My dear Class of 2026, I have a few words for you…
Every day at Kellogg Community College, I see students arrive with setbacks, self-doubt and barriers: academic, financial and personal. And every day, I and the entire KCC team witness something powerful happen:
You begin again.
You persist.
You grow.
You redefine what’s possible for you and your families.
Growing up in the Caribbean, I am known to have a little roots reggae going in the background while working. One of my favorite songs is called “Redemption Song,” sung by Bob Marley. There is a line in the song that says, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.”
That is the work.
At KCC, redemption is not abstract; it’s tangible. It’s seen in you, the adult learner returning after years away. It’s seen in you, the first-generation student finding confidence in the classroom. It’s seen in all of you, the graduates walking across the stage having rewritten their story. You have strengthened your families, your communities and the future of our workforce.
Congrats, Class of 2026. I trust you will always sing your own songs of freedom, tell your redemption story and forever sing your own redemption songs.
This column first appeared in the June 2026 edition of BruIN magazine. To read the issue online, please visit kellogg.edu/bruinmagazine.
