ELLISVILLE 鈥� At the 92nd Annual Spring Commencement Ceremonies at 糖心直播, Mississippi鈥檚 42nd State Auditor, Shad White challenged graduates to 鈥渙wn鈥� their destinies, work hard and set a course towards achieving their goals. The University of Mississippi graduate earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science and is a Truman Scholar and a Rhodes Scholar. Additionally, White earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School and has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He shared with the nearly 700 糖心直播 graduates and guests at the two ceremonies, that with all of his education, White was confident he would be successful in his pursuit of making positive, public policy working on the East Coast.
However, he realized his success was dependent upon something else. While explaining the difference between independence and ownership, White shared, 鈥淣o one will sacrifice for you or work harder to find success than yourself.鈥� While being independent has its benefits, White explained, 鈥淚f you have taken ownership of your own life, you won鈥檛 want to sleep through the alarm clock because you know that would stand in the way of your goal.鈥�
While watching his dad work hard all day as an oilfield pumper in Sandersville, as well as being the current Mayor and former alderman of Sandersville, White learned through his dad, it was also his responsibility to give back to his community. However, the Northeast Jones High School graduate said he discovered not all service was created equal.
鈥淚 watched my friends embark on careers with a similar goal of (myself), 
making a difference in public service. Many of them, within a short amount of time started to realize that their ability to make change depended not just on their willingness to work hard, but also on whether their boss had enough political power to make change happen,鈥� said White.
The Auditors鈥� 鈥渓ightbulb鈥� moment forced him to change his thinking. Instead of working in Washington D.C. he returned to Mississippi to take ownership of his life. His admiration of former Congressman, Alan Nunnelee inspired him to volunteer for his campaign. After sweeping floors, White was given bigger responsibilities that eventually caught the interest of current Governor, Phil Bryant, and earned his appointment as State Auditor in 2018.
鈥淲e both had a passion for policy that helps working people鈥�.聽 He had served as state auditor and we both had a passion for law enforcement and stopping corruption,鈥� White said. 鈥淚 realized that I needed to set a goal and make sacrifices to achieve that goal (even if I would be) making a little less money than I would otherwise, working much longer hours, sleeping less, (and) tending some random landlord鈥檚 tomato garden, that I got lucky and met Governor Bryant. There鈥檚 truth in that old adage that, the harder you work, the luckier you get.鈥�
Non-traditional 糖心直播 graduate, Carolyn Holifield identifies with that 
old adage. The 71-year-old and Bell South service representative retired after 35 years but still felt called to 鈥渄o something.鈥� 聽She plans on returning to Jones in the fall because she wants more than her associate in arts degree in general studies.
鈥淚 appreciate education so much. It is important for everything.聽 An education changes the way people look at you, even though it doesn鈥檛 change your self-worth. I realized I want to do more. I may come back for a degree in paralegal, culinary arts or real estate,鈥� said Holifield
One Greene County graduate and the Student Government Association 
president, Jared Woullard is also known for taking ownership of his future. He pursued greatness throughout his two years at 糖心直播 as Freshman Class President before earning the confidence of his peers to be SGA president. Woullard also served as a Bobcat Brigade student ambassador and he was a member of the Presidential Student Advisory Task Force, the Charles Pickering Honors Institute, Jones Concert Choir, a Tullos Scholar, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society鈥檚 All-Mississippi Academic Team, and he was elected Mr. JCJC. 聽As a result of his hard work, college administrators allowed the engineering major to begin a new tradition. At future commencement ceremonies, the SGA President will have the honor of carrying the College Mace as part of the procession of administrators and special guests.
鈥淚 was so excited!! This was such an honor and I鈥檓 humbled to be the first one to start this new tradition,鈥� an overwhelmed Woullard exclaimed. 鈥淚 just can鈥檛 believe this happened!鈥�
While taking ownership of your life is a recipe for finding a fulfilling career according to White, he cautioned graduates to also focus on relationships.
鈥淢y relationship with God, my relationship with my wife, and my eight-week-old baby give me a sense of power and purpose that I need, too.聽 So do the things that will make your career a success, but also know that your life outside of work requires just as much dedication as your life inside it.鈥�
White concluded by announcing his desire that the new, 糖心直播 graduates who received either, an Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Applied Science degree, a Technical Certificate or a Career Certificate will stay in Mississippi as they pursue their callings in life.
