It’s hard to really talk about important moments when you’re still in them, so I almost never do. Instead, I try to take in every detail: sounds, smells, even the smallest things like a piece of lint drifting through the air in front of me. Only afterwards do I take the time to think about it, and I’m a slow thinker. I like to process experiences over time rather than draw fast conclusions. All this being said, it’s been a few weeks since I graduated from Clayton State University with my Bachelor’s in English. Not only that, I also had the privilege of being the student commencement speaker for the previous day’s ceremony. Those two days, and even the days leading up to them, were a whirlwind of emotions that will likely take a long time to really settle in.
The first is the pride that I feel in my fellow students. We all worked tirelessly to achieve our goals. All of us struggled, and all of us faced obstacles beyond just academic ones. In spite of it all, our diligence persevered. I can say with confidence that those who walked the stage with me found passion and purpose in our time at CSU, or they are well on their way to finding it. The Class of 2025 is filled to the brim with intelligent, hard working people with the drive to accomplish anything they set their mind to, and among them are countless incredible people with plans to do real good in the world, not just earn a paycheck.
Personally, more powerfully than ever before, I also felt what it means for hard work to pay off. In my speech, I mentioned that it took me over eight years to finish my degree—that was no exaggeration. I started at CSU during my senior year of high school as a dual enrollment student. However, I only did it to get out of high school classes; I had no interest in pursuing higher education. What followed was an on-again-off-again enrollment as I figured out life and made important mistakes. When I finally decided that I would finish my degree in earnest, my GPA had plummeted, and I was multiple years behind. I promised myself that if I was going to do this, I had to commit completely, and I did everything I could to prioritize my coursework. In the end, I brought my GPA almost back to where it was before. But I did all of that for personal satisfaction. I fully expected to walk across the stage quietly, then go to dinner with my family when I finally finished.
Instead, two of my faculty mentors pushed me to apply as a student commencement speaker, and for some reason I was accepted. From that moment, each step on campus felt unreal as professors, faculty, and my friends complimented me. I kept thinking, “At some point, someone is gonna tell me that there was a secret runner up that ended up being better.” That moment never came. The speech practices happened, then a wonderful reception where I got to meet amazing people from across the USG, then I gave my speech. The incredible privilege of this experience is not lost on me, and it will fuel my drive for a long time.
I’ll never be able to truly express my gratitude to all the people who helped me get here. Dr. Joe Johnson, who was the first professor to reach out to me when life first hit me hard as an undergrad. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, and he doesn’t remember the conversation, but it sticks with me five years later. Dr. Daniels, who I consider my first writing mentor. Dr. Pratt Russell, who expressed such genuine interest in the course material that I kept that excitement throughout all of my classes.
Dr. Byrd, Dr. Greene, Ms. Fowlkes, Dr. Sansbury, Dr. Lamb, Dr. Lindsay, Dr. McCray, Dr. DellCarpini, Dr. Richardson-Echols, Dr. Drake, Dr. Lewis. I could, quite literally, go on until I’m blue in the face. Every member of the faculty and staff, family member, and friend that helped me get this degree holds a special place in my heart. I wish nothing but the best for all of you.
Writing this is bittersweet. CSU is where I earned my degree, yes, and it’s also where I learned and contemplated important life lessons as I paced the lake: it helped me become a man, and I hope to one day give back all that it has given me.
Deuces ✌️
Juan A Archive 