Mother and Son Prepare to Graduate Together

Rashonta Ellison and her son, Jy’rell Ellison-Kinlaw, will graduate from Cape Fear Community College this May, earning their Associate in Arts degrees. They’ll cross the stage on the same day, but their paths to this moment could not be more different.

Rashonta’s Point of View

For Rashonta, graduation marks the return to a goal she first pursued nearly two decades ago.

In 2007, as a high school student, Rashonta was pregnant with Jy’rell while working to graduate on time. With encouragement from a teacher who pushed her to keep going, she made it across the stage. That fall, she enrolled at Cape Fear Community College, but balancing coursework with a 9-month-old quickly became overwhelming.

“I realized it was too much,” she said.

She stepped into the workforce to provide for her family, holding onto her long-term goal of becoming a nurse. Over the years, she returned to college more than once, but each time, responsibilities at home made it difficult to continue. During that time, she also welcomed two more children.

Eventually, she completed CFCC’s Nurse Aide program and began working in healthcare, but nursing never left her mind.

The idea of going back to school and finishing shifted as her children got older.

“I was so afraid of coming back because I had already tried so many times,” she said. “But my kids gave me that push. They said, ‘Ma, we’re older. Go ahead. You can live. We’re fine.'”

When Rashonta returned this time, she approached school differently.

“I had to really analyze why I wasn’t successful before,” she said. “This time, I looked into scholarships, talked to people, and learned what resources were available.”

That shift led her to the Novant Health Pathways to Nursing Scholarship, and she is now working toward entering CFCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing program.

Jy’rell’s Point of View

While Rashonta was finding her way back to school, Jy’rell was building his own path.

A student at Wilmington Early College High School (WECHS), he has worked toward both his high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously.

In a full-circle moment, the teacher who once encouraged Rashonta to finish high school on time is now the principal at Jy’rell’s school.

At home, their shared experience created a new dynamic.

“I’m learning to know my mom not only as a mother, but also as a student,” he said. “We kind of grew up together.”

Watching his mother’s persistence reshaped how he sees both her and himself.

“I’m most proud of how strong my mom is,” Jy’rell said. “Seeing her grow helped me understand that parents are still learning and experiencing things in life for the first time, too.”

Jy’rell plans to attend Winston-Salem State University this fall, where he will major in exercise science and pursue a career as a sports physical therapist, an interest shaped by years of playing sports and working through injuries.

“When you’re an athlete, getting hurt is deeper than just physical,” he said. “You start questioning everything.”

Through those moments, his mother was a constant source of encouragement. It is now something he hopes to provide to others.

Time of Reflection

During a recent visit to Winston-Salem State University with Jy’rell and her daughter, who also attends Wilmington Early College High School, Rashonta saw opportunities her younger self never had.

“It was exciting for me,” she said. “Being able to expose them to something I didn’t get.”

Rashonta believes the timing of her journey has made her more prepared for what comes next.

“I’ve learned it’s okay to love yourself, too,” she said. “Being a young mom taught me resilience and strength. If I had become a nurse at 22, I wouldn’t have valued it the same way. Now, everything is different. My time management, my compassion, the importance I put on health…”

For Jy’rell, graduating debt-free and entering college as a junior is both an achievement and a responsibility.

“I want to be a role model,” he said. “Whenever you walk out of the house, you represent yourself and your family.”

As they prepare to graduate side by side, both recognize that what they’ve gained goes far beyond a degree.

“Jy’rell being my firstborn, he’s seen me grow, seen me learn, seen me fall on some things, but also seen me get up again,” Rashonta said. “It wasn’t always easy, but it taught me who I am.”