Graduate Spotlight: Jalen Joiner
When life takes a turn, it can be difficult to navigate. It may seem like a dead end for some, but for others, it’s an opportunity to make something of themselves. While in high school, Jalen Joiner suffered the devastating loss of his mother, which threw his life into turmoil. However, he received a basketball scholarship, which seemed like a silver lining in the midst of his grief. Despite his best efforts, he found that he needed more time to heal. That’s when CFCC entered his life, recruiting him to play basketball for the Sea Devils.
Jalen sat down with us to share his journey of healing and transformation.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM ORIGINALLY?
I’m originally from Kentucky. I was born in Elizabethtown. I moved to North Carolina when I was probably 8 or 9.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO ENROLL AT CFCC? WHY DID IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?
I lost my mom to cancer during my junior year of high school. Unsure about what I wanted to do, I enrolled at Lees-McRae College because I had a basketball scholarship. After starting college, I realized that I was still grieving too much, and I gave up on myself as far as going to school.
As a firm believer, I prayed about what to do and realized that I still had a lot to give, on and off the court. I entered the transfer portal, and that’s when I met Mason Mullins, CFCC’s assistant men’s basketball coach. Going to a community college never crossed my mind because I knew little about them. But Coach Mullins presented me with the opportunity to play here and get my life together. He was a big part of my decision to enroll at CFCC.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CFCC?
My overall experience at Cape Fear has been honestly great. It’s been a place to grow. The faculty and staff, my coaches, my teammates, and my peers are people that will be with me for the rest of my life. As a basketball player, my experience was amazing. Our team won the Region 10 Conference championship! I am so grateful to have been a part of that.
As a student ambassador this year, I definitely had to step out of my comfort zone. As a student ambassador, I’ve talked to many kids and shared a short version of my story. Hopefully, that will help them in the long run.
My experience at CFCC has been a lifesaver as it has helped me to rebuild my life. Throughout my time here, I have spent a lot of time at the Nixon Leaders Center, where I had the privilege of being mentored by Donterio Perkins. His guidance and support have played a crucial role in keeping me motivated and on the right path towards achieving my goals.
DID YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CLASS?
I took a religion course with Dr. Apple. I like Dr. Apple’s style of teaching. He is funny, and I learned a lot in his class.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION?
I’ll be attending Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, KY. I feel like this is a great opportunity for me because I’ll be returning to a place near and dear to my heart — Kentucky. I have a lot of excitement and motivation to go get what I want out of life. Of course, basketball has been the thing that got me to college and took me to see different things and different people. So I want to keep building upon that and keep building relationships. I haven’t chosen a major yet, but I’m leaning toward either history or political science.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING STUDYING AT CFCC?
Come and make the most of it. There’s a lot of opportunity but you’ve got to open the door and actually explore the options. Invest in yourself and your future. In addition to a transfer degree, there are so many different applied technology programs here. CFCC will help guide you toward the path that is right for you.
