Graduation on the highest of seven hills is quickly approaching, and graduating seniors are preparing to take the world by force.
With the commencement ceremony on Dec. 15th at 6pm, faculty, friends and family are preparing to gather in the Al Lawson Multi-Purpose Center to celebrate their graduates. With over thousands of students graduating from numerous schools on the hill, the ceremony will be filled with black excellence.
From STEM to music majors, the possibilities are endless for these students as they will use their diverse learning styles and personalities to become a force to be reckoned with.
The education that Florida A&M University offers to students allows each one of them to become the best versions of themselves if that is academically, mentally, socially, or emotionally; you are never confused by the confidence of a FAMU Rattler.
Shania Washington, a graduating African American studies major described her time on the hill.
“My last four years on the hill have definitely been bittersweet,” Washington said.
“As a first-generation student, the journey wasn’t easy, but I am proud of myself for preserving and pushing myself to do something that hasn’t been done in my family. Losing my father in high school and my grandfather in college motivated me to get my degree even more. I had to not only make them proud, but myself and the rest of my family.”
Washington shared some motivational words to those that are discouraged within their college journey.
“To anyone that is currently feeling down about school or personal things, just remember that your plans may not be God’s plans,” Washington said. “God knows exactly what he wants to do for you when he wants to do it.”
Kennedy Cohen, also a Fall 2023 graduate, is looking forward to the future.
“Graduating at 20 years old is kind of crazy to me, but I’m happy that this part of my journey is coming to a close,” Cohen said. “After graduating, I plan on going to the military where I will receive my nursing degree to become a nurse practitioner, and later become a corpsman in the military. I believe that once I graduate, I will be able to enjoy my freedom of independence and grow as an individual. Being as young as I am, I believe that graduating early will give me the time I need to figure out exactly what it is that I want to make out of my life.”
During Cohen’s time at FAMU, she was actively involved in numerous community service and mentoring organizations.
“At FAMU, I believe that you can make your own FAMULY, I know I did,” Cohen said. “You don’t always need blood to make someone family. I am immensely grateful for my friends, Jewels sisters, and BSLS sisters for always making me feel like family.”
My’Lia Rice, a graduating criminal justice student says she isn’t nervous about entering the quote-on-quote real world after graduating.
“I’m not nervous about the “real world,” Rice said. “I feel as though I have been living in it for a while now. I have a job, pay my bills, and live alone, so I feel like I’m already preparing myself for life after college.”
Rice shared her plans after graduating from college.
“After graduation, I plan on taking a gap year before going to Law school,” Rice said. “I plan to become an attorney. During the spring and summer semester, I plan on studying to take the LSAT in Feb. I will also be working with Criminal Defense attorney Annabell Diaz to learn more about the world of law.”