Real Story: Markala Pharr

Markala Pharr

Class of 2026, PsychologyCSM graduate Markala Pharr stands in front of the podium and CSM banner at commencement, dressed in graduation cap and gown

Transfer Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Accolades, Accomplishments, and Highlights:

  • Class of 2026 Student Speaker, School of Liberal Arts
  • Secretary and President, Student Government Association
  • President, Black Student Union
  • Vice President, Women of Excellence
  • Graduate, Miller Leadership Academy

If you had asked me a few years ago where I would have imagined myself being now, I don’t think I would have been able to give you a clear answer. Not because I didn’t have goals and aspirations for myself, but because my life has never really followed one straight path.

I’m a military kid and I’ve moved quite a lot. I attended eight different schools throughout my K-12 education and, for a long time, “home” wasn’t strictly one place. I subconsciously learned that, once we were in a place for three years, it was time for a move.

In a way, I grew to look forward to this change. Getting to explore different places, meet different people, even have some very interesting neighbors—including one who was an actor who famously played Tarzan and owned multiple tigers and leopards. Which, for the record, was an experience that was every bit as wild as it sounds. 

As exciting as all of this seems, constantly moving meant constantly starting over. New schools. New cities. New faces. New versions of myself. And after a while, I got used to being temporary. You learn how to adapt quickly. I learned how to quickly summarize and introduce myself over and over again. So, when I had the opportunity to be a part of Prince Frederick’s first Early College cohort in 2024, I treated it like I had treated everywhere else before: just another place I would pass through. 

This time it was different, though. I decided to stay. For possibly the first time, I didn’t just move through a place—I became a part of it. 

After graduating with my certificate from CSM and then my high school diploma, I stayed an additional year and a half to complete my associate degree in psychology. I got involved, even more than I had originally planned. I first started as Student Government Association secretary, and the rest is history. I served as president of the Black Student Union, vice president of Women of Excellence, president of the Student Government Association, a Student Ambassador, and a proud graduate of the Miller Leadership Academy.

But more than the titles, what truly mattered were the people. Somewhere between multiple board meetings, event planning, and office hours, I found something I felt I hadn’t truly experienced before: community. 

I built a community here at CSM. I was surrounded by some amazing, intelligent people who have made an impact on my life that will forever stick with me. I especially want to thank Professors Lisa Lynk-Smith, Tamara Gibbs-Franklin, and Christine Schuette, and CSM staff members Courtney Hawkins, Tim Fenner, Destini Courtney, and Laura Robbins. You all poured into me in various ways and reminded me of the greater things I am destined to achieve.

I also want to thank my parents, my number one supporters, LaQuenda and Eugene Pharr. I’m not sure what external forces were at play to bring together two people from opposite coasts in Florida, but I cannot thank them enough. To two very special people who, unfortunately, are no longer with us, my nana Ethel and my grandfather Elijah: I will continue to do everything I can to make you both proud.

My nana showed me what it meant to get involved and give back to the community. Every time I went out with her, one of the first things I heard was either someone pointing out how identical we looked or someone mentioning something she had done to support their small town and community. Without realizing it at the time, because of her example, I eventually learned to show up and help however I could, whenever I could. I saw the impact on others and I wanted to do the same. Her lessons stayed with me even after her passing. It shaped the way I moved through CSM and the way I choose to lead. 

My journey with CSM has come to a close, and I now attend the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. I’ve already begun building a community there, from getting involved with clubs, working as a research assistant, and finding my place once again in a new, unfamiliar setting. I have taken the lessons I learned at CSM and from my family and carried them with me. I will continue to carry them all the way until I reach my final goal: becoming a counseling psychologist, professor, and researcher. 

I want you to remember that no two journeys look the same. There is no mandatory timeline you must follow and there is no direct path you need to complete. You do not need to have everything figured out to move forward. Sometimes you just need to take the small step to initiate it. Your journey is yours alone and that is exactly what makes it so meaningful. 

If there is anything that my journey in life has taught me, it’s this: “Temporary” does not mean insignificant. You never truly know the impact you have on someone, so always choose to show up. If you ever find yourself in a place that feels temporary or uncertain, remember that you have the ability to make an impact. It’s not about how long you stay somewhere. It’s about how you choose to show up while you’re there. You can turn whatever you’re doing into something that truly matters.

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Last updated: 5/18/26

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