by:CASSANDRA SANTANDER
Laura Katina Hamilton
What you left behind...
About Me
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As I am creating this project I sit here and ponder “what if I never had to write about this… What if I never had to write about death at all”. My goal for this project is to successfully encourage myself to continue with life just as Katina Hamilton would do every single day if she was still walking this earth. I started working at the Office of Financial Aid in 2016 as a Financial Aid Representative when I first met Katina. Laura Katina Hamilton served as the Assistant Director of Customer Service in the Office of Financial Aid. From our first interaction, I knew she was a motivating person who loved to encourage and make everyone feel good about their work. Let’s just say she was the life of the workplace. I am a person who loves to be encouraged by other professionals and individuals who love to live their life to the fullest. Katina passed away on May 5, 2017. The reason I am writing about her was because she was one of those humans to encourage me in life as I was starting to get back on to my feet. She was my former supervisor, co-worker, Mentor, and most importantly a great friend. Katina was many things to many people: a mom, daughter, cousin, friend, and many more. Katina was the person you would love to be around regardless if you were with her on the clock or outside the office. When Katina passed way she left an imprint on many people’s lives, and I want to continue her legacy by spreading the love and comfort she exhibited every day. Everyone has a legacy to leave behind…it’s just up to us to determine what we leave behind.
This photo was taken on our last outreach program together. She was so proud of her hard work and would express it in ways you would want to join her. Katina wore many hats around the office, assisting in different roles in and outside of the office. Her main priority was to be the best damn Customer Service Assistant Director anyone could ask for. It seemed as if she was born to do her job.
In my point of view, I believe she was one of the main reasons students decided to attend FSU. She made them feel as if they could accomplish anything in the world if they were willing to chase after it. As I saw her every day at work, I felt as if her motivation and caring rubbed off on me. I began to push myself to become the best Financial Aid Representative I could be. Till this day I hope to become as great as Ms. Katina and have an impact on the students I interact with on a daily basis.
Katina had aspirations to reach new heights and strived to be the best at what she did in life, lessons she also taught her boys. Katina’s main goal was to earn her BA Degree from Florida State University. She worked day and night, while serving as a full time mom, working full-time, and still managed to take classes while also making time for her personal life. She would never ask for much as she only looked at the great outcome towards the end.
Work Ethic
Friendships are Forever
Terry Lucas was Katina Hamilton’s best Friend in and outside of the office. She is our Assistant Director in the IT section. She met Katina here at Florida State University and has been the best of friends since. “She has been and always will be my best friend as I cannot wait to see her once again.”
Mrs. Colette Barnes is our Financial Aid Specialist in the Customer Service Section. Mrs. Colette has been in the office for over 30 years. According to Mrs. Colette “I saw Katina grow into the women she was before God took Her away. She has been through so many obstacles and trucked through each one of them day by day.”
Sue Vickers, Coressa Wright-Reed, and Sherron Sloan, was her closest friends and supervisors in the office. These ladies helped her overcome any obstacles that came her way. They were great supporters for Katina when she was in need.
Laneka Barrington was a great friend to Katina and was recently developing a bond with her since Laneka’s farther passed away earlier in the year. Katina was always there for Laneka and her four children. According to Laneka “Katina has been my oldest sister in my eyes. She would never disappoint me in any way possible. I Hope to one day be a great mother as she was raising her two twin boys.”
Family
Family was a big part of Katina’s life. You didn’t have to be related by blood nor by marriage to be considered family. I knew Katina for a year and a half and she considered me as a daughter. Katina left behind two wonderful boys who lived to make their mother proud. Kristopher and Kristian Cauley, Katina’s sons, are Sophomores in Goby High School. Kristopher is a track star for Goby and Kristian is part of a stepping Club named “The Omega Lamp Lighter”. Katina’s Mother is 80 years old and would never think to see the day her only child would be taken before her. I knew Katina was her mother’s prized possession. We could sit in the car for hours having a life lifting moment talking about her mother and how she would do everything in her power to make her happy. That very special moment happened when her mother was honored with Katina’s BA Degree at her memorial service.
Conclusion
As I leave all my tears and thoughts on this creation, I now know that I will always remember her mark she left on this world. Katina has made a dramatic impact in my life that I would certainly keep forever. I want to grow into the confident women she was when I first met her. I will always have her in my heart and soul, remembering where we met and have the feeling that I will never see you again.