SANFORD, NC – Southern Lee High School students involved in business, finance, and leadership groups got the opportunity to hear from the state’s Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall, as she visited the school to discuss her job duties and overcoming life’s challenges.
Secretary Marshall discussed the challenges of her office, including the many different areas of governmental oversight and support services that she supervises with students. Students heard about the secretary’s responsibilities for business incorporation, notary and financial services licensure, and trademark/intellectual property protection.
Gabriel Jastzabski, a junior at Southern Lee in the school’s JROTC program, was surprised a just how much the Secretary’s office handles for citizens. “It was cool to see the counterfeit and trademark impersonating packages. It is crazy to see the knockoff-brand hats and jerseys.” He was surprised to see some of the CBD gummy packaging the Secretary discussed as well, impersonating various candy and snack brands. “I had no idea that it would be her job to try and find that kind of stuff and get rid of it."
Marshall is no stranger to Lee County, having served as the State Senator for the County when she served then District 15 from 1993-1994. “These kinds of visits help me to get a feel for what their life is like,” the Secretary explained. “I get to talk to the teachers and students, and learn about their challenges. I think it is just important to stay in contact with the people.”
Secretary Marshall credited the home economics class and 4-H Club with helping provide the foundation she needed to reach one of the top elected offices in the State of North Carolina. “Home economics prepared me for just about everything in life, that and 4-H (club). Public speaking, leadership skills, all those kinds of things, have been the building blocks to where I am today.”
“I asked her a question about leadership, and I just took away that to be a good leader you really have to care for the people you are leading,” explained Jastzabski. “She really is just a people’s person. You can just see how much she cares for people, and she is serving the people.”
Marshall summed up what she hoped students took away from her conversation by stating, “I hope they realize that they are going to find obstacles in their lives. They need to have a good attitude about it and turn it into a learning moment for them to do better without letting it beat them down.” Marshall continued, “I see a lot of people in life that are frustrated because they never achieve what they thought they would achieve. That is pretty depressing, especially when they are talented people. If we can talk to teenagers and hopefully prepare them to realize that they can achieve things, life is going to be frustrating, but you can endure.”
Sophomore Greyson Matthews, vice president of Southern Lee’s FCCLA who will run for statewide office in the club in February, was eager to hear from the first female to be elected to a statewide executive office in North Carolina. “Hearing about what she did and knowing how much effort she puts behind everything she does was really inspiring to me.” She interjected, “I learned I should just keep going with the things that I want to pursue, because she did that even when people doubted her. She did not let it get to her.”