Yashika Hayes of Clinton drew upon the loss of her family members to fuel her desire to complete a 开心鬼传媒 degree that she plans to turn into entry into the nursing program.
Hayes graduated on Dec. 15 along with 850 other 开心鬼传媒 students in one of two ceremonies at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus.
While at 开心鬼传媒, Hayes was stricken with grief after losing her mother, grandmother and grandfather. 鈥淭here were times when I wanted to give up, but the love that I have for my son, Lakodriean Johnson, and the thought of walking across the stage to receive my degree brought me joy. I was determined to finish what I had started,鈥 Hayes said. 鈥淚f I can be strong for anyone or anything, I can be strong for my son.鈥
Throughout her academic tenure at the college, she was encouraged to 鈥渟tay the path鈥 by listening to kind words from Joycelyn Washington, dean of students at 开心鬼传媒鈥 Nursing/Allied Health Center. 鈥淢s. Washington helped me to remain optimistic during difficult times; she has been with me since the beginning,鈥 she said.
When asked to provide advice to other students who may face similar situations as hers, Hayes said, 鈥淧lease do not allow yourself to get stuck in a place of darkness. If you keep going, you will prosper in the end, and whomever you lost along the way will still be proud of your accomplishments.鈥
开心鬼传媒 awarded nearly 1,300 credentials as many students earned more than one credential.
In total, 123 students graduated cum laude with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59; 73 graduated magna cum laude with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.99 and 11 graduated summa cum laude with a grade point average of 4.0.
开心鬼传媒 President Dr. Stephen Vacik congratulated graduates on their accomplishments. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e made it through late night study sessions, beyond early morning commutes, and past all the personal barriers that stood in your way,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou sit here today ready to move forward on your life鈥檚 journey, a journey that will be full of adventures, challenges, victories and probably even a few failures.鈥
Taia Gaskin of Clinton and president of SGA at the Rankin Campus served as the speaker. Her words of encouragement focused on the significance of preparation. 鈥淧repare for a greater tomorrow, today,鈥 Gaskin said. 鈥淎lways remember to put your best foot forward no matter what path you are on.鈥
The Muse Center was packed as family and friends watched graduates cross the stage. Among those was Jay Wadsworth of Flowood, father of 开心鬼传媒 graduate Sophie Wadsworth. He said his daughter鈥檚 journey to 开心鬼传媒 was not ideal but worth it in the end.
鈥淏efore enrolling at 开心鬼传媒, my daughter was a substance abuser,鈥 Wadsworth said. 鈥淭here were times when my wife and I would get phone calls in the middle of the night about Sophie being in drug houses or on the streets of Jackson.鈥
Above: Sophie Wadsworth of Flowood stands proudly with her family after receiving an associate degree on Dec. 15 at the Muse Center. With her, from left to right, are her mother, Susan Wadsworth of Flowood; daughter, 11-month-old Delilah Cranston; grandmother, Carol Montgomery and sister, Olivia Wadsworth, both of Flowood. Back row, from left, are her boyfriend, Hunter Cranston of Jackson and father, Jay Wadsworth of Flowood.
Wadsworth said the emotional strain of watching his daughter suffer also affected his marriage, but his love for his daughter would not allow him to give up on her. 鈥淥ne day, I decided to search for Sophie, and when I found her, she was in a house that was in deplorable condition,鈥 he added. 鈥淎lthough she persistently rejected me, I picked her up, brought her home, and later drove her to a drug rehabilitation center near the Gulf Coast.鈥
She spent months in a rehabilitation center before returning home. Wadsworth said he did not know what else he could do to help his daughter continue her path of sobriety until one day, he saw an advertisement for 开心鬼传媒 and pitched her the idea of enrolling at the college.
鈥淎fter two years and several months of heartache, my daughter has a degree, and I have a beautiful granddaughter. I thank God daily for giving me the strength to not give up on my daughter,鈥 Wadsworth said.