In January of 1992, I spoke to the faculty and student body at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss. Back in 1943, as a 16-year-old, I attended the school and took a course in history under Coach Joby Harris that had a profound impact on my life. I was speaking that day and later that evening to a community group in an effort to raise funds to establish “The Joby and Jim El Harris Scholarship Fund.”
The auditorium was packed, and people were standing at the back and along the sides of the room. I noticed there were seven vacant seats on the front row and five empty seats on the second row. After a few moments, I pointed out the empty seats and encouraged them to “come on down.”
No one moved. Then I said: “I wish I could lift those seats and take them back to you, but I’m not strong enough to do that, and I’ve an idea the administration would be visibly upset if I could and did. However, I want to point out that all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other about 20 times and you will have a front-row seat.
“On the second row those five empty seats are in the middle, and you will have to climb over three or four people to get to them. However,” I said, “that’s the way life is. Opportunity seldom comes to you. You have to go to it. In most cases, there are obstacles standing between you and those opportunities in life, but I just want you to know that front-row seats are available everywhere. There is plenty of room at the top — but not enough room to sit down.”
Message: Remember — front-row seats are available, but you must step up and claim them. So take those steps, and I will see you at the top!
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