Hundreds of young men and women from our community will graduate from high school and college this month.
They will line up in their caps and gown and strolled across the floor or field to pick up their high school diploma as their full name is proclaimed over the public address system.
And while parents and grandparents will swell with pride as their graduate’s last name is called, we need to be reminded this is a community event the entire county should be proud of.
I hope you realize the No.1 product of this community is not cotton, soybean, timber or even blues music. The No. 1 product of Clarksdale and Coahoma County is quality young men and women.
These graduates are the future of Clarksdale, Friars Point, Jonestown and Lyon. The Class of 2022 will shape and mold our destiny more than we ever dreamed.
Memories
We are so proud of our 2022 graduates. This newspaper even put out a special Graduation Edition to mark this event.
Our graduates have accomplished a lot in the past 12-years.
The Clarksdale Press Register has published the names of some of our graduates over and over.
Football, band, baseball, FCA, basketball, art class, computer class, honor rolls, plays, community events and much more. Your pictures and accomplishments have graced the pages of the Press Register for the past year. Those events were clipped and turned into refrigerator art in your home and posted on the bulletin board at church week after week.
Some have scrapbooks carefully kept by mom or a favorite family relative.
We encourage our 2022 graduates to savor these moments. You will look back on them in 12 short years and wonder where the time went.
To the class of 2022 I say thanks for the memories.
Moving on
The hometown high school environment has suited most of you well. Now you move on to another phase in your life.
We do hope you realize that your education never stops.
Sure, you’re headed to college or good-paying jobs, but even with a college degree and steady work you must set your mind to always learn all you can before the candle goes out.
Many of you will move to far away places and enjoy careers and success beyond your wildest dreams. Some will stay around here and lead immensely satisfying lives in a community that has taught you well and expects nothing less than your very best.
In both situations we hope you realize this community has shaped you and will continue to shape your choices and dreams.
Making a bumper crop
They say education is the only crop that is planted in the fall and harvested in the spring.
From the looks of things in Coahoma County this year, we have a bumper-crop.
Let’s watch our community and all of Coahoma County grow.
Floyd Ingram is the Editor of the Clarksdale Press Register and a 1978 graduate of West Point High School. He can be reached at 662-627-2201 or via email at floyd@pressregister.com.
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