Dr. Sherra Watkins' commencement speech at East Carolina University

Commencement Speech Highlights

"This much more than a speech or ceremonial celebration. Another generational barrier is broken and what visually becomes seen is an opportunity that was never even dreamed. My great, great grandfather had a farm and my grandmother had a large garden. I would watch them both even as they aged and became sick tend to their gardens to produce a harvest that would feed us. And now I sit back and wonder why I can’t grow a simple houseplant. Why didn’t I get the gift? Later in life, I realized I did. I feed, nurture and heal just in a different way. That’s why gardening is important to me as it ties me back to my roots. The roots of my family extend beyond the immediate roles as it truly took a village to break family strongholds. Where a high school graduate Caroline birthed Melvinia at 14 and a 18-year old community college graduate Melvinia birthed twin daughters Shawnte and Sherra who would then go on and acquire a total of 2 bachelors, 3 masters and 2 doctorates degrees. My family and my faith is the sturdy root system of my life that has anchored me through seasons of planting, growth, drought, and harvest. Much like gardening reminds us that each season in our lives brings its own challenges and blessings, it also cultivates patience and resilience to help us weather all seasons. Tonight, I want to talk to you about preparing for these 4 seasons of your life. 

 

Planting

Seeds are not just the source of life. They are the very foundation of our being. Just as seeds can grow in all climates, so too can our aspirations flourish in any circumstance. Seeds carry life from generation to generation without end. Each time we plant a seed, we become ancestors for the generations to come. Seeds carry life from generation to generation without end. Through the seeds, speak the voices of the ancestors. Each time we plant a seed, we become ancestors for the generations to come.

The crack epidemic was a perfect storm of poverty, addiction, and systemic neglect that ravaged black neighborhoods and shattered the fabric of families. It exposed the harsh realities of racial inequality and the failure of our society to protect and support the most vulnerable, the children. Me.

One afternoon, as my sister and I returned home from school, we saw our mother swiftly folding away a newspaper. Later, curiosity led us to uncover an article revealing our father's arrest. Such moments of uncertainty and instability continued to punctuate our upbringing. We many moments without light or water and frequent moves, leading me through five different elementary schools after the second grade. Witnessing my family's struggle, I often questioned the relentless hardships. There had to be a way out of this constant struggle.  Recently moving to Utah, invaluable lessons unfolded through my coworkers' wisdom through gardening. They taught me a fundamental truth: 'Timing Is Everything'. Everything I endured in the season of my childhood was the timing needed to plant on good soil. Just as planting too early risks crop failure and delaying hinders quality yield, every challenge endured in my childhood served as the perfect timing to sow seeds of resilience, endurance, faith, perseverance, hope, and intelligence. Each of you represents a distinct season in the audience today. The beauty of planting seeds lies in its adaptability to diverse seasons, climates, and conditions. Thus, I challenge you to ask yourselves: In this current or forthcoming season of your journey, will you choose to plant seeds aligned with your purpose and passion?

 

Growth

Cynthia Occelli quotes that, “For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it [completely destroys its container]. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.”

My sister and I only applied to schools that had both of our major, ECU was one of them but it wasn’t our first choice. We thought we were going to WSSU or NCA&T as it was close to home but we didn’t get enough financial aid. We were devastated. So we head to ECU for summer orientation. Day #1 by midday, we found a payphone on college hill and was begging our mama to come and pick us up. (It was bad enough College Hill) didn’t have air condition). Next thing you know, the phone was snatched but an OA, Jonathan and he was telling our mother not to come and that he was going to take care of us. He took us under his wing and introduced to other students and OAs. He even got us to step in the talent show on the last night. He made sure we were coming back with established connections. So much so, that the first week of class as we were walking on “the yard”, we heard him screaming “Twins! Those girls can step” He was surrounded by the Zetas and Sigmas and he introduced us to great men and women who became our sorority sisters and fraternity brothers two years later.

It wasn’t just about making friends, creating an extended family and support system was going to be crucial to our success. As I navigated college year after year, I met staff and faculty who guided me from not having food on my meal plan by the end of the week, a failed out of pre-nursing to a new purpose, graduate school, professional opportunities and development. These leaders, some even here tonight: Mrs. Bernice, Adeea Rogers, Sidette Boyce, Dr. Lathan Turner, Toya Jacobs, Dr. Nathalie Mizelle and an invaluable mentor, Dr. Shari Sias stepped up to the plate and begin to frame, mold and shape what you see today. John C. Maxwell stated "One of the greatest values of a mentor is their ability to see ahead what we cannot see in ourselves and to help us navigate a course to [hope and] our destination." I absolutely have no clue what they saw in me [and my twin sister]. Yet, it was by divine intervention and their diverse guidance that led to my growth. I recommend having two types of mentors, one who looks like you and one who doesn’t. Someone who can be the same race or gender while your other mentor may be of the same profession. Each having a distinct purpose in helping you to navigate various spaces and places. Each mentor has served a different purpose throughout career. Rotating through mentors has allowed me to optimize my growth.

For those who have mentors, as you continue to grow in your purpose and passion, how do you plan to pay forward the wisdom and support you've received from mentors, and what legacy of mentorship do you aim to leave behind?

For those who don’t have mentors, as you step into the next phase of your journey, who will you seek as mentors to guide you through the uncharted territories of your professional and personal growth? This was a season of growth.

 

Drought

So we’ve talked about two seasons: Planting and Growth. But what about the seasons where there is no growth. Better yet, there is Drought. Let me share with you meshed up stories about a couple of drought seasons I endured and unfortunately, you will endure too.

As an undergraduate, I had to grapple with drought seasons from navigating healing from sexual assault to running out of funding the last year as I completed my Dissertation. Boy! I can remember it like yesterday sitting in Dr. Toriello’s office and trying to find a way.

The aftermath of the sexual assault led to infertility. But faith, grace and the dedication of a physician birthed my miracle baby, William. Who is my 8-year old mathematician and loves everything Roblox and Minecraft. I still do not understand how that game is popular again after all these years. There was a myriad of events that followed college that were distinctive drought seasons, both personal and professional. Personal: Abandonment by my 1^st husband at 6 months pregnant, that led to continuous challenges—fear, depression, financial strain, and the relentless legal proceedings. Professional: Being questioned about my education and experience, workplace bullying and discrimination. The professional strain at one point became so severe that my health was affected. My kidneys and liver begin to fail and by this time, I was living in Sint Maarten. Doctors wanted to put me on dialysis and do a liver biopsy. There were some tale-tell signs that will alert you that you are in a drought season.

Let’s talk about them:

1. Joy and hope seemed but distant memories, overshadowed by uncertainty and despair.
2. Purpose eluded me, leaving me adrift in a sea of doubt and confusion.
3. Spiritually and emotionally adrift, I found myself estranged from loved ones and bereft of divine guidance.
4. Health faltered, as my body succumbed to the weight of stress and exhaustion.
5. Stagnation pervaded every aspect of my life, suffocating dreams and stifling progress.

Every individual will experience multiple seasons of drought, throughout one’s life journey. While some may encounter only a sign or two, others find themselves engulfed by the full force of its challenges, threatening to overwhelm them entirely. Whether it’s personal (i.e., relationships, family) or professional (i.e., no job, needing a new job, workplace trauma), there are some tangible things you can do while in this season. 1) I got still. Even in my season of drought, I begin to take the time to increase my relationship with my higher power and ancestors, to reflect on areas of my life that felt unfulfilled. 2) I assessed what people remained around me during this season and what resources or skills I needed to move to my next season. 3) Don’t forget about your seeds of growth! I reached out to my mentors to seek support and connection for guidance and I sought professional help with counseling.

An important question you can ask yourself during this season: “Who remains consistently during this season? You do not need friends, family or mentors who are only there in the planting, growth and harvest seasons.

 

Harvest

We are each destined to encounter seasons of planting, growth, and drought. Yet, amidst the trials and tribulations, there exists a beacon of hope—a season of harvest. It is a time of reaping the rewards of our resilience, perseverance, and unwavering faith. As I reflect on my own journey, I am reminded of the countless seeds sown in the fertile soil of adversity. Each challenge, each setback, served as a catalyst for growth, nurturing the seeds of resilience, endurance, and purpose within me. And now, as I stand before you, I am a witness to the abundant harvest that has flourished from those seeds.

But what does the season of harvest truly signify? It's not just about worldly achievements or tangible wealth, but a moment to rejoice in spiritual renewal, and a testament to our resilience, our wisdom, and our capacity to rise above challenges with strength, grace, and a lot more patience.

As I sit and reflect on my seasons of Harvest.

• While going through the major health issues in Sint Maarten, my twin sister told me to start applying for similar roles like hers back in the States, AVPs of Health & Wellness. I got multiple offers and chose the University of Utah.
• I was able to get a new doctor in Sint Maarten and he was able to determine on the day I flew out to take the job in Utah that I am now living with Lupus.
• I am in a workplace where I am doing great work and valued.
• If you haven’t caught on, I got remarried to a wonderful husband who came right in the midst of a Drought season and truly was the whispers of my heart.He was the prayers I was too afraid to say out loud.
• Our AUsome youngest son Bryson said mommy for the first time last year on Mother’s Day. He continues to amaze us with his gifts from writing his name and words only at 4 years old.
• I am an author of seven books: motivational coloring books, Healing in Review, and a recent publication Healing in Review: College Edition, with Dr. Shawnté Elbert the first book of its kind for incoming or current college students that provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the intricacies of wellness and health literacy.

As I close, I created affirmations for you as graduates. 

• As I journey through the four seasons of life: I will face each moment with courage, resilience, and determination.
• In the season of planting: I will sow dreams with faith and perseverance.
• In the season of growth: I will thrive, learning from challenges.
• In the season of drought: I acknowledge a season that may be fraught with pain, fear and uncertainty, and in spite of, I will weather the storms with grace and resilience, knowing that adversity only strengthens me.
• And in the season of harvest: I will celebrate achievements and wisdom gained.
• With each passing season, I will embrace the journey of life with open arms, knowing that I am fully capable of overcoming any obstacle and achieving my purpose and passion.

As you embark on the next phase of your journey, I urge you to embrace your season of harvest with open arms. What will it look like?

Congratulations, graduates. May you recognize the seeds that still lie dormant within you. May you find peace in every season and may your journey be filled with purpose, passion, and endless possibilities."