Publication Date
1-1-2022
Abstract
The decision to pursue a college degree is often a personal one, especially for first-generation students. It begins as a journey of courage and hope. It then transforms into a new world filled with opportunities that open doors to personal, academic and career development. A constant source of encouragement for Amyre Cain’s college journey is her grandmother, who passed away in 2019 following a stage four breast cancer diagnosis.
In 2018, Amyre decided to become the first person in her father’s family to attend college. She is now a senior at East Tennessee State University.
Amyre is from Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The miles from Michigan to East Tennessee did not hinder her daily phone calls with her grandmother about college classes and extracurricular activities. “It’s a miracle being a first-generation student. However, it is very stressful. But with the support I have here on campus and around me it makes it a lot better. My grandmother was my biggest cheerleader,” said Amyre.
That consistent motivation and encouragement to keep pushing to accomplish her dreams propelled Amyre to grow as a leader during her time at ETSU and use her voice to elevate the voices of minority and underrepresented communities of color.
After declaring her major in sociology and minor in Black American studies, Amyre spoke about how crucial diversity and representation are to the ETSU campus community during a panel that included President Dr. Brian Noland, faculty, staff and administrators. Additionally, Amyre is the first student on the Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council at ETSU.
Amyre did not stop there. She then joined the Black Affairs Association and became a leader for Black History Month. The organization is accessible to all students and serves as a source of encouragement for students to become involved in a variety of activities that make a difference on campus and in the community. “It’s amazing teaching people. I will say a lot of my peers call me the walking history book,” Amyre said. She and her colleagues organized creative and informational events on topics ranging from Black hair to mental health awareness in African American communities. “It definitely helps our department as well when it comes to educating people who are not of color and other cultures too. Now they’re more mindful about the importance of Black History Month – instead of it just being a month,” added Amyre.
In 2020, Amyre was selected to join the Dr. Brenda White Wright Emerging Leaders Academy Program. The eight-week leadership development program focused on critical skills to become effective servant leaders at ETSU and beyond. Amyre said she developed skills in community engagement while upholding a fundamental component to successful leadership: focusing on what you can do for others and the value your actions can bring to those around you.
Recently, Amyre performed acts of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day by volunteering to pack and ship boxes for individuals in need at Second Harvest Food Bank. Her mission to “pay it forward” continued when she returned home to Oak Ridge and Knoxville and teamed up with Girls Inc. to pack non-perishable food items for children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who did not have access to school meals during virtual learning.
Seeing firsthand the faces of those benefiting from the acts of service, Amyre said: “It helped a lot. Before the pandemic, when I was younger, I was that person who was in need. My family and I, we didn’t have. So, I know how hard it was being in that position. So, going in and taking action as soon as the nation shut down, it really helped.”
Amyre now shares her motivational story as an Expedition Leader, making her one of the first friendly faces prospective students see during ETSU campus tours, in addition to lending her voice to recruit out-of-state students. You’ll often find her in the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center, located in the D.P. Culp Student Center, where Amyre says she met some wonderful mentors who helped shape her collegiate life. “If it wasn’t for Ms. Carshonda, I wouldn’t be where I am today – along with the entire team at the Multicultural Center: Nate, Ms. Terry, all of them have made a significant impact on my life and journey at ETSU.””
Amyre will graduate from ETSU in December 2022. She wants to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees before one day opening a school she hopes to name in honor of her grandmother. Amyre says the words of wisdom from her grandmother still echo in her mind, and the rings Amyre’s grandmother left her are tangible tokens she wears each day that serve as a gentle reminder to carry on her legacy of empowering others to achieve their dreams.
“Keep going, keep going. Surround yourself with good people, people who are going to support you no matter what. Don’t let anything stop you, because at the end of the day you are here for a purpose.”
Document Type
News Article
