No one can begin to tell Andrea Calhoun about her daughter, Nakiyah Calhoun.
After all, mom knows best.
THAT’S HER TWIN — As Memphian Andrea Calhoun explained, she doesn’t shy away from the notion that the sky’s “isn’t” the limit for Nakiyah Calhoun, her only daughter, who manufactured an impressive cumulative grade point of average of 2.94 and was a fixture in a variety of activities at Bolton High, most notably having been a member of Youth Court, during which she served as an attorney, the school’s choir, as well as assumed a notable role in theater. Nakiyah graduated from Bolton over the weekend.
“She’s never been the type to fit inside a box unless it’s the one she’s built for herself,” Calhoun, a native of Memphis, said of her daughter, who’s the oldest of her three children. “Being well spoken, she’s never met a stranger.”
During a weekend conversation with Making Headline News during its annual Salute To Graduates Tributes, Calhoun said it is due in large part to the close knit relationship with her daughter that essentially has given way to her having developed friendships with other kids her age and, interestingly, resulting in her emerging as what she calls “fun mom.”
“With great tenacity, major confidence, and a candid spirit, she’s definitely one to be recognized,” Calhoun said of her Nakiyah.
That certainly proved to be the case over the weekend when Calhoun’s beloved daughter were amongst a gallery of graduating seniors who were awarded diplomas during Bolton High’s commencement exercises.
As Calhoun explained, she doesn’t shy away from the notion that the sky “isn’t” the limit for her only daughter, who manufactured an impressive cumulative grade point of average of 2.94 and was a fixture in a variety of activities at Bolton, most notably having been a member of Youth Court, during which she served as an attorney, the school’s choir, as well as assumed a notable role in theater.
Next up for Nakiyah: It’s off to Empire Beauty School in Memphis, where she boasts lofty aspirations of becoming a licensed hair stylist and eventually becoming the sole owner of a salon, according to her mother.
Next up for Nakiyah: It’s off to Empire Beauty School in Memphis, where she boasts lofty aspirations of becoming a licensed hair stylist and eventually becoming the sole owner of a salon, according to her mother.
“She is my first and only daughter,” Calhoun said. “Her brothers — Kris (15) and Kendall (11) — are so very proud of her.”
Once Nakiyah’s name was officially called to take her rightful place on center stage to receive her diploma, the woman who’s widely known as “fun mom” was simply all smiles.
Once Nakiyah’s name was officially called to take her rightful place on center stage to receive her diploma, the woman who’s widely known as “fun mom” was simply all smiles.
“As her time came to be called, I waited with anticipation,” Calhoun recalled. “In those very moments, 13 years of school flashed before (my eyes) and I became so full of excitement and emotions. It was so worth seeing that priceless smile on her face as we all who screamed for her.”
For a minute, it seemed that Calhoun admittedly wanted to emerge from her seat and meet her daughter halfway on the stage and, well…hand the diploma to her oldest child herself.
“As a mother I wanted to run up to the stage and shout, cry, scream and all,” Calhoun said with such wonderment. “But I kept my composure until the end.”
Now we know why she is popularly known amongst her daughter’s peers as “fun mom.”
After all, mom knows best.
EDITOR’S NOTE:Whether your child has already graduated or not, if you would like to pay homage to his/her accomplishments with a unique Salute To Graduates Tribute that will feature a story like the one above with multiple photos, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
ABOUT ANDRE: Andre Johnson is a longtime sports journalist and a 2000 graduate of the University of the Memphis with Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. A native of Memphis, Johnson is a former sport reporter Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper and Memphis Sport Magazine. He worked as full-time staffer for The Commercial Appeal from 2000-2002, in which he was the beat reporter for the Memphis Houn’dawgs of now-defunct American Basketball Assocation and the Memphis Xplorers of the arenafootball2 league. He has interviewed numerous sports personalities, most notably Archie Manning, LeBron James, George “Iceman” Gervin, Issac Bruce, Laila Ali, Vince Carter, Paul Westphal, Phil Jackson, Ken Hamlin, Cortez Kennedy, Michael Oher, Kobe Bryant, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, James Harden, Patrick Willis, Stanley Morgan, Dirk Nowitzki, Rick Carlisle, Mark Cuban, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, John Force, Lamar Odom, Alexandra Stevenson, Derek Fisher, Penny Hardaway, Phillip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh, Tyreke Evans, Kirk Ferentz, and O. J. Mayo, among others. To reach Johnson, send email to: [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
Andre Johnson 
“With great tenacity, major confidence, and a candid spirit, she’s definitely one to be recognized,” Calhoun said of her Nakiyah.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Whether your child has already graduated or not, if you would like to pay homage to his/her accomplishments with a unique Salute To Graduates Tribute that will feature a story like the one above with multiple photos, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
