By Foster Conner
Editor-in-Chief
What started out as a personal challenge to prove something to herself after returning to the classroom for the first time in almost 20 years has led early childhood development major Alexia Layton to not only walk the stage during the Fall 2025 graduation ceremony, but also deliver the commencement speech.
Early Childhood Development Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor, Trena Rider nominated Layton. “During a meeting together, she said, ‘Someday, I’m going to be standing on that stage as the speaker.’ Whenever I saw her name on the graduation list, it was time to make that happen for her,” Rider said.
Layton said her journey back to school came with its own challenges. “There was such a gap in technology,” she said. “I haven’t been in school since the early 2000s and had to learn how to navigate a computer.” Despite those obstacles, Layton said her time at Amarillo College included moments that reshaped her confidence, and one class in particular stood out. “In composition, our professor Kim Shreffler had us listen to a TED talk over grit. Shortly after that, it occurred to me that this can be done.”
Looking back on the challenges she faced early on in her own journey, Layton said she hopes her experience reassures students who may feel the same way. “You don’t have to show up to college knowing how things operate. They will teach you and help you,” she said. “You don’t have to walk in knowing how to navigate a computer. They will teach you. If you don’t know where a class is, just ask. Everyone at AC is always willing to help. It is possible.”
Layton said she plans to continue her education at Texas Woman’s University, and hopes to use her degree to be a bridge in the community. “To meet children where they come from and help them to the other side of things. To give them an opportunity, a head start in life,” she said.
Rider said Layton’s vision makes her role at commencement especially meaningful. “That’s what educators get to do. We get to be the bridge, and she is getting to be the bridge in front of a lot of people in the room,” Rider said.
Layton isn’t just leaving AC with an associate degree, she said she is also leaving with a sense of self worth. “A leap and growth and advancements for my family,” she said. “Now I believe I can do anything.”
The fall 2025 commencement ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec.19, at the Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum. For those unable to attend in person, a livestream of the ceremony will be available on the Amarillo College website.
Leave a Reply