TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College are all holding commencement ceremonies this week,
The graduates walking across the stage all have a story, and one at Tallahassee State College is an exciting first in more ways than one.
Jada Parker is getting ready to don her cap and gown and walk across the stage, finishing up her associates degree in psychology with an eye to the future.
“I feel happy here. I feel happy that I have accomplished all these things,” Parker said. “It’s such a big deal for me because I’m the first in my family to ever graduate from college as well. So, it definitely feels like a big accomplishment.”
Parker will also become the first in the Dreams and Success Homes Family to earn a degree.
DASH offers children who age out of foster car to a place to find their footing in the real world.
Parker said it’s helped her focus and set goals.
“I would set goals but I would procrastinate and I would never get anything done. So definitely being able to have someone hold me accountable for those goals has definitely changed a lot. I have been able to get everything done,” Parker said. “I’m graduating. I’m in a stable job. I work full time at a daycare which I really love.”
Mike Williams, a former foster youth who aged out and wound up homeless for a while, started DASH five years ago to help other teens like him.
He made the list of Forbes Magazine’s next 1000 for it.
Williams said watching Parker graduate from TSC, just as he did, is a full circle moment.
“Seeing her stick it out, because a lot of people give up. They’re like okay I tried college, I don’t care about that, I don’t care about my bills, I just want to be free. And she was like, no, I want to change the tracjectory of my legacy and my family and then she did it and like she said, she was the first,” Williams said.
As Parker celebrates this personal milestone and contemplates her future, she hopes other foster kids will see more than her success, they’ll see what’s possible.
“Anybody can do it regardless of where you come from. I feel like you could start it, small, as long as you set those goals and actually accomplish those goals, you can do anything,” Parler said.
Parker received her degree at TSC’s commencement ceremonies Thursday.
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