Jacoshiya Johnson received a graduation gift she will never forget. The Florida A&M University student was surprised by her mother with her dream car during graduation celebrations over the weekend.
In a video posted to the HBCU’s Instagram account, Johnson is surrounded by family, her diploma and car keys in hand as she cries in shock at the discovery.
She was gifted a white Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 53 with a red interior and black rims after she walked across the Lawson Center stage. The car was complete with a plaque that features her nickname, Cosha, and the university’s signature colors and snake.
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“I always told my mom I wanted a Mercedes (Benz) when I graduate,” Johnson told the Tallahassee Democrat. “It was really exciting.”
The recent FAMU graduate had asked her mother for the new car as a gift a few years ago, not expecting she would receive it.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting the car, and I was OK with not getting it,” she added. “I was already blessed to just be graduating.”
At the time, Johnson’s mother, Tica Nanton, told her, “You do your part, and I’ll do my part.” Nanton owns a preschool in Winter Haven, Florida.
Nanton said she found the car last December. She purchased the model with a price tag starting at $75,000. Nanton then placed the vehicle in storage, so her daughter wouldn’t find it when she visited home.
“As soon as I found it, I purchased it,” she said.
The 23-year-old graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology pre-medicine while also being an active member of several campus organizations. She is the first of her family to graduate from college.
“My mom always goes above and beyond for me,” Johnson said. “It’s not even about the material item, but the constant love, support and motivation.”
“Oftentimes, I felt like I wanted to give up,” she added. “Now, I get to establish a legacy for my future.”
The recent graduate is preparing to take the MCAT this summer and will pursue a Master of Medical Science degree at Barry University in Miami. She ultimately wants to become a pediatric oncologist, her goal since childhood.
“She’s grown tremendously as a student and as a person,” Fran Scott, director of the FAMU premed program, said. “She is competitive and ready for a successful transition to medical school.”
Congratulations Cosha!
