I love Santa Fe College. Why do I love it so much? Because I am a product of Santa Fe College. The way I arrived was on the way less traveled. You see, I’m a product of the segregation era. When I was a born a little girl 80 years ago in a little town called Trenton, FL, at that time, I had no idea that the road for me would lead me to this point. All I know is that I had a desire for education. All I know is that because the doors weren’t opened at that moment did not mean that doors would never open. … You see, when I decided that I wanted to be a nurse, which was early on in my life, I couldn’t go to the University of Florida because of segregation. I was out of high school 10 years married to an awesome, handsome, lovely dude before Santa Fe opened. I became one of its first students. I worked the night shift from 11-7, took classes at Santa Fe, went home, tried to get sleep, take care of my children and get ready to come back to work again at Shands Teaching Hospital. I did that, because why? Because the door was opened.
Vivian Filer, Professor Emeritus, Nursing; Chair, Board of Directors, Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, Inc.