When one thinks of service, many ideas may come to mind: performing acts of kindness, lending a helping hand and empowering others for the greater good.
Service, one of William & Mary’s seven core values, is summarized as “devoting our knowledge, skills and time to serving the greater good.”
Correnthia Randolph M.Ed. ’24, this year’s student Commencement speaker at William & Mary, encompasses this value to its core.
“I am filled with gratitude for this honor,” she said.
“To be chosen as the 2024 student Commencement speaker is the cherry on top of my academic years spent learning at William & Mary.”
Randolph will take the stage next month with faith and gratitude at William & Mary’s 2024 Commencement ceremony, scheduled to begin on May 17 at 7 p.m. in Zable Stadium. Her speech will allude to the very topics that defined her time at W&M.
Calling her time at W&M a “journey,” Randolph will emphasize the value of help from others and the realization that without collaboration and building strong relationships, her journey may have been different.
“My speech will touch on service, friendship and leadership, which are at the core of who I am,” said said. “It will define my time at William & Mary and how my class and the university navigated the challenges of the pandemic, while balancing academics and social relationships. It will speak to the journey of how we have arrived,” she said.
A resident mental health counselor and an ordained minister, Randolph has felt an inclination to serve her entire life. She will be graduating this month with a master’s degree in clinical mental health, something she describes as her life’s purpose.
“My motivation toward this specific area of study stemmed from my calling and position as an ordained minister and my desire to serve God’s people in an authentic, holistic manner,’’ she said.
Randolph says initially she struggled to find her footing in her career plan. Then she crossed paths with Marie Norton M.Ed. ’22, an alumna and local counselor who responded to her with a “sense of joy and camaraderie,” something she describes as a “real highlight” of her time at William & Mary.
“She personally made sure I met the right person to help me join her practice. As they say, the rest is history,” said Randolph.
As the owner and director of The Center for Life, described on its webpage as a “therapy center for those struggling with the many facets of life,” Randolph works with individuals to take control of their own narratives as well as explore the “art of becoming one’s true self.”
She also takes pride in immersing herself in campus culture, furthering her journey of philanthropy and leadership. She has been a valued member of the Omega Mu chapter of Chi Sigma Lota and Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. She is also an alumni member of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity.
“I have found it to be a place where world-changers are cultivated to be greater,” she said.
Randolph said she is looking forward to Commencement and celebrating the moment with her fellow graduates.
“I would say I am mostly looking forward to standing in that moment of realization and sitting in pictures that will one day mark beautiful memories of my time here at William & Mary,” she said.
After graduating from William & Mary, Randolph plans to continue working as a mental health counselor under supervision, while growing her practice centered on her beliefs of human connection and helping others. She also plans to attend school in the fall to obtain her doctorate degree.
“I want people to know who I am and what I bring to the table,” she said. “I am a woman who lives to serve. I want people to know that no matter who they are, I am showing up for them. I want to be a part of their story, helping them to rewrite their narrative and helping them to navigate this journey called life.’’