Elizabeth City, N.C. — What if the biggest detour of your life turned out to be the path you were meant to take? For Ashanti and Jaylin Razor, young parents who transferred to Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) to be closer to family support, that detour will bring them to the commencement stage this Saturday as they graduate together with business administration degrees and fulfill their promise to finish what they started.
Ashanti was born and raised in Elizabeth City, but when she graduated from high school, her future was set somewhere else.
“When I graduated from high school, my future was clear, or so I thought,” she said. “I would attend North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and major in nursing. I would graduate from there, reside in the RDU area, and pursue my career as a labor and delivery nurse.”
With full-tuition scholarships, Ashanti headed to Durham, NC.
Jaylin, from Fayetteville, had big plans of his own.
“I wanted to play college football, go to the NFL or become an architectural engineer,” he said. “I envisioned my future to be full of success. I always envisioned myself as a wealthy man in all aspects of life.”
His first stop was Campbell University, where he joined the football team and declared an engineering major. But the dream derailed.
“I went to play football, and Campbell had my major,” he said, “but I lost my identity.”
After a semester of slipping grades, a hard call from his coach, and financial strain on his mother, Jaylin left Campbell. “I went through depression and anxiety. I was trying to figure life out and find myself,” he said. “Two years later, I decided to give school a chance again. So I went to NCCU.”
When Love Didn’t Follow the Syllabus
It was on NCCU’s campus where Jaylin and Ashanti’s paths crossed.
“Our ‘meet up’ was at the campus Starbucks. We sat and talked for three hours.” Ashanti said.
Not long after that memorable first meeting, their relationship grew, and soon, Ashanti found out she was expecting. One trip to the doctor confirmed Jaylin and Ashanti’s wildest dreams: they were expecting twins.
“I was honestly hopeless in those early stages,” Ashanti said, recalling the moment she learned she was pregnant. Deep down, however, Ashanti knew there was purpose in what she perceived to be pain. "If God could trust me with it, He would equip me for it."
Jaylin’s first reaction was quite the contrary. His outlook was not so positive. “I just started getting back on track, and school was going great. I was making connections. I had a lot of opportunities opening up for me.”
The months that followed tested them in every way. They faced challenges mentally, financially, spiritually and geographically. Ashanti knew she needed to be closer to her support system and find a campus where her growing family could thrive. So at 34 weeks pregnant, she transferred to ECSU Fall 2023.
“ECSU was affordable and the quality of education was superb. I didn’t settle when choosing to attend ECSU. It was the blessing I didn’t know I needed,” she said.
Jaylin stayed in Durham, juggling barbering, security and overnight truck driving. In April 2023, the twins, Jaylin and Jaxson, arrived. By December 2023, Jaylin and Ashanti were married. Shortly after, Jaylin began his own Viking journey at ECSU in Spring 2024.
Jaylin’s decision came at a cost, but he believed it was for a greater purpose. “As a father, I couldn’t miss raising my kids on a daily basis. Also, I couldn’t see myself letting her suffer from a decision we both made and let her take care of the kids and finish school by herself. So I decided to transfer so we could do it together,” he said.
As their family settled into life at ECSU, they welcomed a third son, Joshua.
A New Home in Viking Nation
At ECSU, they found what they needed: structure, support and a community that saw more than student ID numbers.
“ECSU was hands-on and always accessible,” Ashanti said. “The Transfer Advising Office explained the process to me and guided me step by step. The professors and staff in the business department are phenomenal. They respected us and ensured that we had all the tools to be successful. They made the journey so much easier.”
For Jaylin, that care was life-changing. “ECSU will always be special—the business department treated us with love,” he said. “Many schools support women, but ECSU also had resources for me as a husband and father.”
Balancing classes and parenting three boys meant early mornings, shared schedules and help from Ashanti’s sister, Amari Sutton, also an ECSU student, who stepped in when the couple’s classes overlapped.
Leaving to Conquer
As graduation nears, both say the moment means much more than a line on a résumé.
“My graduation symbolizes resilience, faith and determination. It’s truly a testament to the goodness of God,” Ashanti said. “He literally carried us through it. It reminded me that God has great plans for our lives and that He’s faithful to complete a work that He’s started.”
For Jaylin, the ceremony marks a turning point. “Graduation symbolizes completion. It symbolizes release for the next assignment,” he said. “I achieved a lot here at ECSU as a man. I came a long way, and I’m glad I came here.”
The Razors remarked on the quality of education they received at ECSU. They give credit for their successful transition to Debjani Kanjilal, professor of Economics; Ebere Oriaku, professor of Business Administration; and Kungpo Tao, associate professor of Marketing.
“Nobody is touching ECSU professors. The love the ECSU business department has for their students is insane.”
A Legacy for Their Sons
The Razors plan to build businesses, careers and generational strength. They intend to keep God at the center of it all.
“My goals are to become a successful businesswoman in the cosmetology industry,” Ashanti said. “I plan to use my degree to show that with God, all things are possible.”
Jaylin hopes to create jobs and empower others to find their purpose.
Dreams Reimagined
Ashanti imagined caring for families in a hospital. Now, she sees she has built her own.
Jaylin once imagined wealth as a football contract or career. Now, graduating with his wife and raising three sons, he knows this is lasting wealth.
As transfer students, Jaylin and Ashanti Razor needed a place to continue. ECSU gave them a place to thrive.