My friend Gwendolyn graduated with high honors today.  Today she achieved a dream she has had for many years.  She's not one to rest on her laurels.  She's now working on the next one.

I met Gwendolyn a few years ago at church.  She had just moved to Miami from Trinidad & Tobago.  I would see her walking to church with a smile on her face.  Considering that almost everyone drives in Miami, that smile was worth more than most.  Gwendolyn has no car.  She takes the bus everywhere, including to the senior home where she would volunteer regularly, as well as school and work.  Anyone who has ever had to wait for a bus in the Miami heat can tell you it's no fun.  But I've never heard Gwendolyn complain about it.

Gwendolyn has 4 grown kids back home.  She misses them terribly and hopes to be able to make it home in November to see the youngest one graduate.  She's a proud Momma.  Today the kids were the ones full of pride.  They were not here in Miami to see her graduate.  She has no family here so she invited our Pastor and his wife, another church friend and myself to partake of this momentous occasion with her.

Two days ago Gwendolyn told me I'd have to arrive early to the commencement exercises as the President was going to be there.  "The President of what?"  I asked.  "The United States."  "Oh!  That President!  Cool.  I've never seen him in person before."  Gwendolyn would have an extra memorable graduation with the President there.  Stories to tell her kids back home.

Today I felt all giggly inside as I saw the President of our country perhaps 60 feet from me delivering the commencement speech at Miami Dade College.  I love pomp and circumstance.  I love tradition.  My eyes would sometimes drift up to the screen where I could see a bigger Mr. Bush and I would quickly remind myself to look at the real man instead as I would most likely not have this opportunity again.  He had us all laughing and applauding.  Then the President of the United States mentioned Gwen by name and my jaw dropped.  The President was speaking about my friend!  I could not believe it.  Gwendolyn embodies what this land of opportunity can mean to people who realize the value of it.  She came here with dreams.  One was to get her degree and by golly she had done it.  She busted her tail in the process but her faith never faltered and she had not given up.  President Bush was speaking of Gwen.  Now that was a story to tell your grandkids!  My chest had swelled with pride when I realized Gwen had different tassels and regalia than others because of her high honors.  Now I was about to bust hearing the President speaking of her!

If you press me real hard to relate this story to real estate it would have to be this: 

• You can have everything stacked against you and you can still make it. 
• Hard work and dedication do pay off. 
• Stay focused on your goals and you can achieve them.  My friend Gwen did.  And today the President of the United States of America acknowledged her hard work.  Wow.

I'm so proud of her!

You can read the President's speech here.