Within the next three weeks at locations all around Georgia, the amazing result of 12 years of planning, research, and development will be unveiled. This accomplishment, over the course of the next 5 decades, will have an enormous economic impact of more than 6 trillion dollars on our state. The best part of this creation is that it's made locally. In just a few days, over 116,000 Georgia high school students will walk across the stage and claim their diploma. It might surprise you to learn that the Southern Region of the United States, by far, graduates more high school students than any other region in this country. Of that commanding number, surveys show that 68 percent of male graduates and 46 percent of female graduates either remain in, or return to, their hometown within ten years of graduation to settle down. That is an important fact to every Georgia community, especially the rural ones, like us. This year, the Georgia Department of Education presented each senior with a book on financial literacy. This book which was written and donated by a certified financial planner shows how following a 70/20/10 formula for earning, saving and charitable giving can result in the accumulation of a very impressive six figure retirement account when the time comes. It also shows how to maintain a pretty comfortable lifestyle while you're getting to that retirement. The amazing thing is that this formula is based on real-world, conservative figures of paychecks and living expenses over a working career.
That is useful information, but to a 17 or 18 year old who is about to move into the week of graduation, a discussion of numbers and statistics is really missing the point. Graduation is like a kaleidoscope, completely wrapped up in emotion and wonderment. Traditionally, it is considered to be one of the most important opportunities of all the milestone occasions of life. It's a running leap across the ravine that sets us on a new path. It's a time when we say goodbye, leave some things behind, and face the” grown-up responsibility” of good judgement and personal choice. It is a time when the world might look new and exciting, but that old familiar face in the mirror says, “hey, hold on, don’t forget about me.” Graduation is a test, but there are no grades. You have to decide and score that for yourself. You can be sure that there will be times ahead when life makes you face some difficult circumstances. In those times, just make sure you listen to that clear, steady voice of your amazing 12-year journey, and listen to all those teachers, parents, grandparents and others who helped you along the way and who are so tremendously proud of you now. Listen to that when you walk across the stage and wherever you may walk after that. Congratulations to all our graduates, DEA, ECI and Swainsboro High School. Be proud of yourself, and remember; you are the best thing made locally. . . right here at home.
