Before I walk across that stage...
I wanted to say thank you.
This degree has my name on it, but I definitely did not get here by myself.
Thank You.
This moment is mine, but I did not get here by myself. There are people who carried me, pushed me, gave me space to breathe, reminded me who I was, and helped me keep going.
She is the reason KarterDoesItAll existed before KarterDoesItAll ever had a name.
My mommy never put a limit on my creativity. If I wanted to create, bake, learn something new, or try something completely different, she encouraged me to do it.
From high school, to culinary arts, and even through the beginning of my Associate Degree in Business, she always pushed me to keep learning and follow my dreams.
She taught me that being curious was never something I had to grow out of, and that I never had to choose just one thing to be good at.
I wish more than anything that she could be here to see where all that curiosity eventually took me.
SIP Yvonne. 🤍
My kids are my reason.
Especially Kayden and Ginger. They keep me on my toes, keep me creative, and remind me why I am doing all of this in the first place.
When I enrolled in college, Kayden was still in middle school. Now he is 18 and getting ready to start his senior year of high school. He watched me start this and keep going.
I wanted both of my kids to see that life does not always happen on the timeline you planned. You can start late, change direction, get tired, get frustrated, and still finish what you started.
And I know Yaya would want them to see that too.
I hope watching me do this teaches them that.
The Original Carter.
Thank you for supporting me through all these years, but especially after losing Mommy.
Everything changed for our family, and figuring out what came next wasn't always easy. Having you there through that chapter of my life meant more than I probably ever properly said.
Thank you for always being there, for me and for my kids.
I love you. Always.
Davon AKA Buku
To my older brother, thank you for being my rock when we lost Mommy.
We went through something that changed both of us forever. Knowing I had you beside me helped me keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when I wasn't completely sure where I was going.
Through everything, we know what it is.
#WeAllWeGot
Jessica
MY RIDE OR DIE SINCE WE WERE TEENAGERSYou have pushed me through more chapters of my life than I can count. You pushed me to go to school, pushed me toward therapy when I needed it, and pushed me to return to school and finish what I started.
But more than any of that, you have just always been there. For me and for my kids. Through the good, the bad, the questionable decisions, the new ideas, the restarts, and every version of me in between.
There aren't many people who can say they've been there for that much of someone's life. You can.
Mello
MY CONSTANT IN SCRANTONThank you for being my constant in Scranton.
Life has changed a million different ways since I've been here, but you've remained somebody I could count on.
That kind of consistency matters more than people realize.
I'm lucky I got both of you.
My tribe. My sistahs.
BeeBee · Taleeyah · Lynise · Diana · Dulce · Camille · Nicole
Thank you for showing up for me in ways big and small. For the conversations, the check ins, the encouragement, the laughs, the vent sessions, the reminders, and the moments where I just needed somebody who understood without me having to explain everything.
There is something different about having women around you who genuinely want to see you win.
You have been part of my village, and I am grateful for every one of you.
And if I didn't name you, I love you all the same. Y'all know I have ADHD.
My tribe. My sistahs. My girlies.
And everybody else who helped me make it here.
To everybody who checked on me, encouraged me, listened to me complain about assignments, celebrated the wins, dealt with the disappearing acts when deadlines hit, or simply reminded me that I could finish this:
And yes, this includes my gaming bros. Thank you for giving me a safe place to relax, laugh, talk trash, wind down, and just exist for a little while when my brain needed a break from homework and everything else I had going on.
There were a lot of different versions of me between starting this journey and getting here. Some of you knew all of them.
This degree may have my name on it, but getting here was never something I did completely alone.
I Didn't Do It Alone.
And for that, I'll be forever grateful.
Momma, I Made It.
Watch me walk.
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COMMENCEMENT DAY
Watch Me Graduate
The Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Ceremony
Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 9:30 AM ET
Can’t watch live? The ceremony recording will remain available after the event.