CNN’s Abby Phillip encourages Bowie State graduates to expect, weather adversity  

By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor

Cable network anchor and Bowie High School graduate Abby Phillip reminded Bowie State University winter graduates Dec. 23 of the power of failure in life.

Phillip, anchor of “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip,” a Harvard graduate and a member of Bowie’s 2006 class, told the 405 graduates that the road to success is filled with redirection, difficulties and unavoidable pain. But even with life’s many obstacles, she assured the graduates, what is meant for you will come. 

“There has been nothing that was meant  for me that I did not receive or was given to someone else,” Phillip declared.  

Phillip cautioned students that “successful people have a high tolerance for adversity, for discomfort, for unhappiness, even,” as she recounted experiences in college and her career that were filled with rejection and experiences where she did not fit in. 

“I wish that someone had told me that bad things are going to happen to you. But the real question is, what do you do when that happens,” Phillip said.  

Phillip shared with graduates of the Maryland HBCU and their parents that it took her years to figure out that rejections are part of life, even when they are based on “unfairness.”  

 “There can be trauma associated with rejection, being left out, especially when you think there is unfairness at play,” Phillip said. 

“We have to start training our minds and our hearts to see the messages in rejection knowing that we can triumph over it. Sometimes we have to hear a loud and resounding ‘no’ in order to fight for yourself.”

The university’s winter graduation included a surprising 2023 fine arts graduate: Myles Frost, who won a Tony in 2022 for his portrayal of music icon Michael Jackson in “MJ the Musical.”  Frost entered the stage shouting out  ”We graduating baby” to his classmates before belting out a rendition of “Enjoy Yourself,” originally performed by the Jackson 5 in 1976. 

Frost ended his graduation appearance with a touching tribute to his 90-year-old grandmother, Hattie Strayhorn, who he said “is still walking and talking with style and grace.” Frost gave his grandmother flowers when she walked to the stage, assisted by his mother, Charmaine Strayhorn. 

Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux said Frost demonstrated “good character to pursue his hopes and dreams (on Broadway) while getting his education and being awarded his degree today.”  

The themes of family and resilience were woven throughout the Bowie State ceremony, which also highlighted five doctoral level graduates in computer science and educational leadership, as the institution is focused on moving toward a Carnegie Research Level II institution. 

Antuan Terrell Jemerson Sr., a newly minted graduate in business administration, personified the theme of resilience.  The Upper Marlboro, Md. business marketing major started his degree program in the 1990s and returned to BSU in 2021 after his son suggested he come back to the college classroom. 

“My kids are here; my son inspired me to come back to school. Today feels great, it’s exhilarating, I’m proud. Overall it feels amazing,” Jemerson said. 

Following the ceremony, Phillip expressed joy at addressing an audience “at home” in Bowie. In many ways, she said, she’d never left.

She also summed up the importance of the day and the occasion of an HBCU graduation ceremony.

“There would not be a Black middle class without HBCUs and this is so important,” she said. “HBCUs carry on the legacy of many in this country.” 

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