Two Transformative Moments: A Journey of Scholarship and Graduation

In the afternoon of May 3, 1991, my journey as an Army ROTC Scholar culminated in my commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant. This journey held significant meaning for me, as I initially arrived at the University without a scholarship. Joining Army ROTC as a freshman, I hadn't entertained the possibility of receiving one. Funding for my first year and a half of college came from student loans, Pell grants, college work-study, and a job as a Resident Assistant. However, in the spring of my sophomore year, I learned that I had been awarded a 2 ½ Army ROTC scholarship, ensuring my college education would be fully covered.

The following afternoon, on May 4, 1991, I crossed the veranda of my alma mater, the University of Tampa, to receive my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. My time at the University of Tampa was truly a labor of love. Initially feeling like a 'fish out of water,' Tampa was the farthest I had ever traveled, and I had never attended a private school before. I faced numerous financial and personal struggles trying to find my place within a population with whom I sometimes felt disconnected. However, over time, I gradually fell in love with the university. Whether it was the teachers like my Organic Chemistry professor who proudly wore my organization's Black History Month t-shirts, my friends from the Caribbean and Florida who introduced me to Miami Bass music and taught me how to dance to Soca, Calypso, and Dance Hall, or simply the fact that the school was a tropical oasis year-round, I somehow found my space—a space that not only welcomed me but also helped me grow.

To those who are graduating, have graduated, or have kids graduating, I encourage you to celebrate these special milestones.

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Why I’m Not Trying to Make New Friends After 40 (And Why That’s Okay)

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