor’s degree. So, you have a special opportunity to do something unique.”
He reminded newcomers, who also consisted of transfer students, that he, too, is a “freshman,” explaining that he became the 11th president of Jackson State University just on July 1.
Two newly arriving freshmen embraced the shared experience with the president and have high hopes for the future.
[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ADE Justice, a member of the Class of 2021 and a computer science engineering major in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), said she decided to attend JSU because of its sense of community.
Justice of Saint Louis, Missouri, said, “I believe that by attending an HBCU I’ll be able to see myself in other people here.”
Darrell McClendon of Jackson is also a CSET major. He recently graduated from Murrah High School and said he chose JSU after doing research about its academic programs.
“Jackson State has one of the best computer engineering programs in the state of Mississippi. I’m going to do all I can to make a push toward graduation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bynum reiterated his three tenets: faith, family and future – with the latter focused on higher education.
Re-examining his own life, he explained to the crowd why his faith is so strong. He was among five girls and three boys raised by a single mother in the projects of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, after his parents separated.
Bynum said he loves the Lord with all his heart and “refuses to check him at the gate.” He credits God for allowing him to become a two-time university president.
During the afternoon ceremony, he thanked proud adults for enrolling their children and investing in JSU. Then, amusingly, he lumped them into two categories: “Type 1 Parents” and “Type 2 Parents.”
He said “Type 1 Parents” at the end of convocation are the ones who will look at their sons or daughters and ask, “Are you good?” After getting a positive response, he said mom and dad will race to the car, peel rubber and high-five each other, declaring they would now turn the extra space at home into an office, workout area or den.
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]YNUM notes that Type 1 Parents are basically saying that their child is now JSU’s property, and “we’ll see them again when they get home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.”
In contrast, he said “Type 2 Parents” are the ones who won’t say goodbye so quickly to their children after convocation. “Instead, they will go back to the residence halls with them.” Bynum said Type 2 parents will make sure everything in the room is straight, the bed is tidy and the comforter matches the roommate’s for coordination.
To laughter, Bynum said JSU might have to force out emotional Type 2 parents from residence halls. And, about an hour down the road after leaving, he said Type 2 parents suffering from separation anxiety are going to call the child on the cell phone asking if they need to return to campus and whether they need to make another run to Walmart.
The fact is, Bynum said, “It doesn’t matter what type of parents you are we’re going to take care of your baby.”
Bynum’s message to the students was that “you’re in for the ride of your life.” He said, “There’s nothing like college, the freedom and all the happenings on a college campus, and especially an HBCU campus. You’re in for a treat: the memories, friends, games, homecoming week, and, oh yeah, the parties.”
He told them the friends they meet in college are the ones through the years they will vacation with, attend weddings and reunions with and measure their lives against.
During the ceremony, Bynum advised that seatmates shouldn’t look at friends to the right and left and wonder who might not complete the college journey. Rather, he said, look around for the purpose of encouraging them to graduate.
Finally, he urged young people in the audience to surround themselves with the right groups of people in college.
“This isn’t high school anymore. This is serious business. You’re paying for this education, or someone is paying for it. … You need to be hanging out with the smart kids – those people who are getting their lesson and making sure they’re staying focused. Elevate your thinking,” Bynum advised.
[dropcap]H[/dropcap]E also reminded everyone that college graduates are more apt to become wealthy, volunteers and homeowners.
Bynum then urged newcomers to take the “friends litmus test,” which will help them gauge whether they’re allied with people of similar dreams, hopes and aspirations.
“If you’re hanging around someone, and you tell that person, ‘I plan on being a medical doctor’ and that friend says, ‘You ain’t smart enough to be a medical doctor,’ then you’re hanging out with the wrong friend.”
Bynum said the same litmus test applies if a person tries to dissuade you from becoming an entrepreneur.
Rather, “You need people who will speak life into you, encourage you and support you. … Speak your dreams into reality,” he urged.
During their four years at JSU, Bynum said the university will make a promise to newcomers by being student-centered and treating them the way they deserve to be treated – without compromise. He also emphasized that JSU will place greater focus on teamwork, collegiality, pursuit of excellence and first-rate academic programs.
“We will have a good year,” but Bynum requested that students take one last thing into consideration.
“Watch your thoughts because they become words. Watch your words because they become action. Watch your actions because they become habits. Watch your habits because they become character. Watch your character because it becomes your destiny,” he concluded.
