I had the honor of speaking to the new class of National Honor Society inductees and parents on Sunday at Bryant High School (Bryant, Arkansas). I really love opportunities to speak at events such as this, so I jumped at the opportunity when I was invited. Here’s the speech I was honored to give:
Congratulations to the newest members of the Bryant High School National Honor Society. You’ve worked hard to earn it. We’re very proud of you and your accomplishments.
Congratulations are also in order for you families, friends, and teachers who play a greater role in all this than you probably realize now.
I’m going to assume something about this group of students. If you’re a NHS inductee, I think it’s a safe bet to assume that you, on some level, hope to make a difference with your life.
As a youth pastor, I get to work with students on a daily basis. After a while, it becomes easy to see the descriptors of an entire generation. As I talk with youth pastors in other cities across our country, they see the same descriptors.
You are a change-oriented group of students. You want to make a difference and that is evident in the efforts of your generation.
– Toms Shoes exists for one purpose: to give a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair bought. By October 2011, they gave 2 million pairs of shoes away.
– Charity: Water exists for one purpose: to solve the water crisis. By the end of 2011, they served 2 million people by giving them clean water.
Students are rising up all over the nation who want to make a significant change. They feel empowered because they see other young people making a difference.
However, many people want to make a difference, but people rarely do.
What is it that stops them?
Unfortunately, this generation also leans toward entitlement. Everyone feels like the world owes them a title, immediate influence, and a position of leadership without responsibility. Now, I’m not saying that the whole generation is lost; absolutely not.
I actually believe that there are some difference-makers in this room. I believe that there are students in here that will make this world better in a significant way. However, it will only happen if you hold to the four pillars of the National Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
In scholarship, I would commend you to embrace the call of being a lifelong learner. Learning doesn’t stop when you graduate high school or college. If you think that, you’re in for a rude awakening. Be a lifelong learner.
In leadership, I would commend you to embrace a style of leadership that matters. Do work that matters. If you want to be a game-changer, it takes years of focused effort. Work hard. Back up your talk with action. That begins now.
In service, I would commend you to live a life of humility. When you serve, you remember that this life is less about achievement and more about people. Don’t you dare embrace a style of leadership that oppresses people. Jim Collins, author of Good To Great, says, “The X-factor of great leadership is humility combined with will.”
In character, I would commend you to build your life on values that reflect strong character. Decide who you’re going to be now, and your decisions become a lot easier. One misstep can derail you from accomplishing your dreams. In his book, Next Generation Leader, Andy Stanley says, “You can lead without character… But character is what makes you a leader worth following. To become a leader worth following, you must give time and attention to the inner man. To leave a legacy that goes beyond accomplishment alone, a leader must devote himself to matters of the heart.”
I rarely see students that embrace these qualities. But these are qualities of game-changers. These are the qualities of people who will shape the future.
You have it in you. Fight to stay focused. I believe in you. We need the next generation of leaders to be strong in character, humility, and integrity. Thank you very much!