By Victor ayemobuwa, Treasurer
Thank you, thank you very kindly, my friends and fellow students. I must say un-feigned, that our journey together has been beyond incredible, I always make a joke, that you know you’ve been in college too long when your parents start running out of money, which happens to be reality for many of us. My journey with you commenced six years ago, however, our later years together have been the highlight of my entire life.
The conversations we had both in-person and virtually, to the advocacy and lobbying we did at the federal and state legislature, including the meetings, debates, and discussions, not only inspired me but also shaped me into a better leader and most importantly a better man.
There is not a greater lie in man’s existence than, “there comes a time when we have no control over the events anchored around us, that our fate is already set and sealed in stone, however, nothing could be further from the truth.”
If I had told you six years ago that “– on a Federal and state level, we would work with Legislators, both Representatives and Senators to the System and Chancellors office to achieve, student consultation, allocation of CRRSAA, health care communication, vaccination rollouts as well as have representation on the Minnesota state Law enforcement and reform task force. You might have said “delusions”. If I had told you that - our finances will now prioritize students’ interests, be transparent, empowering and provide financial education within financial management. You might have said “oh that’s impossible, or If I had said together we will write letters to the presidents on consultation, give spoken and written testimonies at the board of trustees, launch our F—k student debt campaign, revisit how Minnesota State addresses racial equity issues on campuses, and finally work with the System office to make sure equity 2030 is a reality that covers all our gamut. You might have said too ambitious, but we did all this, we fulfilled all our goals, we proved nothing is set in stone, not just the organization but yours. You did all this and so much more.
You know, I remember vividly my sophomore semester when I couldn’t afford textbooks or a three-square meal, when I lost all hope and was on the verge of quitting, yet how many of us have a similar type of story today, how many today, does college in all its charms and drudgery, becomes a perennial punishment? Now, I’m happy because we have made progress and constructed hallmarks of achievements. We didn’t twitch, instead, we stayed together, therefore our formula for success remained fundamentally the same: ”A better experience for all of us, both past, current, and future students.”
Another reason I’m happy is that this pandemic tested our valor, our deportment, and our hearts and we came out “tougher than leather” or as Lil Wayne famously said tougher than “Nigerian hair”. As I wrap up here, I want to commend my comrades, Jonathan McNicholes, a man of such extraordinary vision and ideals who has been in this fight for many years, Emma Zellmer, one of the most resilient and intelligent persons I know, David Shittu, Devin Smith, Abeer Syedah, Carlee Diggins, Samuel Wreh, my parents, Senator Gary Dahms, I could go on down the list, yet time is passing. I want to thank them and want you also to thank them for their extraordinary motivation who kept us all going.
Now, I don’t know what the future holds, or if the days ahead as we continue this fight are smooth. However, I am not worried because if our tenacity remains unshaken, and we keep our stride moving forward, aiming for high ideals. We will get to our promised land, for it has been the honor of my life to serve.
“We have not come this far just to get this far.”
Thank you once again.