Sole Adekoya gives the keynote address at St. Mary's Women and Children's Center graduation ceremony. She shares her story of immigrating from Nigeria for better opportunities but facing homelessness due to domestic violence. She persevered and earned two doctorate degrees. She praises St. Mary's Center for providing loved, care, and essential resources to help families thrive. The Center helped her recover from an assault by sending cards and support. She encourages the graduates to pursue their dreams and passions through education and to always treat others with kindness.

1. *Sole Adekoya(June 15,2016). “Always-Forever”Beinganaddress atSt. Mary’s Womenand ChildrenCenter.
Always-Forever*
Good afternoon to all! I applaud today’s graduates. Congratulations!
My name is Sole Adekoya. I emigrated from Nigeria over two decades ago to join
avalanches of nationals worldwide to embrace the ‘American Dream.’ I am the first born
of four kids. Culturally, it is my duty to cater to my three siblings and my parents. Hence,
I sought and found a safe haven in the United States– the land of the free and the brave.
What brings me to St. Mary’s Center?
I am your mailman, a letter carrier, and I love St. Mary’s Center. Later, I will tell you
why.
What brings us together this afternoon?
Education brings us together.
This afternoon, we are celebrating ‘learning,’ ‘knowledge,’ and ‘information.’ We are
celebrating the love of learning. We come together this afternoon, to honor “the
transforming miracle of education.” We also are celebrating the ‘Community spirit,’ of
St. Mary’s Center.

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The graduates—you—you are the sown seeds of St. Mary’s Center. Today marks the
celebration of these flowers – the graduates. We celebrate your tenacity toward
educational success.We are celebrating your, “Will not quit” determination and pushing
forward to witness this day.
Graduates you have just started growing as nurtured seeds, and you will continue to live
out “the miracles of education” offered freely to you by this Center.
My message to you is– “You’re not alone.” You’re not alone.”
I have been down. I feel what you feel. I was once homeless as a result of domestic
violence. I became a punching bag at home. So I left home, but I didn’t quit. I was
homeless for three years.
First, I went to 400 Harrison Street. Then, I was at Father Bills in Quincy. While at
Father Bills, I was a doctoralstudent. I finished writing my doctoratethesis at a place,
very unconducive to learning. It was not easy for me, but an experience I will never
forget.
One thing that kept me going was the love and care the staff showered on me. So, we
have that in common as well as shared experiences. I feel the way you feel, but I will not

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quit. In fact, today, I stand before you with TWO doctoratedegrees, because I did not
quit!
All Homeless Shelters offer food and a place to sleep. It’s different here. St. Mary’s
Center is unique in providing all of life’s essentials as if you’re in your personal home. I
say, ‘all,’ that is, the Center cares for you, nurtures, and more importantly, loves you –
each and every one of you—moms, teens, and children.
St. Mary’s Center builds a foundation for life. St. Mary’s builds families, communities,
cities, nations and of course, a ‘world’ on a solid foundation so families can be safe,
stable and thrive for their whole lives. Better still, St. Mary’s Center is building a
groundwork for a peaceful world where love flourishes, blooms, and blossoms.
Earlier this month, I took a tour of the Center. I saw a place for children where for the
first in their lives, they feel loved, nurtured, and safe. These innocent children go to bed
at night knowing that no one’s going to hurt or harm them. I saw the Center offering and
helping families along their life journey to self-sufficiency.

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The Center helps and cares for little kids who suffered from unspeakable abuse, learning
disabled and homeless women toward high-school equivalency degrees; and set up
family shelters that provide safe harbor from domestic violence.
Personally, I benefited from the love and care of St. Mary’s Center. And now, I want to
share with you why St. Mary’s is special to me. The Center helped me out of a dire
situation. I was assaulted by four people on the street while I was delivering mail--
serving the community. While I was in the hospital, St. Mary’s sent me greeting and get-
well cards. Cards of support. The children sent me artwork. All these kind gestures
supported and helped me recuperate, and with the healing process still today. Thank you!
Thank you!! Thank you!!!
I must tell you that being with you today is giving hope and energy to face my next
surgery. I will be forever grateful to this Center and the entire Jones Hill community.
Honestly, you can feel the love radiating and hanging around us right now, on this
occasionin this place.
More importantly, I can feel the love in your smiles – graduates, and the smiles and the
vitality of the dedicated staff. Also, I can see the love in the eyes of the little kids who

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will grow to become great – Governors, Lawyers, Law-Makers, Doctors, Engineers,
Nurses, Professors, teachers, etc.
I want you to be ‘selfish’ when it comes to education, learning, garnering knowledge and
information – read as much as possible because ‘knowledge’ is ‘power.’
Pursue your passion. Keep it forever. To me, this should be education. Always, learn how
to love others and yourself. Always learn how to respect others and yourself. This is
education.
My advice and parting message for the graduates-- I want you to dream dreams with
goals and dare to achieve these goals. Pursue what I term, the “unanswered questions.”
What is my next move? Why do I want to make the move? How do I make the move?
Reflect on the implication(s) of your moves – actions, reactions, and attitudes (towards
yourself and others). We’re defined by our choices. What are my choices and moves
going to cause me, and of course, ‘others?’
And never forget the golden rule, “Do unto others as you’ll want them to do unto you.”
Let me leave you with an assurance ‘insurance,’ “No matter how dark your days are;
there is always a brighter future.” Congratulations graduates!! Thank you.