A Blueprint for Life

In October 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to students at Barratt Junior High School, urging them to build their lives with a solid blueprint. He asked, "What is your life’s blueprint?" Just as a building requires an architect's careful plan, each of us must construct our lives with intention.

First, believe deeply in your dignity and worth. No one should make you feel insignificant—your life has ultimate value.

Second, pursue excellence. Whatever your life’s work, whether large or small, commit to doing it with unmatched dedication. Dr. King encouraged us to follow the wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "If a man can write a better book or make a better mousetrap, the world will make a beaten path to his door." Doors of opportunity are opening to us—be ready.

Lastly, embrace your work with the mindset that it is a calling. Dr. King famously said, 

“If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted, like Beethoven composed music, like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep so well that all of heaven will pause and say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'"

If you can’t be a tree, be a bush. If you can’t be the sun, be a star. Whatever you are, be the best version of it.