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“Aspire to be Great”
“You’re from Where? 
North, SOUTH Carolina?
Now where is that?
Oh, Orangeburg?
County?
And what school?
With how many students?
Wow! Well now, what’s a small town girl or small town boy doing all the way up here?
Oh that’s easy…I’m soaring…Because that’s what Eagles do…”
And with that the audience filled with proud parents, siblings, friends, and other family members stood up and gave a resounding ovation to solidify their agreement.
This was not an oratory contest, or even a commencement speech. This was a keynote address delivered during an induction ceremony for the National Honor Society at North Middle/High School Thursday, March 20, 2014.
An honor graduate of North High School herself, Kailanya Brailey (Class of 2000) inspired and encouraged the ten scholars being inducted that while we live in a society where “we have convinced ourselves that we have to search outside of our community to find greats, we have forgotten that the greats WERE HERE.” Greats like Nikki Williams, creator and designer of the clothing line Foreign Object (Class of 2005), Super Bowl Champion Chardric Darby (Class of 1993), Tara Toland Tatum, owner and Director of Operations of semi-pro women’s basketball team, Winston-Salem Lady Warcats (Class of 2001), … and the list continued to include filmmakers, school board members, entrepreneurs, educators, doctors, lawyers, and so on, all graduates of North High School, in the small town of North, SOUTH Carolina.
Miss Brailey, Dean of Character and Academic Development at Meadow Glen Middle School in Lexington, SC, reminded those in attendance that “the phrase ‘I’m from North’ when referring to their school is not an excuse for improper grammar or an opportunity to lower your standards and expectations. ‘I’m from North’ is a rally cry! It is a statement of excellence. A joining of the minds. A response to a call for movement and change.” A former middle and high school educator with OCSD5, Miss Brailey shared her personal journey to success, but was clear to inform the audience that her story was not finished, her work not done. She reminded the scholars that “you don’t always have to search outside of HOME for inspiration.” She then charged the scholars to prepare themselves to be listed among “the greats”.
Immediately following the ceremony, the National Honor Society honored the inductees, their families, and all guests with dinner.
The National Honor Society is under the advisement of Brenda D. Inabinette, North High School graduate, Class of 1982.
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