“And suddenly you know: it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings,” a quote by Meister Eckhart, served as the inspiration for Grace Marie Burris’s speech as Hillsborough College’s (HC) 57th Annual Commencement student speaker.
At just 18 years old, Grace Marie, a home-schooled and dual enrollment student from Plant City, will be walking the stage in May 2026 with her peers as a member of the graduating class of 2026. While balancing online and in-person classes at the Brandon, Dale Mabry and Plant City Campuses, and battling a chronic illness, Grace Marie took a leap to get a head start in her educational journey and gained clarity on what she wanted to do with her life.
“For dual enrollment, definitely do it. I waited a bit before starting clubs because I didn’t feel like a real student,” she said. “But you are a real student. You’re here just like everyone else. Join everything—you have a right to be there.”
When enrolling at HC, the College was the most accessible option for Grace Marie to pursue dual enrollment close to home in Plant City. HC’s quality education not only attracted her but also helped lay the foundation for her academic pathway. She plans to transfer to the University of Florida (UF), where she intends to double major in History in American Government and Literature, Law and International Studies.
Grace Marie began her time at HC taking all her classes online, until her Honors Leadership course brought her on campus and opened her up to campus clubs and organizations. Through that experience, she became a Plant City Student Government Association senator, a member of Phi Theta Kappa and an active participant in Model United Nations (UN).
Plant City Campus President, Dr. Martyn Clay, offered Grace Marie advice on her pathway toward UF, encouraging her to explore the HC Model UN program due to her interest in law and global issues.
“He gave me the best advice,” she said. “He told me to be calm and that as long I keep doing what I’ve been doing, then I’ll be fine. He really helped ease my stress about what I needed to do next.”
While she had to wait until turning 18 to participate in Model UN, Grace Marie was permitted to observe meetings, strengthening her understanding of public speaking and diplomacy by learning from her peers. That growth ultimately contributed to her being selected as the commencement student speaker. As of late April 2026, she participated in a Model UN conference and has been recognized as an active delegate.
“The more I went, I saw how fascinating it was,” she said. “I felt that I was getting better and becoming more knowledgeable about the world around me.”
Her leadership class also required 20 hours of community service, an experience that offered her one of her favorite memories at HC. Grace Marie participated in the annual Hawk Run, despite believing that she would not complete the race. Crossing that finish line showed her the strength of the HC community.
"I have nothing to do with the running world,” she said. “But it was so cool seeing the school and AMSA come together and put up this awesome event!”
Leading up to graduation in May 2026, Grace Marie received an email advertising the opportunity to apply for the student speaker at this year’s Commencement ceremony. Seeing it as a final chance to make an impact at HC, she decided to apply—asking herself, “Why not?”
“I had no intention on winning. I just wanted to try and say I tried,” she said. “I wrote my speech a week before and felt insecure going in. But I was chosen, and now I get to practice with HC speech professors!”
For her speech, Grace Marie chose to focus on the HC student population and the global backgrounds represented across the College. She discovered that more than 100 countries are represented among HC students, with up to 50 different countries represented by on campus students.
“My story was a little unique with HC,” she said. “I wanted to help the students share their stories, too.”
While attending college with a chronic illness, Grace Marie draws inspiration from her grandfather’s encouragement to follow her own path, and she hopes her message resonates with students facing similar challenges.
Believing every graduate worked tirelessly to reach this milestone, Grace Marie plans to honor their individual journeys while remembering everything they’ve overcome together. With the hard part behind them, she encourages the class of 2026 to embrace the benefits of graduating and what comes next without hesitation.
“Despite how different we all are, we were able to come together and accomplish some really awesome things. When I started this speech, I didn’t realize all that we have done. We’ve overcome a lot to get here.”
With her future at UF on the horizon, Grace Marie is excited to take more in-person classes and engage in campus organizations. She ultimately plans to attend law school, driven by a passion to improve laws that protect survivors of human trafficking and strengthen legal systems that support them. With her love for teaching, currently teaching preschool students, she hopes to one day become a law professor.
"This is your time," she said. "Take what you have and keep going because it's now or never. We're graduating—this is your start. Now go do it!"