Pre-Graduation Thoughts

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Maya Angelou, Still I Rise

Graduating is a momentous occasion that is cause for celebration; students’ dream of making it to graduation day. On this night before I graduate with my Bachelors degree I find myself restless. I am excited and proud of my accomplishments, but I cannot help but acknowledge my privilege. It has been a privilege to attain higher level education, very few are afforded this luxury. Although my college journey has been far from easy, it is important to remember that pressure is a privilege.

I began this blog post with the ending lines of Maya Angelou’s famous poem Still I Rise. This poem has always been dear to me, but this year I found new meaning in Angelou’s iconic work. I chose to include the last stanza because it perfectly embodies my feelings on this night before I graduate. “Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise, Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, I rise”. This year has been exponentially harder than any of my previous years of schooling; COVID completely changed my academic, athletic and social life in ways I could never have prepared for, but I rose to the occasion. I have reached the wondrously clear daybreak Angelou describes, ushering in a new chapter of my life that will have its own set of adventures. “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave, I rise, I rise, I rise”. When I think of graduating, I think of my great grandparents Bertha and Coy Landis, the ancestral figures of my family who valued knowledge though they were never afforded higher educational opportunities; I am me because they were them. I will always proudly declare my name “Olivia Coy Daniel” because the name Coy holds ancestral weight. My accomplishments were their dreams and prayers, and without their gifts I would not be who or where I am today. I must also acknowledge the word “slave”, because that’s what many of my ancestors on my father’s side were defined as. In the shackles of forced servitude my ancestors’ dreamed of sowing seeds that would enjoy the luxury of opportunity; here I am, reaping the fruits of their labor. Through all adversity I rose for myself, for my family, and for my ancestors who laid the foundation; I rise, I rise, I rise.

To end this post I would like to give thanks to those that have helped me throughout this journey.

Dad, Dennis Wayne, I thank you for instilling resilience in me and for supporting me in all aspects since the day I stepped onto URI’s campus. I can be very dismissive at times, but your efforts are never overlooked and I appreciate all that you do.

Mom, I thank you for your tender and nurturing ways. So many nights you saved me with sweet words or home cooked meals, I can undoubtably say that without you I would not have made it to this day. I have the utmost respect and love for you always, and I thank you for taking care of me.

Alease, my beautiful sister, I thank you for being a positive role model. Although we had our struggles growing up, you showed me what true hard work and success looks like. Our paths are not the same, but your ambition inspired me to be the best version of myself.

Aunt Bronzella, my dearest auntie, I thank you for being stern and holding me to the highest standard. You’ve always made it clear that personal growth is the most important thing. Although you don’t always chime in, even when I know my dad tells you the craziness of my life, I feel your presence when I need it. You are another role model in my life, your strength and determination push me to be a better woman; I thank you for the prayers throughout these years that I didn’t know you prayed.

To my family and friends who I did not mention, because the amount of thanks I have to give is endless, I thank you. I thank every single person who prayed for me, the prayers worked and I made it. I thank every person who supported my journey, who asked about my grades and softball, who cared to see me make it to graduation day; you guys propelled me to where I am and where I am going. I thank you all.

I am going to bed with a heart full of gratitude, I made it, I rose.

My next post, planned to be published in the coming days when I receive my graduation photos, will be a letter to North Carolina Central University!