Tanika Nyangena

Tanika Nyangena was nominated by Dr. Angela Wadsworth, Lecturer, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, who says, “I have enormous respect for her, because she exemplifies what we wish all of our students could be; people who are in school for a variety of reasons and who are making the most of their educational opportunities.”

Tanika is a 30 year old senior majoring in criminal justice with a minor in sociology. She has received the Academic Achievement Award, the Minority Student Leadership Award, and is a team mom for the Richland’s U-9 Wildcats and a volunteer at the Navy Relief Marine Corp Society.

Tanika has faced many challenges this semester, including being a full-time student and mother, raising two children while her husband was stationed in Iraq. But her biggest challenge came after her husband returned home and after ten years of marriage, they decided to go their separate ways. Tanika then began the difficult work of having to assimilate back into the workforce after having been a stay-at-home mom, commuting from Jacksonville to take classes and having to wait four hours between classes because of the rising cost of gas prices. Doing this seemed at times “impossible, unattainable and most of all, overwhelming.” But she pushed on, striving to keep herself and her children “balanced in this world of chaos.” This, she feels, is her greatest achievement – one that she credits to her faith and the prayers of her mother, grandmother and other ancestors who she says have interceded for her. Although she says her faith has been shaken, it is still firm and continues to steer her toward balance as she travels through the unknowns that life throws her way.

Tanika would like to thank the Financial Aid office who gave her “great advice and raised my hopes and spirits to finish out this semester.” This support, along with the company of a newly formed friendship gave Tanika the kind of encouragement to complete her final semester. Her new friend Rhonna Kelson made the four hour wait between classes “feel like a two minute survey.”

Tanika’s advice for other non-trads is to “make friends with those around you; say hello to someone you don’t know because there may be a time when you have a three to four hour wait in between classes and you will see that time goes by a lot faster when you have someone to talk to.”

Though her plans after she graduates are still tentative, there is one thing she says she is sure to do: “cry.”

The Seahawk Perch congratulates Tanika Nyangena as it's Non-Traditional Student of the Month for November 2005!