Musgrove addresses JCJC graduates

By Kelly Atwood, JCJC Public Relations

May 10, 2008 12:19 pm

— ELLISVILLE — Persistence is the key to success, said former Miss. Gov. Ronnie Musgrove to the 523 Jones County Junior College graduates participating in this year’s commencement exercises.
“As governor, when I worked on difficult issues, I learned three lessons: know your goal, have a plan, and be persistent,” said Musgrove. “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. Everybody will get punched in the mouth. It’s how we respond to those punches. Persistence and determination alone are irreplaceable.”
Musgrove explained that there are many well-educated people who are not using their talents because things didn’t go as they had planned. Being persistent will allow a person who is facing problems to succeed.
“Defeat is an event,” said Musgrove. “Giving up is what makes it a permanent condition. Never, ever, give up.”
Musgrove, a graduate of Northwest Mississippi Community College, was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He said before the day’s graduation ceremony that his time at a community college was the foundation he needed, and he wanted to emphasize the importance of JCJC to its graduates.
“Many of you will go on to greatness,” he said. “Many of you will go on to get bachelors, masters or doctoral degrees, and you will meet many outstanding faculty along the way. You will never meet any faculty and staff that care about you more than (those at) JCJC. I want you to remember that.”
JCJC had a total of 718 graduates for the fall and spring semesters with 523 participating in the day’s events.
Retha Clements of Laurel, a 48-year-old psychology major who earned her GED at the age of 40, was overwhelmed with receiving her diploma.
“I cannot explain it. It’s awesome. It’s an absolute dream come true,” she said.
Clements, who was homeschooled since the age of nine due to a stroke, enrolled in Adult Basic Education classes at Jones and then began to take one or more college classes each semester over several years.
“The ABE teachers are wonderful. They’ll help you any way they can,” she said. “My college instructors saw me trying, and every one of them went out of their way to help me.”
Her husband, Billy Ray Clements, is also a student at Jones. Her husband, his family, and her family were all present during the graduation ceremony to watch her receive her diploma.
“I had a whole cheering section. I know there were hundreds of people out there, but all I could see was the faces of family. Graduation was a dream I was afraid to dream, and now it’s come true.”

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