05/21/2026
Watching my daughter graduate from the University of Kansas this Saturday feels like a full-circle moment I can barely put into words. 💙❤️
She is a finer woman, served on several executive teams while being a student, and is the Founder of Melanin Media. She is powerful, a leader, grounded, and she holds safe space just like her mother.
I was 18 years old when I had her, turning 19 the following month. I graduated high school in 2003 and became a mother in 2004. We grew up together.
One thing I knew for certain, I was determined to become the best version of myself for her, and for both of my children. Everything I do, and everything I’ve worked so hard for, has always been for them.
In 2011, I graduated from Kansas State University, as a first-gen student, showing my babies that no matter how hard life gets, you keep going. You keep building. You keep believing.
And now here we are.
My son graduated from Free State High School on Tuesday. Before even stepping onto his college campus full-time, he already completed college English and college Math through the University of Kansas. This fall, he’s headed to Kansas State University in the honors program. 💜 He has also been getting recognized for his photography and is becoming his own man.
Watching my children grow into adults has healed parts of me I didn’t even know were still hurting.
Every struggle.
Every sacrifice.
Every setback.
Every scar.
Every season I questioned myself.
It was all worth it.
Everything I suffered through.
Everything I survived.
Everything I had to grow through.
To see them thriving, intelligent, creative, kind, and walking into their futures with confidence… there are no words big enough for this kind of gratitude.
My mommy heart is so happy, so thankful, and so blessed for these two. 🥹✨
