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Top McMullen County ISD graduate recalls personal victory over bullying


Posted Date: 06/12/2018

Top McMullen County ISD graduate recalls personal victory over bullying

Typically, when valedictorians speak before their classmates, they recall those who helped them to realize success in their academic endeavors. So it was no secret that when McMullen County Independent School District’s (ISD) Class of 2018 top-student Charlsie Harris was going to speak during the district’s June 1 commencement, she would be sure to mention the man whom she portrayed on role model day – her father, district agriculture teacher Jim Harris.

“I have never said this out loud, but I can proudly admit today that I am, and always will be, a total daddy’s girl,” the younger Harris said as she choked up. “Thank you for being almost as big a fan as Mom, although she’s got you beat in expressing her excitement with 16 different emojis over text.”

Charlsie, who is poised to begin her next chapter in life as a Texas A&M University Aggie, recalled how her father constantly encouraged her and nudged Charlsie to do her best and to finish assignments on time. But perhaps his guidance mattered most when it came to helping Charlsie when she was being bullied in junior high school.

Looking at Jim Harris, who was seated in the audience, Charlsie said, “Do you remember what you told me every single day back when I was getting bullied?” she asked. “You said, ‘You are a valuable, important human being, and you matter.’ That really stuck with me. And I want to let you know, Dad, that youare a valuable, important human being, and you matter.”

In addition to 18 seniors, there were 22 eighth-grade students also graduating, who will return next year as high school freshmen. Valedictorian for the junior high was Charity Harris and the salutatorian was Caina Sneed.

Perhaps just as memorable as the valedictory address given by Charlsie Harris was the message delivered by guest speaker Jacky Stephenson, pastor of the Christian Faith Center in Dilley. Stephenson, a Tilden resident of 21 years, said he felt led by God to share his personal testimony of how he was delivered from a life of hard partying and drug abuse when he was in the professional rodeo circuit, where he competed alongside his dad, “Cactus Jack” Stephenson.

“If my dad would’ve killed me, it would’ve been justifiable homicide,” the younger Stephenson said. “Thank God he didn’t. He was a Godly man, a praying man.”

Stephenson recalled a time when he had come in off the road and felt the call of God on his life 21 years ago.

“I tried living the first 33 years of my life without God,” he said. “Let me tell you, the last 21 have been much, much better.”

Stephenson encouraged each of the students to choose to involve God in their lives.

During her speech, salutatorian Marissa Magouirk spoke of how fortunate she was to have graduated from a school where there were so many helpful teachers and staff members. 

“To the teachers, I hope that someday you will see the fruits of your labor,” she said. “Principal (Joe) Timms and Superintendent (Jason) Jones have both said this statement and it stuck with me: ‘Artists, Architects, and almost every other kind of worker gets to see the end result. They can plant the seed and watch it grow. Teachers don’t get this luxury. They may plant the seed and/or help it grow, but they never get to see the end result.’

 “So I hope that one day you will be able to see how much we’ve grown and prospered.”