May 2025 Congratulations, Class of 2025 by Jocelyn Davis

Many of you can likely relate when I say that starting college felt overwhelming. Being at a new campus, navigating unfamiliar territory, and adapting to college-level coursework is no small task. I’ll admit that when I first arrived at Reedley, I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to make sense of the campus maps. And in all honesty, I’m still not sure what half the symbols on there mean. But all that to say, adjusting to college sometimes felt just as difficult as deciphering a post-impressionist painting from up close. Trying to decode the hundreds of random paint smears.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Jocelyn Davis, and I’m receiving my degrees in History and Art History. As an art enthusiast, I often see my life as a series of post-impressionist paintings. What’s unique about these paintings, is that they offer two different viewing experiences, depending on how close you stand to them. Take Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night, for example. Up close, it looks like a chaotic mix of blue, yellow, and orange blobs. Hardly anything recognizable or perceptible. But from a distance, it becomes one of the most breathtaking artworks in all of history. In my eyes, my experience at Reedley College was no different. Sure, from up close my daily life sometimes felt chaotic and confusing. But stepping back now, I can see how those moments shaped into something truly beautiful.

 Throughout my time at Reedley, I learned that being a student, much like a post-impressionist painting, can be daunting when you focus too closely on the details. But instead of paint smudges, I found myself fixated on questions. What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? What if this isn’t the right path for me? It got to a point where I was so focused on everything that could possibly go wrong, that I overlooked all the amazing things I was already accomplishing. So instead of celebrating my small victories, I was exhausting myself worrying about the potential failures. Ultimately, it took time, and a lot of reflection, to realize that I needed to step back and see the bigger picture. But I didn’t do it alone. Just as the greatest artists had mentors and muses, I had the guidance of incredible people here at Reedley College.

I want to start by thanking the Honors Program. Especially Mrs. Garabedian, for believing in me and supporting my dreams. This program not only prepared me for transferring next semester, but also gave me an intimate community of equally driven peers, and an enriching education. Being an honors student challenged me to think critically and explore subjects on a deeper level, shaping me into a more confident and capable student.

I also want to thank the Social Sciences Pathway. Especially Professor Cooper and Professor Buldo, for providing me the opportunity of being the Social Sciences Student Navigator. This role taught me responsibility and helped me build connections that made my time here so memorable. For those of you who were student workers, you likely understand how meaningful it felt to contribute to our college community. On the other hand, depending on how long you worked here, you may have also felt how confusing it was trying to navigate the new Time Clock system. But, perhaps that was just another chaotic brushstroke in the artwork of our Reedley experience.

To my family and friends, who have stood by me time and time again. Specifically, my parents, who instilled in me from a young age that I was destined for something greater, and shouldn’t settle for anything less. While they may not have had all the answers to navigating college, they were always there to hold my hand and cheer me on. For that, I am forever grateful.

 Having support systems like these has been as crucial to us college students as they were to the great artists. Whether a simple gesture, like administrators waving “hi” in the hallways, something behind the scenes, like the financial aid office helping us figure out FAFSA, or a significant effort, like counselors reworking our SEP’s for the hundredth time. Thank you, Ellyce Parento-Garcia, for being so patient with me. Each of us has had someone who has helped us reach this stage.

 While our journeys weren’t without challenges, our presence here today is proof that we overcame them. After the countless nights we’ve stayed up studying, the assignments we’ve completed at the very last minute, and times we’ve woken up in the middle of the night trying to remember if we ever replied to that discussion board, we finally succeeded. We adapted, persevered, and grew, bringing us one step closer to seeing the big picture.

And here we stand in our big picture moment.

Today, we can step back and admire the incredible artwork that our time at Reedley College has resulted in. What once may have felt like a jumble of color splotches has become a vivid masterpiece. But don’t let this moment fool you. Just as Van Gogh’s early works were stepping stones to his greatest masterpieces, our achievement here is a precursor to the amazing things that await us. Yes, we’ve accomplished something remarkable, but I am confident that our futures are even brighter. So may we continue to paint spectacular lives, take moments to admire the beauty of our journeys, and cherish the masterpiece we created here at Reedley College. Congratulations Class of 2025!