Elizabeth City, N.C. — It was the start of the spring semester in 2013 and Shomari Bullard, now an adult learner and interdisciplinary studies major, was ready to take on another chapter of his college journey at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). With music education as his original major, he was ready to see where it would take him. But what should have been a typical day soon turned into something that would change his life forever.
"I was helping a friend move into their new apartment when my stomach started hurting. By that evening, the pain became unbearable. I denied the idea of going to the hospital, but it felt like someone was cutting me from the inside out," Bullard recalls. Little did he know, that intense pain marked the beginning of a long battle with kidney failure.
Rushed to the emergency room, Bullard was devastated to learn that his kidneys had failed just as classes were starting. The diagnosis sent him into a spiral of fear and uncertainty. He moved back home to High Point, NC, unable to continue his studies at ECSU. "I tried to start classes online that spring, but my health kept declining. I was starting dialysis and it felt like my life was being pulled out from under me," he says quietly.
But what could have been the end of his college dreams turned into the beginning of an inspiring journey of determination, resilience and unshakeable faith.
Bullard's health struggles were far from easy. He endured long months of dialysis, lost his appetite and could barely breathe without feeling like he was suffocating. "There were nights I couldn't lie down to sleep because I couldn't breathe. I had to sleep sitting up or on my knees," he remembers.
Yet, through all the pain, Bullard never lost sight of his purpose.
Even as his body struggled, his spirit remained steadfast. "I had just answered the call to ministry before I got sick. So, I kept preaching, singing and serving the Lord despite my condition," he says. His faith became his anchor during the storm and would continue to guide him through the darkest times.
In 2016, Bullard's health took a turn for the better when he received a kidney transplant.
"I received a call from UNC-Chapel Hill that they had a kidney for me and I received a kidney transplant that next day," Bullard says.
For a brief moment, it seemed like life was returning to normal. He even moved to Virginia, where he became the pastor of a church. "I went on to start a church in Suffolk, Va, in 2017.
While in Virginia, I was able to be closer to my best friend, whom I met at ECSU." For Bullard, things were indeed on the up and up. "We got married in Feb. of 2018," Bullard says.
But life had other plans. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Bullard's body rejected the transplanted kidney due to the COVID-19 virus. Once again, he found himself back on dialysis.
This time, however, Bullard chose to take control of his health. "I decided to do dialysis at home. It was the best decision I ever made," he says with a sense of empowerment. Despite his ongoing health challenges, Bullard continued to thrive in his ministry, becoming the senior pastor of First Baptist Missionary Church in Hertford, NC.
It was during this season of resilience that Bullard realized he still had unfinished business at ECSU. "I promised myself that I would finish what I started," he says. With the support of his wife Toshia, and mentors like Arlinda Halfacre, director of admissions, who helped him transition back to campus, Bullard returned to ECSU to complete his degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Music was still the cornerstone of Bullard's campus experience. As a member and later director of ECSU's Essence of Praise Gospel Choir, Bullard found his voice—literally and figuratively.
Under the mentorship of Walter Swan, director of choral activities, while in the ECSU University Choir, Bullard overcame years of criticism that had shaken his confidence in his vocal abilities.
"Dr. Swan helped break that darkness off me," Bullard shares. "He encouraged me to embrace my God-given sound, and from that time on, I've been most confident in myself."
ECSU's University Choir and Essence of Praise Gospel Choir took Bullard on journeys up and down the East Coast, performing for gospel artists and even accompanying the former chancellor at speaking engagements. These experiences nurtured his talents and fostered a sense of leadership and community.
As Bullard walks across the stage to receive his degree this weekend, his journey will be a testament to the power of perseverance. "College taught me that with faith in God and belief in myself, anything is possible. You don't let circumstances define you. You rise above them," he says.
As an adult learner, Bullard's journey hasn't been easy—but he finds the humor in it all. "I'm one of the very few people who still know how to drive a stick shift vehicle. I'm so old; both dorms I stayed in on campus have now been demolished," he laughs.
Bullard's post-graduation plans include continuing his pastoral work and pursuing a master's degree at Shaw University's School of Divinity. He and his wife, Toshia, have big plans for their future, including homeownership and growing their family.
"I'm just grateful," Bullard reflects. "Grateful for the challenges because they shaped me. I am grateful for the people who helped me along the way. And most of all, grateful for the strength to finish what I started."
To incoming ECSU students, his advice is simple: "Never give up. Life will throw challenges your way, but you have to keep going. Take your time here seriously, but don't forget to enjoy the ride. Make the grades, take the chances, join the groups, overcome the trials and see it through!"
Bullard describes his ECSU experience in one word—remarkable.
"You'd have to be a Viking to even understand," he says with a smile.
From hospital beds to the hallways on campus, from leading gospel choirs to leading a church, Bullard's story is one of determination and triumph. From dialysis to degree, Bullard leaves ECSU with a legacy he never thought possible, faith in tow.