Singer Asks Students to Commit to Education

Hillsborough High School received a visit from performer Melba Moore on Friday as part of a program to encourage students to commit to excellence and finish their education. 

Moore sang "Love Is," a single from her new album, "Forever Moore" and led students in reciting a pledge to commit to education, which can be found below.

Moore, who found much success in the 1970s, including a Tony Award for "Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical," also recounted to the students her own school experiences on her path to success.

The visit was made possible by TheHistoryMakers, the nation’s largest African American video oral history archive and a non-profit dedicated to recording and preserving the personal histories of well-known and unsung African Americans. 

It was part of the organization's 3rd Annual Back to School With The HistoryMakers program.

The program puts the history makers in direct contact with more than 25,000 students across the nation to tell their stories and to encourage youth to strive for excellence. 

The following is the pledge students recited with Moore:

Today, I commit to my education.  

I do so realizing that a lot is expected of me.  

I do so knowing that I will have to study and work hard.  

I do so wanting to avoid anyone and anything that will tempt me not to succeed.  

I do so in respect and honor of the HistoryMakers who have paved a way for me.  

I do so because I want to be the best that I can be.

Today, I commit to my future based on knowledge of the past.

I commit to winning, not losing. I commit to being and becoming the best that I can be.

Today, I commit my life to one of excellence.