For Kalesha Parrish, graduating with a virtual commencement ceremony doesn't change the meaning of her accomplishment - not after everything she went through to get to this point.
The University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana will hold a virtual commencement ceremony August 4 for graduates. The ceremony will premiere on the UAHT Facebook page and YouTube channel.
For the 510 Hope-Texarkana students who will be recognized, a virtual ceremony is not exactly what they've always imagined their graduation looking like.
Parrish said despite being slightly disappointed upon hearing the news that she wouldn't be able to walk across the stage and be handed her diploma, she's not letting it tarnish her moment come Tuesday night.
"When I was told we weren't doing a traditional ceremony, I was a little discouraged," Parrish said. "Walking across the stage, for me mentally, was a verification of completion. But honestly with everything going on, the traditional ceremony would not be in a traditional way. We wouldn't really be able to have all our family and friends there or celebrate with classmates, and we'd be apart from each other with masks on, which is something I really didn't imagine doing. Dealing with COVID, I think this is the safer way, and I really appreciate this way better."
Born in Hope, Arkansas, and a graduate of Lafayette County High School, Parrish is graduating from Hope-Texarkana with her associate's degree in business before attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock later this August to further her studies in accounting.
An Academic All Star and a member of the Student Government Association at Hope-Texarkana, Parrish's path to becoming a successful student was far from smooth.
From raising three children to working odd jobs to help pay for school - as well as dropping out on occasions - it's safe to say she took the road less traveled by to becoming a college graduate.
"When I graduated high school in 2010, I had my first daughter, but I still wanted to go to school," she said. "So I decided to go to Hope-Texarkana. And when I was going, I basically couldn't find that connection with the school. I chose work over school and instead of dropping out the normal way, I just quit going altogether."
This caused Parrish's GPA to plummet down to a 1.67. She tried going back to school, but just couldn't balance her work and studies.
"In 2018, I made a decision to stop working and focus on me and my daughters - and go back to school. That's the same year I was going through a separation with my husband, so it was hard for me to find baby-sitters, go to school and go to work. I just stopped everything, put my trust in the Lord and I was like I'm going back."
When she finally focused on school, she didn't realize the impact that her sinking GPA would have on her finances. Her GPA was too low for her to receive financial aid and she would have to pay for her classes until her grades improved.
"That was kind of hard, because I didn't have any income. I started working for the church, doing secretary work and cleaning up. And I found a way, basically, to pay for my first two classes."
After completing those two classes, Parrish's GPA shot up to a 2.3, allowing her to receive financial aid. She re-took every class she had failed, and by the end of the spring semester, her GPA was at a 3.2.
"I talked to the dean in that fall of 2018, and I wanted to be in SGA. But you had to have a 2.0. I said well by the spring, I'll bring up my GPA. And he was kind of looking at me and looking at my transcript like he didn't believe in me. So that gave me a push to tell me that I had to do better."
That push catapulted Parrish into being awarded a $500 scholarship for her final semester and a full-tuition transfer scholarship to any Arkansas public four-year university. She was named an Academic All-Star.
Now, she looks back on her accomplishments with an appreciation of the struggle as well as an appreciation of her time at Hope-Texarkana.
"The people, the teachers, the staff, the dean, the chancellor - everyone has reached out and has been a part of my life in a great way. It's been a family. They always try to find ways to make you a better you, and they did a lot for me. I've grown, I've seen myself grow and my kids have seen me grow. I'm glad to be an alumna of UAHT."
Parrish said she plans to watch the ceremony on Facebook live and celebrate with her family as her name is called Tuesday night.