On Thursday at 1 PM, Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman gave an inspiring convocation at the Johnson Theater.
Because of Andy Beshear’s trip to South Korea and Japan, Coleman visited GSP Murray and shared her perspective on being a high-ranking state government official. Coleman stated that in order to be successful, one should find something they are passionate about, build a network in that area, and be willing to step out and take the lead on that issue. For her, this meant fighting for better public education for all Kentuckians as the highest elected teacher in Kentucky.
Coleman was “shocked” when Beshear asked her to run with him, but he was inspired by the fact that “losing her election didn’t deter her from what she believed in” and that she “never stopped.” Coleman ran for a position in the State House in 2014, but despite coming up short, she continually persevered. When speaking on her loss, she stated, “I didn’t let it defeat me. I let it define me instead.”
Before becoming a Lieutenant Governor, Coleman was an educator, a basketball coach, and a high school assistant principal. Her background in rural Mercer County gives her a unique perspective in a room full of state legislators and officials, and she values the education of each and every student in both urban and rural areas. Coleman told all the scholars repeatedly that even though it is natural to question whether or not you belong in a room with highly accomplished people, “you belong.”
Her main message to the scholars was centered around the idea of every individual’s unique path to success. “Success is not a straight line,” she says. “It’s a zig zag.”
Coleman also gave advice to the scholars on how to persevere through the hardships they face and trust in their own journeys. “Do the right thing and you’ll end up where you’re supposed to be,” she said. “Everyone has a different path, and you will belong when you get there.”
For many scholars, Lieutenant Governor Coleman represented a visualization of their own paths to leadership. Her discussion on a journey to success and leadership encouraged the GSP community to follow their passions and lead by example in the future.
Ready for some more inspiring articles? Find your next one below!
Leave a Reply