top of page
468597734_946969070657016_8474611299108845482_n.jpg

Celebrating a New Chapter – Graduation 2025

Thank you for being part of the journey—your support, encouragement, and belief helped me get here.

Your Support Means Everything

Some of you have kindly asked how you can show love during this milestone. I’ve created a few thoughtful ways to celebrate with me:

Wishlist

Wishlist

Send a Gift, Share the Joy

If you'd like to gift something practical or personal, here's my curated wishlist:


Amazon Wish List 


Grad Fund

Grad Fund

Fuel the Next Chapter

Help support my post-grad goals, from PhD research costs to certification programs.


Secure contribution options:


Venmo: @trouverparadiseofficial


Zelle: contact@paradiserodriguez-bordeaux.com



Donate to Charity

Donate to Charity

Give Back in My Honor

Catch A Falling Star Foundation

Creating safe, dignified support for survivors of trauma and crisis.



Beauty, Brains & Business

A scholarship and grant fund helping young women build futures in entrepreneurship.



Unhoused, But Still Human

Direct aid and advocacy for unhoused individuals, rooted in respect and restoration.



Paradise Rodriguez _ Harvard (62 of 83).jpg

Watch the Ceremony

Join me virtually as I walk the stage!

 Thursday, May 29, 2025
8:30 AM est

Want to Support My Work Long-Term?

You can also invest in the tools and stories I’ve created:

Books I’ve Written

Explore powerful narratives and practical guides I’ve authored.

Before the Cap, There Was the Climb

From hospital beds to Harvard halls,

this is the road I walked to graduation.

I was zipping up my gown for the Miss Georgia USA Finals when the phone rang.


Harvard.


It wasn’t just an email or a letter—it was a call. A real voice, asking if I was still interested in applying. One moment I was preparing for the stage, the next, I was holding a student ID card that read “Harvard University.”  Mrs. Cathay’s words rang in my mind, “You deserve to do something for just you for once. Take care of you.” That moment didn’t feel like a dream. It felt like a door. One I had fought for...one I wasn’t going to waste.


But life didn’t slow down to congratulate me.


I didn’t arrive with a safety net or privilege. No cheering relatives. No legacy advantages. I came with just an unwavering vision, and a long history of betting on myself—even when the odds were stacked against me.


At Harvard, I found both magic and mess.


I’ve danced at the balls, participated in student gatherings, and advocated for equity at the highest levels. I met my best friend, Naveed (may he rest in peace) and together we stood up for HES students around the world. When my cancer returned, Naveed rallied me. He never let me slip into the shadows of feeling like “the sick girl.” He saw me whole.


    Even when the illness spread.
   Even when I almost died.
   Even when I had to relearn how to walk.

I kept showing up.


There were days I couldn't breathe. Nights when pain screamed louder than any textbook. Yet, I showed up.

I signed into class from hospital beds. Asked doctors to wait  on meds and/some procedures so I could hear lectures. I submitted assignments through shaking hands and searing pains...not because I had to prove anything, but because I knew what I was building.


I was dismissed, underestimated, even disrespected by some instructors and faculty.
                             But I was also deeply seen by others.

Dr. M told me, “It’s okay to not be okay.”
Professor Murphy reminded me, “You’re a great student” and to not be so hard on myself. Professors had told me "You wouldn't be here if you weren't supposed to be." 


I held onto those words. And I kept going.


Since enrollment, I’ve:

  • Been published multiple times

  • Built several profitable companies

  • Earned nine awards

  • Made the Dean’s List

  • Earned several certificates

  • Advocated for myself and others, globally

  • Fought 2 forms of cancer

.....all while attending full-time every term.


This wasn’t a clean path. It wasn’t handed to me.


But this isn’t just about survival. It’s about refusal—the refusal to shrink.

Because I don’t come from easy.


I come from extremely below the poverty line.
    From instability.

     From no blueprint or backup plan.

     From a completely untraditional education path


          I come from no one was coming to save me.


But I also come from power—power born from continuously looking forward.


I believed I would build something. And I was willing to fight for it, even when oppositions tried to stop me. Sure, it's hard to build when you don’t have much, but I knew I had one thing that would see me through.


 What I had was belief—deep, radical belief that I could make it. And a relentless work ethic to match.


The road has been brutal—but it’s mine.

And through every high and low, I’ve stayed anchored in one truth:



I will fight.

I will heal.

I will thrive.

    Unapologetically.



That’s my theme. My truth. My legacy in motion.


And now, I move forward.

   I’ll be continuing my neurobiological research.

   Building what doesn’t yet exist.
  Creating space for others to fight, heal, and thrive too.


If you’ve been part of this journey in any way, thank you. If you’re just meeting me now, welcome. Your presence here is seen and appreciated.


This isn't just a graduation.


It’s a declaration.


There are unknowns ahead—but I’ve survived worse.
And I didn’t come this far just to arrive.  


Not perfectly. Not pain-free. But powerfully.


I came to lead. To build. To keep going & growing ... unapologetically.

Graduating too?
Here are some helpful
resources for your big day!

Graduation Budget.png

Get graduation-ready without breaking the bank. This list of affordable essentials — from travel bags and wardrobe staples to photo props and grad gifts — keeps you stylish and stress-free.

You Did It.png

honoring your resilience, your journey, and the dreams you still carry, “Dear Graduate” is a letter to the ones who made it, even when it wasn’t easy.

Graduation Ultimate Guide.png

What to pack for graduation week? What to do before commencement? This all-in-one checklist covers final tasks, regalia, and essentials to bring.

What No One Tells You About Graduation Day.png

Graduation day isn’t always picture-perfect — and that’s okay. From last-minute chaos to emotional overwhelm, here’s what no one tells you about commencement (but should). This honest guide helps you feel prepared for more than just the ceremony.

Thank You

Every message, memory, or note of encouragement is a piece of this moment.

Whether we’ve known each other for years or just crossed paths, I’d be honored to hear from you.

Leave A Note.png
I have only known you a while but I have known you all my life. Your story resonates, inspires me again and again, that our gifts are special we should honor, protect and appreciate them. They are a divine blessing, a calling that God uses to show others that what ever challenges or circumstances, His blessings shelter you from any challenge pain or adversity. Paradise, you are truly that example. Congratulations 🎉👍🎉👍 and may the protective arms of God continue to move you forward in achievements and success Love, Mom Dr. Nina Boyd Fields Pourvaranttee

Dr Nina Fields Pourvaranttee

Paradise, I knew that this day would come. You're tenacious and you never let anyone stop you from being your most excellent self. I'm glad to have been there at the beginning of your journey and I know that the journey isn't ending. This is a wonderful milestone and keep being fearlessly you! 🥰

Leonard Lay

Upload
Max: 10 MB

Your content has been submitted

An error occurred. Try again later

bottom of page