Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 13, 1994 TAG: 9408150053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: STAUNTON LENGTH: Medium
James, speaking to nearly 200 youth at the Summer Youth Employment and Training Institute's commencement ceremony, said a difficult upbringing or bad schools are no excuse for failure to excel.
``I want you to go back to school this fall and take your education. Look at algebra and say, `In your face!''' she said.
The same goes for life after school, she added. ``I don't want to hear that there are no jobs out there.''
James, chairwoman of the Governor's Commission on Citizen Empowerment, Gov. George Allen's welfare reform initiative, told her audience they must be responsible for their own actions.
``There is not one victim in this room, and don't let anyone treat you that way. You tell them you are a survivor of it, and you've had an attitude adjustment,'' she said.
James told the group that she had been raised in the projects by a welfare mother and abusive alcoholic father. She said she got an ``attitude adjustment'' from her mother.
``I have one simple message to give to you today,'' she said. ``The message I want you to know is it can happen. It can and does happen for people like you and me. We can run this obstacle course called America and win.''
The institute brings together students from across the state who are enrolled in the Summer Youth Employment and Training Program.
During the week, young people had an opportunity to develop career and educational plans and to meet with professionals who showed them how to realize their goals.
by CNB