Roland Martin Tells LeMoyne-Owen Grads; Starts And Stops Part Of Process
Source: Sara Patterson / The Commercial Appeal
The morning he was scheduled to cover the Democratic National Convention in 2000 for MBC Network, Roland Martin woke up with a sharp pain in his side.
He was a 29-year-old freelance producer who didn’t have health insurance, he told the audience of new graduates and their loved ones at LeMoyne-Owen College Saturday.
By the next morning, Martin had to call an ambulance to get to the hospital, where he learned he had appendicitis. He left five days later having lost an organ and gained $100,000 in debt from medical bills.
This was not the way he’d pictured his life back in 1991 when he received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M.
“Today is the end of one process and the beginning of another,” he said. “And all of the starts and stops are a part of that process. … I went up, down, sideways, to get where I am now.But the point of his story, Martin told the historically black college’s 141st graduating class, is that life’s path is a far cry from the linear structure one follows in school, climbing from one grade to another until it’s over.
“And if you’re just happy you graduated, you missed the point.”
After delivering his commencement speech, the CNN correspondent received a degree of his own from LeMoyne-Owen — an honorary doctorate.
LeMoyne-Owen then awarded 110 degrees to a new pool of Memphis graduates, though they weren’t alone in their accomplishment, as Rhodes College and the Memphis College of Art also held spring commencement services Saturday.
The LeMoyne-Owen ceremony was warm and lively, with each grad receiving cheers and applause as they crossed the pulpit in Mt. Vernon Baptist Church to receive diplomas.
Several students who graduated with distinction were lauded for their accomplishments and all received an uproarious standing ovation at the close.
“I fought back tears,” said Rosaland Lewis, 34. “I really feel like I’ve accomplished something.”
Lewis received her bachelor’s degree in business administration while raising two children, 8 and 12 years old, respectively.
“I’m the oldest of 12 brothers and sisters, and I wanted to set a pattern,” she said. “I wanted to finish what I started.”
Her sentiments were echoed by Aqua Bratcher, 41, who graduated Saturday at the same time as her 22-year-old cousin Jennifer.
“I have three kids, and I wanted to show them that I could do it,” she said.
Edward Bachus, 25, said he plans to go back to his job as a deputy jailer at 201 Poplar, though his ultimate goal is to become an ambassador or diplomat.
“I’ve been coming (to school) on and off,” the political science major said, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. “It’s a blessing to be able to finish.”
