To celebrate 901 Day, Memphis-Shelby County Schools today released the joyful anthem “See the Future.” 

Harper Willis, a third-grader at Parkway Village Elementary School, and Jade Mitchell, a seventh-grader at Colonial Middle School, are the lead vocalists on the song, a testament to the importance and strength of arts education in Memphis. They are joined by MSCS students from more than a dozen schools who compose the local performing arts group Perfecting Gifts Incorporated. 

“Hearing our students sing ‘I see the future’ and, more importantly, ‘I am the future,’ is a beautiful reminder of our duty to protect and enhance their futures,” said Superintendent Toni Williams. “This song captures the spirit of welcoming new horizons and embraces our 2023-24 school year theme – ‘See the Future.’ ” 

The song was written by gospel artist and MSCS Internal Communications Specialist Julian Cross and filmed by MSCS Broadcast Production Associate Khalil Downey. Hamilton High alumna Sharonda Mitchell, who leads Perfecting Gifts Incorporated, teamed up with Downey and Cross to bring to life the vision of the MSCS Communications Department. 

" ‘See the Future’ represents more than just a song; it's a celebration of optimism and boundless potential,” said Cross. “We’ve faced a lot as a city this year, but we’ve faced it together. This joyful anthem is a reminder to continue striving and to look forward with hope.”

The song is available on all MSCS social media platforms. Listeners are encouraged to engage by posting the hashtag #SeeTheFutureMSCS and share their hopes and vision for the 901.