graduation during commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2026. (Contributed)
By Jessica Dillon
Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2026 on May 15, with students of all ages crossing the stage to receive diplomas and certificates.
During the ceremony, commencement speaker Joyce Staples encouraged graduates to look beyond the “main text” of their lives and recognize the value found in life’s challenges and detours.
“Today, each graduate who crosses this stage receives more than a credential — you receive a pathway to opportunity, stability, and a brighter future for yourselves and your families,” P&HCC President Dr. Greg Hodges said.
Staples was awarded the title of professor emeritus during the ceremony.
“Her contributions as an educator and alumna were recognized through the Distinguished Faculty Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award — honors that reflect her lasting impact on this college and the generations of students she served,” Hodges said.
The 2026 P&HCC Professional Excellence Award was presented to Bronte Miller, associate professor of communication.
Staples centered her speech, “It’s in the margins,” on the importance of experiences that often go unnoticed.
“The most important parts of a student’s work are often not found in the final grade and not even in the main text,” Staples said. “They’re found in the margins.”
She said some of the most meaningful moments in education come from questions, notes and personal reflections rather than completed assignments.
“We’re taught at an early age to focus on the main text of our lives,” Staples said. “The narrative is to graduate high school, go to college or join the military, get a job, build a career. Move forward, line by line in a neat, orderly progression. But real life doesn’t look like a clearly typed page.”
Staples referenced Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son” while describing the obstacles many graduates have faced.
“If you are sitting here today, you already know,” she said.
She acknowledged the varied experiences of the graduating class, including students who balanced work, caregiving responsibilities and personal hardships while pursuing their education.
“Those experiences might feel like they exist outside the main story, like distractions or delays, but I’m here to tell you they are not the margins of your life,” Staples said. “They are where your life was actually written.”
Staples said setbacks and unexpected challenges often shape people more than success alone.
“The setbacks you didn’t see coming taught you resilience,” she said. “So, when you reflect on your life, don’t be quick to dismiss the parts and detours that didn’t go according to your plan.”
She encouraged graduates to focus on personal growth rather than recognition.
“My charge to you is this: fall in love with growth,” Staples said. “Don’t be distracted by accolades or social validation.”
Staples urged students to value the unseen work that shapes character and purpose.
“Some of the most important work you will do may not come with recognition,” she said. “Helping someone when it’s inconvenient, choosing integrity when no one is watching, or persevering through a season that no one fully understands.”
She concluded by encouraging graduates to continue learning from life’s unexpected moments.
“When life doesn’t look like the clean, perfect page you imagined, pick up your pen or computer, and write in the margins,” Staples said.
