91桃色

Le Moyne was a fresh start for me. After a pretty up-and-down first two years at a different university, I transferred here hoping for something better and I found it. The smaller classes and close-knit family feel made it easier to connect with people, and most of the professors really showed they cared about how I was doing. That kind of support mattered. It made a difference for me.

What first brought me to Le Moyne, though, was the opportunity to play basketball. During my first two years, I began to really come into my own again on the court. I worked hard, grew as a player, and stayed focused on getting better. But this past year didn鈥檛 go how I hoped it would, and it came with a lot of challenges. Even through the disappointment, I鈥檝e learned how to stay grounded, grow through tough situations, and focus on what really matters.

Outside of the court, I found something just as valuable. Some of the professors here are truly brilliant鈥攁nd I mean that. They pushed me, challenged me, and helped me see things differently. I also know I鈥檝e made some lifelong friends here. The kind of people who stick, who check in, who鈥檝e been part of the highs and lows. That鈥檚 something I鈥檒l always carry with me.

I鈥檝e also got to recognize my academic advisors and the folks in the registrar鈥檚 office. They were always there when I needed guidance. Whether it was figuring out my schedule, keeping me on track, or answering questions when I felt unsure, they never made me feel like a burden. That kind of behind-the-scenes support plays a huge role in getting across the finish line.

One of the biggest things I鈥檓 taking with me from Le Moyne is that I鈥檝e found my voice. I鈥檝e learned who I am, what I stand for, and what I鈥檓 capable of. I鈥檝e also learned not to be ashamed of my differences because those are the things that make me unique. Either you like me as I am, or you don鈥檛. I鈥檓 not here to change myself to fit anyone else鈥檚 expectations anymore. That kind of confidence only comes from growth, and I鈥檓 thankful to Le Moyne for helping me get there.听 Be you. If you know, you know.

And while school taught me a lot academically, the biggest lessons I鈥檝e learned here didn鈥檛 come from any textbook. I learned how to keep going when life gets hard. I learned that there are support systems in place but you鈥檝e got to be willing to use them. And I鈥檒l say this especially to anyone who鈥檚 struggling with their mental or emotional health: Talk to someone. There are genuine people here who truly care about your well-being. And if you ever feel like you鈥檙e carrying too much don鈥檛 carry it alone.

Another tough lesson I had to learn was this: not everyone who starts out cheering for you will still be there at the finish line. Some of the people who were the loudest in my corner when I got here have been quiet lately and yeah, that鈥檚 been tough. It hurts. But I鈥檝e come to realize it鈥檚 just part of life. People shift. Priorities change. And sometimes silence teaches you more than words ever could. When people show you who they are, believe them and keep it moving.

I also want to be honest. I haven鈥檛 been perfect. I鈥檝e made mistakes, had setbacks, and learned the hard way more than once. But that鈥檚 part of the journey too. Growing. Owning your story. Finding your way. Through all of it, I鈥檓 grateful for this place. Le Moyne gave me space to grow, to reset, and to become a better version of myself.

Graduation means everything to me. There was a time when I was told that college wouldn鈥檛 even be possible for me, not because of grades or effort, but because of my learning differences. People assumed I wouldn鈥檛 be able to keep up. But here I am, God willing, just days away from walking across that stage.

And that moment will mean even more because I didn鈥檛 get to do it back in 2020, when I graduated from high school. The COVID-19 pandemic took that milestone from a lot of us. So, this cap and gown moment鈥攊t hits different for me. It鈥檚 not just about celebrating one chapter closing. It鈥檚 about reclaiming something I missed and honoring everything it took to get here.

As for what鈥檚 next, the truth is I鈥檓 not totally sure yet. And that鈥檚 okay. Some people think you鈥檙e supposed to have it all figured out right after graduation. But everybody鈥檚 journey looks different. And I鈥檓 different and that鈥檚 okay too. I鈥檒l figure it out when I get there. One step at a time.

To anyone coming up next: take advantage of the support around you. Be open to growth. Take care of your mental health. And don鈥檛 lose focus if the people you expected to walk with you don鈥檛 stay. Trust yourself. Keep going.

Le Moyne gave me more than a degree 鈥� it gave me perspective, strength, and a chapter I鈥檒l never forget.

鈥淪ometimes the biggest flex is finishing what they said you never could.鈥�

Darrick Jones Jr., Class of 2025, shared these thoughts on his journey at Le Moyne with 听