Malik Watkins, a recent graduate of Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), has completed his degree in history after overcoming significant personal and academic challenges. Born in Macon, Georgia, Watkins moved several times during his childhood before settling in Sugar Hill at age seven. He graduated from Lanier High School in 2021 and enrolled at GGC the same year.
Watkins initially chose GGC for its convenience, admitting he had no clear plan after high school. His studies were interrupted in spring 2022 when health issues forced him to withdraw from classes and prevented him from returning that fall. “I truly believed my collegiate experience was over,” he recalled.
After more than a year away, Watkins returned to full-time studies in fall 2023. The gap left him feeling discouraged: “This gap seemed like a severe setback that I would never be able to recover from,” Watkins said. “I felt like everyone was leaving me behind, and I wanted to give up entirely.” Encouraged by his parents, he re-enrolled at GGC.
Upon returning, Watkins found unexpected support on campus. “Far from being a dead end, returning to GGC was a fresh start,” he said. “I was amazed at the network of support waiting for me.”
He changed his major from computer science to history—a decision he described as difficult but ultimately rewarding. “This was a difficult move, because computer science came much more naturally to me, and it was the degree most of my friends were pursuing,” he explained. “But I took the chance to do something new. I discovered I have an incredible passion for history.”
Watkins believes studying history has shaped how he approaches life today and prepares for the future: “I try to use the lessons of the past every day in my life to better the world,” he said. “Studying history has taught me empathy and to consider all viewpoints, as well as to listen to the voices that are often not heard. It’s helped me to ask bigger questions about the world and myself.”
He credits small class sizes and engaged professors with helping him grow academically: “My reading and writing skills improved dramatically, and I am a much better thinker and speaker now than I was just a couple of years ago,” Watkins said.
Beyond academics, Watkins says GGC provided him with community: “I have met all types of people from all different backgrounds, ethnicities, nationalities, ages and classes,” he said. “I’ve met lifelong friends and have even found love. Most importantly, I was able to find myself.”
