House Resolution 37

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. WILLIE TOWNSEND UPON EARNING HIS HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA.

WHEREAS, sometimes life deals us a hand that often leads to reactionary and regrettable decisions, but the best thing about life is that, on occasion, it gives us an opportunity to revisit those very decisions and provide a chance of redemption; and

WHEREAS, for 58-year-old Capitol Facilities' maintenance superintendent, Willie Townsend, that redemption came in the form of returning to school to complete his high school education 40 years after having made the decision at the age of 18 to drop out of school during his senior year at Loyd Star Attendance Center; and

WHEREAS, for Mr. Townsend, the dream of becoming a high school graduate recently became a reality after two years of hard work at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, which culminated in the receipt of his High School Equivalency Diploma, as an early graduate from the college's program; and

WHEREAS, having witnessed each of his six brothers and one sister graduate from high school, Mr. Townsend's frustration abounded, especially when he reflected upon his impatience to graduate over one credit, and he was determined to remedy that frustration with the only antidote possible, to go back to school; and

WHEREAS, navigating the work-school balance after working at a Brookhaven lumberyard for nearly 40 years, and raising a family with a wife and three children, all of whom attended and graduated from Loyd Star, and two of whom endeavored in further collegiate studies, Mr. Townsend immersed himself in his adult literacy studies, applying the same level of discipline he required of his children for good grades and a nonnegotiable graduation requirement to himself, twice a week, every week for two years; and

WHEREAS, driven by a rekindled desire to succeed, Mr. Townsend persevered to accomplish his lifelong dream of holding his very own high school diploma or its equivalent, even when questioned by family and friends who failed to comprehend his need to do so; and

WHEREAS, not only did the determined Mr. Townsend prove his doubters wrong, he did so in a truly exceptional fashion, by finishing the program ahead of course and joining 17 other equally zealous peers to take the stage at Co-Lin for an early commencement exercise; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Townsend's success has ignited a passion for even more learning and credentialing, as he has avowed to return to Co-Lin to enroll in a welding course to earn his certification, which he plans to put into use as a side job after he retires, since he can not imagine himself sitting at home and not working; and

WHEREAS, the success stories, likened to that of Mr. Townsend, are the reasons our state community colleges rank among the best in the nation, because of their efforts to promote adult education and workforce training to ensure the longevity of programs to produce and educate a highly-skilled workforce; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize the diligence and determination of our citizens to seek better educational and employment outcomes for themselves and their families, as evidenced in the accomplishments of Mr. Willie Townsend:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Willie Townsend upon earning his High School Equivalency Diploma and extend to him best wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Willie Townsend and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.