Destiny Redmond: A tale of resilience, academic achievement at MCC
Destiny Redmond found her wings at Meridian Community College.
As she walked across Meridian’s Temple Theater stage at the College’s Fall Commencement, this 32-year-old wife and mother of four received her hard-earned associate of applied science degree and technology certificate, both in Business and Office Management Technology, a certificate in Accounting Technology, and a career certificate in Medical Office Management Technology.
She did this by maintaining a 4.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and becoming a member of the College’s chapters of Phi Theta Kappa, the international academic honor society for community and junior colleges, and the National Technical Honor Society, an honor society for students in workforce development classes.
Redmond currently works for the City of Meridian and is in the Mississippi Rural Water Association apprenticeship program, with plans to get her license as a water operator this summer.
She doesn’t plan to stop her education; in Fall 2024, she hopes to enroll at William Carey University to get her bachelor’s degree in business.
At one time, though, Redmond put college on the back burner. “When I graduated from Southeast, I came to MCC, and I had a three-month-old, and going to school just didn’t work out. I had to stop coming,” she said. But getting a college degree was always on her mind.
When she returned to MCC, her family included a teen and three more youngsters (a 3-year-old, a 2-year-old, and an 11-month-old). Coming back was purposeful. “I wanted to show my children that anything is possible. Even if you wait a long time, you can still come back and finish,” she said.
“I’m not somebody who gives up or quits. I started here and wanted to come here and finish what I started,” Redmond added.
So, how did she juggle it all? “Very carefully and a lot of prayer,” Redmond said.
She credited, too, her MCC teachers Flora Sumrall, Business and Office Technology Program and Accounting Technology Program coordinator and instructor, and DeNay Farrar, Medical Office Management Technology Program coordinator and instructor, for their assistance and guidance. “They’re the best,” she said.
Redmond admits graduation from MCC is bittersweet. “What’s sad is that I’m done with MCC. I’ve been off and on, and now I’m done. I’ve made MCC like my family,” she said.
However, before she finished the semester, Redmond volunteered to be in the College’s holiday video greeting. The students in the spot hold signs expressing why they are grateful this season. “I’m holding a card that reads ‘for making me a part of the MCC family.’”
She added, “That means a lot to me.”
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu