Dottie Hunter Earns Her Degree
For Dottie Hunter, earning a college degree was a goal decades in the making. A mother of two daughters, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother of five, Hunter spent years fitting classes into a busy life while raising her family and building a career in cosmetology.
This past August, she reached that goal when she received her Associate in General Education degree at Cape Fear Community College.
A Lifetime of Learning
Hunter, a licensed cosmetologist, began taking classes at CFCC in the 90s. Over the years, she also attended several other community colleges, fitting courses into her life whenever she could.
Her parents always wanted her to earn a college degree, and one of Hunter’s instructors gave her advice that stayed with her.
“Take something up every year,” she said. “And next thing you know, you’ll have a degree. That stuck with me.”
Hunter spent years building her career in the beauty industry. She owned Dottie’s Beauty Court and also taught cosmetology at CFCC years ago. Today, she continues to work in the industry as a Dudley Hair Products representative.
Through it all, she kept taking classes.
The Push to Finish
Then, Hunter received a letter informing her that her VA education benefits would expire soon.
“I had just been taking courses here and there because I knew I was going to finish one day, but that really pushed me to continue it.”
Hunter reached out to Jason Bocchino in CFCC’s Veterans Center, who helped her navigate the process and get her benefits sorted out.
Her classes included both in-person and online courses, and Hunter said she appreciated every instructor she had at CFCC.
She remembers several instructors and courses in particular, including Lesley Richardson’s English class, Josh Miller’s British Literature course, Lettie Gore’s African-American History class, Sandra McClammy’s humanities course, and Jennifer Thomas’ biology class.
A Moment Years in the Making
After years of taking classes and working toward her degree, Hunter had finally reached the moment she had been waiting for.
“I thank my heavenly father, Jehovah God, for giving me the strength and the will to complete what I started.”
When it came time to participate in commencement, however, Hunter wasn’t sure she wanted to walk across the stage, but her family insisted she go.
“They kept pushing, ‘Mom, you got it. You’ve got to go. You deserve it.’”
Eventually, she agreed. CFCC staff helped make the experience comfortable for her, and CFCC President Jim Morton spoke with her before the ceremony. When it was time to present diplomas, Hunter was the first graduate to receive hers.
“I hope my story will encourage somebody else to keep learning and keep going. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Just keep going and finish what you started.”
And for Hunter, learning isn’t ending with her diploma. She’s already thinking about what classes she might take next.
“I enjoy studying, and it keeps my mind active,” she said. “When you stop learning things, your brain stops. So, keep on learning.”
