Drawing on his experiences in the Mississippi Legislature and quoting from scripture, State Sen. Kelvin Butler urged young people to never give up on their dreams and to “look outside the box” for career choices.
Speaking to about 200 young people and adults during the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Mississippi’s seventh annual Smart Moves banquet Thursday night, Butler combined elements of a church sermon and a stump speech that at times drew applause and verbal responses.
Drawing on his experience of running for office, Butler said he ran several times before getting elected to the Senate, adding that during his quest many people tried to discourage him.
“You can’t give up on your dreams,” he told the young people in the audience. “You’ll have friends who will tell you that you can’t do what you want to do, but don’t believe them. You’ve got to believe it.
“God has something planned for you — don’t give it up,” he said.
Butler said being in the Senate has enabled him and his colleagues to see the best in the state’s youth.
“We’re in a position to see our young people make a positive contribution on a regular basis,” he said.
He urged parents and adults in the audience to be more involved in children’s lives, adding, “we can be a positive influence in our young people’s lives.”
Butler said he has always heard positive comments about young people from Mississippi wherever he goes, adding that the people talk about the youths’ willingness to work and their positive attitudes.
He attributed the young people’s attitudes to the influence of teachers, families and churches.
“You are raising some super children,” he said.
Butler urged the young people to look beyond traditional jobs when they make career choices and consider jobs in technical fields such as computer and data systems, software engineering and forensic science.
The training for all these fields is available at Mississippi’s colleges, universities, community colleges and technical schools.
“If you go to school in the state, you will avoid paying the out-of-state fees that schools in other states charge and you’ll be closer to home,” he said.
And once they graduate and became successful, Butler told the group, “Look back, and don’t forget to reach back and help someone else up the ladder.”
Butler’s speech was one of several delivered during the banquet, which included the combined members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pike and Walthall counties.
Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Mississippi Executive Director Randy Tate said the banquet was the first time the two groups held an annual dinner.
Tate commended the parents and organization sponsors, adding, “You are the ones who make it go for us.”
The clubs also honored several young people and adults during the program:
• Tylertown: Kourtne Thomas, age 13 to 18 youth of the year; Tevin Jackson, age 10 to 12 youth of the year; Chardarius Faulk, age 6 to 9 youth of the year; Debra Jackson, parent of the year; Shondelon Dillon and Julia Bond, parent service awards; and Barbara Peters, staff member of the year.
• Pike County: ShaQuetha Lewis, age 13 to 18 youth of the year; Elijah Brown, age 10 to 12 youth of the year; Donovan Ramos, age 6 to 9 youth of the year; Angie Dorman, staff member of the year.
