I'm all in, I'm in the second half of life, just crossed over 50 two years ago.

When I look at where I was in Cabarrus County, Tier 1, mom, dad didn't go to college, but they understood the importance of a college.

And I was gonna go to college, whether I liked it or not.

Had to get a scholarship in order to do it.

Not only did I get an academic scholarship by way of North Carolina Central University, so proud of that, full ride, my brother and my sister did as well.

Not only did we get our undergraduate degree at North Carolina Central University, all of us got academic scholarships.

But we doubled down, we doubled down the UNC system.

My brother and I got our law degree at Chapel Hill.

My sister got her medical degree at ECU.

You are looking at a product times two of the UNC system.

So for Peter Hans to have the faith in me to say, "Darrell, I think you could do the job here at Fayetteville State University."

For the board of governors to have the faith in me to say, "Darrell, we think you could do the job here," let me tell you, I'm not gonna let them down.

But personally, to be in the second half of life, to think about where I was 30 years ago, I see myself in these students, whether it be traditional age or adult learners.

And we're gonna give it all we got.

And so every day is with purpose and intentionality, because of the uniqueness and the need to make sure that if we are doing everything we can in these four years for these students, man, the trajectory is high.

And I just know what it did for me and I know what it's gonna do for these students here.

And it's deeply personal.