Jackson Jambalaya

 Rachel James-Terry authored the following essay for Jackson State University. 

A loving mother, devoted daughter, and passionate entrepreneur, Jackson State University senior Cynthia Porter will soon add JSU alum to her designation on Saturday, April 29.

A native of Chicago with deep family ties to Mississippi, the interdisciplinary studies major is no stranger to the woes of life that may cause one to lose track of their vision.

Porter credits her now-deceased grandmother and father with teaching her the importance of discipline, hard work, and consistency.

“My creed to myself was that whatever may arise, I will stay grounded in my goals and set an example for those observing me so that they trust the process and finish the race,” said Porter. “I needed my child to understand that you must always finish what you started.”

In 1991, Porter received her GED after dropping out of high school to help support her grandmother, sister and brother. Shortly after that, she attained her two-year degree in general studies from the Kennedy King College in Chicago. In 2006, she began a traveling spa business. 

“My family was proud and told me to keep up the good work. You are doing things we never were able to or thought we could do,” said Porter, whose mother and father only had an elementary school education.

After losing her grandmother, Porter relocated to Jackson, Mississippi, to care for her father and to be closer to him in his later years. In the process, Porter said she recognized how her mother was incredibly proud of her academic achievements thus far and the importance of finishing the race.

“It was a moment of clarity for me. I felt good that I could accomplish something that I know was difficult for my mother and father,” said Porter, who enrolled at JSU in 2014 but took a break to attend the Academy of Hair Design and Magnolia College of Cosmetology to get licensed as a nail technician and esthetician.

In 2017, Porter opened one of the only nail salons in Durant, Mississippi, at that time. During the early stages of her business, she faced some challenges.

“The biggest difficulty was being Black in a field that is predominately Asian and Korean. Most people would come to me and say, ‘I’m going to give you a try.’ I would laugh, but I understood it was my only shot,” said Porter, who divulged that people would urge her to give up the nail business and open a restaurant.

But, she stuck to her plan, repositioned her business strategy, and leaned into preparing her daughter, Amari, for entrepreneurship and business management. In doing so, she could pass invaluable skills to her family while progressively chipping away at her academic goals.

“I wanted Amari to learn the business because it would place her in a position to be independent of the stresses of working for someone else, allow time for her to pour into her son [my grandson] and be available for his needs, as well as make the kind of money that people her age and mine only dream of,” Porter said.

Turning back to JSU, Porter registered for JSU Online in 2020. She credits the program for allowing her the flexibility to multitask and manage demanding areas of life.

During this time, Porter’s father, who was hospitalized, and on a breathing machine, devoted himself to nurturing her academic excellence. He would often send her out of the hospital to attend class instead of having her stay with him during his last moments.

“It was a crazy time for me. I was on autopilot. I would go from the hospital to a math class I took 20 years ago in 2001, but I had to retake it to align with today’s graduation standards,” she said.

Porter shared that her professor and classmates bolstered her resolve. 

"I wanted to drop the class and be there with my father, but they told me to hang in there, and they would get me through. My dad passed Nov. 2, 2021. I continued because he said, ‘I need you to do this. You’ve come too far and worked so hard.’ I am sad and happy now because I am finishing, but he can’t be here to see it,” she said.

Porter also credits the compassion and empathy of JSU faculty, staff, and several classmates for providing moral support, tutoring sessions, and grace during her moments of grief.

“There were so many people checking on me. I was grateful. My professor and classmates made sure I did not check out and become depressed, so I began to push through because I realized I was just too close to the finish,” she said. 

Upon graduating, Porter has her eyes set on pursuing law school locally or out-of-state and attending workshops and study sessions in preparation for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).

“I want to concentrate on business and estate planning because this is what I’m finding my community needs. I have helped a lot of people get EINs and Tax ID numbers. I have drafted Articles of Incorporation for their business and helped them structure those companies to operate correctly. But think of what I could do if I had the legal knowledge,” said Porter.

Porter further acknowledges several JSU faculty for their support, including Adjunct Professor Herious Cotton, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Carlos Wilson, Ph.D., Director of Student Support Services Gloria Stamps-Smith, Ph.D., and her niece, Tia Mason, who attended JSU.

“I want to let someone know out there that whatever your dream is, whatever work you put into it is exactly what you will get out of it, so push,” she said.

For more information about JSUOnline, click here.