Overcoming obstacles: St. Johns River State graduates persevere

Na’Teria Hamilton was 20 years old when she enrolled in St. Johns River State College. This week, she turns 33 and on Thursday she walked across the stage at the college’s Thrasher-Horne Center in Orange Park, shook college President Joe Pickens’ hand and officially received her Associate of Arts diploma — a beaming smile across her face.

Hamilton, a single mother of two from Palatka, faced many obstacles on her path to that stage: the birth of three children, maintaining a full-time job and juggling family on public transit along with school. She often had to choose family over her degree path when financial concerns got in the way, but Hamilton feels the path will be worth the sacrifices faced over the decade.

“I learned through these 11 years to never give up,” Hamilton wrote in an email prior to Thursday’s commencement. “It’s going to be long hours of studying, reading, and taking notes. It’s going to be a lot of times you have to miss out with your friends, it’s going to be nights you cry because you feel like all you do is study and have no life. It’s going to be times when you are overwhelmed with having so many classes, and if you are a parent with kids, it’s also going to feel like you are juggling so many things at one time and you want to just give up.”

But Hamilton says giving up is not an option.

“There are going to be obstacles you have to jump,” she wrote, “But through all of it, think about the bigger picture and the big accomplishment.”

Hamilton, who hopes to also earn a bachelor’s degree, was one of 133 students gathered at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Thursday for the 2022 Fall Commencement ceremony, where several students, longtime professors and employees were honored while Palatka Police Chief and SJR State alum Jason Shaw shared words of wisdom with the graduates.

During the ceremony, Pickens announced the retirement of Dean of Florida School of the Arts Alain Hentschel, who was bestowed the designation of emeritus status for his 13 years of service in shaping the next generation of artists. 

Also honored was Melissa Miller, former senior vice president, for her 30 years of distinguished service, her leadership, dedication and loyalty to the college. 

“For 30 years, she was the heart and soul of this institution,” said Pickens of Miller. 

This semester’s valedictorian was Ellen Rose Jackson, of St. Johns County, while Pickens presented the Paul “Dee” Causey President’s Award to Clay County graduate Sabrain Edwards, whose mother died while Edwards was completing a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. 

The award honors the memory of alumnus Dee Causey, whom Pickens said was his mentor and who loved encouraging “the underdog” to persevere.

“Family is incredibly important to Sabian, and in the midst of his studies he was faced with the unexpected loss of his mother,” said Pickens. “Without having an opportunity to mourn his mother, Sabrain was forced to suddenly navigate the challenges of juggling school, work, his internship and even where he would live on his own.”

Pickens said Edwards was set to begin teaching at Argyle Elementary School in Orange Park today.

“My biggest motivator and critic, my mother sacrificed a lot for me during her time as a single mother,” Edwards stated in an email. “I could have been another statistic, but she is the one who kept me from that. Anything that I am and will become is because of her love, prayer, and care for me.”

According to Susan Kessler, director of public relations and marketing for the college, more than 570 students earned their associates and bachelor’s degrees or college certificates this season. Of those, 90 students are from Putnam County, Kessler said.

Among them, Palatka father and son Delton Nealy Sr., 46, and Delton Nealy Jr., 19.

Nealy Sr., a maintenance planner with Georgia-Pacific, recently earned his Associate of Science degree in engineering technology from the school while his son earned an Associate of Arts. The duo beamed as their names were called in succession Thursday to immense applause.

Asked how it felt to be able to walk across the stage together, the two shared pride in each other.

“When I first started I didn’t imagine that we would graduate at the same time,” wrote Nealy Sr. “I am very proud of my son and I thank God for allowing me this opportunity to share this accomplishment with him. It’s a blessing!” 

Nealy Jr. said the feeling was “indescribable.”

“It’s like I’m watching an older version of me graduate from college,” he wrote. “I am very proud of my dad, my hero.”

Both aim to further their education.

Nealy Sr., who credits a promotion at the pulp and paper factory to the factory’s partnership with  SJR State which he said allowed him to attend, wants to pursue a business management certification to grow within the company. Nealy Jr., who attended SJR State on a Collier-Blocker scholarship, aims to continue learning at First Coast Technical College with the intent to someday own his own heating and air business.

Like Hamilton, Nealy Sr. feels determination is key.

“The longer that you wait, the greater the challenge,” he said. “My wife has encouraged me to return to school for years, but I kept telling myself that I didn’t have time. In reality, I had to make time for what was important. Furthering my education was important to me and my family.”