"Cory Booker tells Graduates to Bribe People"

Title is a little bit of an inside joke from his speech.

"Technically you graduated with Cory Booker" has been repeated after Tuesday, May 15th 2012

I guess I did. But more importantly I gained perspective about myself on that day because of him. A graduation was the last thing I wanted to be at. Feeling down on myself about the job market was a serious gray stormy cloud over my head. Not to mention the thought of my rapidly diminishing bank account and savings. Therefore no degree could lessen my very real adult issues and concerns. But listening to Booker's speech stopped my racing thoughts for a few minutes and demanded me to think about the present.

He mentioned that Mother Theresa said she wasn't called to be successful but was called to be faithful. Faith is something that many graduates are lacking right now and I'm not an exception. I can't speak for everyone else but it seems much easier to motivate yourself with the prospect of success versus a faith in everything will be all right. Maybe not alright, but more importantly will work out.

For week's now, I've been pushing myself to be positive while everything around me seems to want to push me off the the deep end. And it is NOT easy. There is nothing easy about being positive about a future you have no idea will work out. But as Booker mentioned, I'm a result of my family's struggle. So I'm sure in the past there were times my family weren't sure about the future either BUT they pushed on for me, my cousins and siblings. And for our children and so on. My ancestors, grandparents and parents definitely struggled to get me to where I am today. But now I need to struggle to get me the rest of the way.

The Tassel is worth the Hassle. And because of the "Conspiracy of Love", I'm sure I will find my own version of success and continue to make my family proud.  Thank You Cory Booker, for giving me some perspective.