Alabama State University welcomed its 2024-25 incoming freshman class and transfer students with a powerful message, “Embracing Change,” during the annual freshman convocation held in the Ralph David Abernathy Hall Auditorium on Aug. 29.
The event, which began at 11 a.m., featured a keynote address by one of Montgomery’s local public high school (Percy Julian High School) principals, Ibrahim Lee, a proud alumnus, who delivered an electrifying message that seemed to deeply resonate with the audience.
Lee began his speech by paying tribute to the university’s rich legacy and its significance in his own life.
“I give honor to God. I give honor to this place, this historical place,” Lee said. “I need you to know that it’s no accident that you’re here at Alabama State University. I need you to know that regardless of how you made it here, whether it was on purpose or whether it was not, say ‘Thank you, Lord, I’m here.’ You’re here because you’re supposed to be here.”
Lee also emphasized the unique opportunities that are afforded to students who attend the university.
“You might not see it from the dorms,” he said. “You may not see it from the different things that you usually like. I’m a native of Montgomery. I could have gone anywhere else, but I chose ASU. But, I am so glad that I did. And so, I need you to take this seriously.”
Lee continued to highlight that success is often about being in the right place at the right time.
“In life, there are going to be some opportunities that have nothing to do with your education,” Lee said. “It has nothing to do with how you look. It has nothing to do with your smarts, but it has everything to do with the fact that you’re at the right place, at the right time. And so, for some of you, I need you to make it a point that it’s not that somebody made me be here. I’m going because it’s going to be the right place and the right time. And there are a lot of people that can just pick you because you’re in the house.”
Addressing the challenges many students face, Lee offered a message of resilience.
“Somebody said you weren’t going to make it,” Lee said. “Some of you are the first in your family. Some of you in this room have gone through hell and back. But I promise you, everything that you have gone through has been just for this moment, and you ought to give yourselves a big round of applause and say, ‘I made it!’ Pat yourself on the back right now, and say, ‘I made it, I made it. It’s me.’ I don’t care what they say about you. They talk about me all the time. But, let me give you a saying that I go by: ‘Haters make you greater.‘“
He continued.
“College is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. You’re going to have to take the time and talk to your teachers. I would never sit in school this whole time and repeat what happened in public schools. Talk to your teachers. If you don’t understand, say something. If they have office hours—guess what? Go to those office hours. Because when a teacher sees that you care about your education, they’re going to go a little bit farther. But if you never email, if you never call, take advantage of those opportunities and say, ‘I need help.’”
Students responded enthusiastically to Lee’s message.
“I think it was very informational and inspiring,” Kennedy Horton, a freshman communications major, shared. “It makes you want to do more with your life. I feel like it’s a good stepping stone for all of us.”
Indya Joiner, a freshman theater major, found the convocation “amazing” and “very, very informative.” She noted how Lee’s emphasis on the importance of the sayings and lessons they grew up with resonated with her.
“I feel as if they are focusing on the fact that this is a new challenge for us, and they’re trying to help us through it,” Joiner said. “And I do value that.”
The impact of the convocation was also felt by Elizabeth Gray, a freshman biology major, who said, “It really spoke to me in ways that I couldn’t imagine. And it told me not to give up in college and just to keep going.”
She particularly appreciated Lee’s delivery.
“He was really good,” Gray said. “He was really giving it like it was church, and I liked that for real. I just hope that we’re able to build our own because he already said we are the best generation. I hope we build something out of this and really give something back to the world that we need to give.”
Jaseona Cooper, another freshman biology major, found Lee to be “very uplifting and very motivational.”
“I really hope people actually listened to what he said, take it in and actually use what he said to better themselves,” Cooper said.
Lee closed his speech by urging students to seize the opportunities before them.
“Some of you have already made it just by getting away from where you come from,” he said. “Some of you already have the blessing to change this world, but you can’t let a setback stop you. Some of you are just two more steps towards the next destination.”
Lee referred to a story from a book he read, where a character named Joshua was tasked with conquering the land. In the story, Joshua was feeling sad and spoke to God, who questioned why Joshua was crying over past events. God reminded Joshua that the land had already been given to him, and it was his responsibility to take it. Lee emphasized that just as Joshua was encouraged to take the land, the same principle applies to pursuing success in business and honor.
“Your parents have already brought you here. Now, it’s time to take the land,” he said. “Take the land of business. Take the land of honor. Take the land and everything that you’re doing. And I promise you, this change is going to be good.”