Highlights From Wayne Hopkins' Keynote Speech to the Upper School

Additional Links:
School News
Back to Front Page

"Some 28 years ago I walked through the doors of this place downtown called 'The Lower School,' and my mom told me I was starting this thing called 'Primer.' Well, it was a fun day, I got to do some fun stuff like writing and drawing; I got to talk and sing a little bit, and I even got to slide down this giant sliding board! I thought to myself, 'Hey, this school thing is nice! What a great place to visit!'

"Well, little did I know that the next day I would be going back, and the next day after that, and the next day, and so on. That fun-filled day was the beginning of a lifetime of learning, and that day is one I will always cherish. That sunny day in downtown Greenville remains memorable and special to me today primarily because many of the faces I saw that day are still a part of the school community nearly three decades later....

"When Headmaster Lee Cox asked me last year about returning home to be the keynote speaker for Career Day, I was both honored and shocked. Naturally, it's an honor any time I get to come home to Greenville and visit a place I love so dearly. The shock was more because I knew of the illustrious careers that have been achieved by many of my classmates and colleagues. I wondered what I would be able to say that would make sense to a student body that is at the very forefront of education and technology....

"I can recall being in the Lower School, and being...made aware early on that we were being prepared to develop careers that would have wider ranges than the confines and the comforts of home....I have always considered it a privilege that my school was a place where we could all come together to watch the life-changing events that have shaped the nation and our world...."

Commenting on the fact that students never know what will come in handy from their educations here, Wayne noted:

"Thanks to Mrs. Nancy Baker's typing class, I was able to do about 90 words per minute when I graduated. This was no small effort on a 50-lb. typewriter! Still, it all came in handy when I got to Hollywood. They needed someone who could type scripts at lightning speed, and thank God I was prepared!

"Yes, I have enjoyed the limousines, the movie premieres and the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown. I have been able to shake hands with Will Smith and get a hug from Oscar winner Halle Berry. (Yes, you may applaud.) I set a goal for myself to become a producer, and I was able to achieve that. If it had not been for Mrs. Molly Hoffman's plays and musicals, many of my talents might have been left undeveloped....

"My final words to you will be simple. While you are here at CCES, you have the greatest opportunity in the world to shape your own future. You are learning how to learn, and that's a skill that will guarantee that your career will be your creation and not your prison.

"First, exploit your teachers--bug them to death! Ask them questions every day! They have a combined 1,700 years of experience, seen it all, and done even more. Ask them anything you think may be helpful or relevant in your quest for knowledge.

"Next, you must honor your parents. They are making great sacrifices of time, finances and support for you. While I'm sure your parents would love a big, fat check to reimburse them for all they've paid out over the years, the best way to repay them is with your success.

"Finally, my advice to the students of CCES, especially the graduating seniors, is this: get out of here! Go as far as you can, and allow God to show you the great and wonderful things he has promised. You may not understand everything right away, but you will always be guaranteed success if you are willing to learn and remain at all times a student of life."

Note: Wayne Hopkins resides in Burbank, California, where he is currently pursuing a Master of Theology degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. He has spent most of his career in the entertainment industry as a freelance producer for television and as the writer/producer of the award-winning independent film American Temp. With a B.A. in communications and music from Ithaca College, Wayne has demonstrated his musical talent in his church, as an organist, and in the community, as a jazz musician.