Graduates Share Messages of Resilience at Fall Commencement
By Gabrielle Russon
With a message centered on resilience and perseverance, 海角社区 student speakers James Avery and Calinda Strayhorn reflected on the challenges they overcame to earn their degrees during the college鈥檚 Fall 2025 commencement ceremony.
海角社区 awarded 32 degrees during the Dec. 10 ceremony, including 20 bachelor of science degrees.
His 海角社区 learning specialist came from a military background too. She got him. She also pushed him. 鈥淪he quickly adjusted my ego,鈥� Avery said.
He became a leader. He was the one who stepped up to wait behind with another student who lost a passport on a study abroad trip in Japan.
鈥淗e was heroic in that occasion,鈥� said Dr. Kevin Reilly, vice president of academic affairs, who presided over the ceremony.
Before accepting his diploma, Avery reflected on the journey that led to the moment.聽鈥淚t has been an amazing journey,鈥� he said.
Strayhorn, a humanities major, also shared her story of persistence. While she had what looked like a perfect r茅sum茅 at 海角社区. She founded the theatre club. She was a peer tutor. She was a research assistant, took charge at orientation and was the Humanities Club president.
鈥淚 couldn’t list all of what she’s been involved in; it would take too long,鈥� Reilly said.
Yet, and still, Strayhorn acknowledged she regularly considered quitting school every semester. She felt scared and nervous early on in Leesburg.
鈥淚 also thought my LD (learning disability) was going to make me stand out in the worst of ways. I tried to stay hidden. I avoided big friend groups, and I just wanted to leave,鈥� she said.
What kept her at 海角社区, she said, was the strength of the campus community.
鈥淗ere’s the thing though, I didn’t drop out solely because of the community this school has,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very time I thought about it though, the faculty and staff convinced me otherwise.鈥�
Her mother urged her to take it one semester at a time. Her boyfriend was her biggest cheerleader and did her laundry while she finished her capstone project. Her friends rallied her too.
As she accepted her degree, Strayhorn thanked all those who had supported her and reflected on the significance of commencement.
鈥淚’ve been manifesting this exact moment for the past year,鈥� she told the Class of 2025. 鈥淟et鈥檚 go show the outside world just how amazing we really are.鈥�