I'm curious, can you tell me about,
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00:00:01.668 --> 00:00:03.903 you know, what it meant for you to have to decide?
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00:00:03.903 --> 00:00:06.206 Okay, Medical school is not for me
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00:00:06.206 --> 00:00:10.410 and all the fields that come with that and not knowing what to be next.
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00:00:10.410 --> 00:00:11.177 Like, can you walk?
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00:00:11.177 --> 00:00:14.114 Take me back there and walk me through the feelings.
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00:00:14.114 --> 00:00:17.117 And what was your mindset during that time and how do you kind of transition
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00:00:17.117 --> 00:00:18.618 to the next thing?
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00:00:18.618 --> 00:00:21.621 When you're going through it, you don't see it.
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00:00:22.222 --> 00:00:24.958 But, you know, God sees our future.
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00:00:24.958 --> 00:00:27.961 But in time and space, we don't see it ourself.
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00:00:28.061 --> 00:00:30.397 Leaving medical school wasn't easy.
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00:00:30.397 --> 00:00:31.765 I'll be honest with you.
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00:00:31.765 --> 00:00:33.967 I felt like a failure.
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00:00:33.967 --> 00:00:37.237 I felt like I wasn't good for anything.
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00:00:37.437 --> 00:00:42.437 But we are a collection of all the support we got in our life.
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00:00:43.443 --> 00:00:46.813 My father, my mother, my siblings were there for me.
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00:00:47.547 --> 00:00:50.583 Through their encouragement, I got back up again.
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00:00:50.784 --> 00:00:54.654 I will say I have I have had so many setbacks in my life.
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00:00:55.422 --> 00:00:58.858 But all this set backs as I look back,
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00:00:59.459 --> 00:01:02.262 are for God to steer me in the right direction.
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00:01:02.262 --> 00:01:05.265 One example when I left government,
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00:01:05.398 --> 00:01:09.402 I was a bit disappointed because I thought I did a good job.
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00:01:09.402 --> 00:01:12.072 But you know how our politics works.
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00:01:12.072 --> 00:01:16.176 The new government comes in so those senior leaders have to go.
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00:01:16.409 --> 00:01:19.779 So I look back, I thank Kasich for letting me go
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00:01:20.213 --> 00:01:24.084 because if I had stayed there, I wouldn't be here today.
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00:01:24.350 --> 00:01:27.387 Who were just some mentors in your life and what did mentorship look like,
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00:01:28.088 --> 00:01:31.091 to get you almost in this position? What helped you get here?
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00:01:31.291 --> 00:01:35.195 Actually, you make me go back to my inauguration speech.
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00:01:35.995 --> 00:01:38.231 I wouldn't say
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00:01:38.231 --> 00:01:41.868 I made it this far because of how good I am.
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00:01:42.335 --> 00:01:47.335 God has placed some people along the way for me to help me get to where I am today.
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00:01:47.907 --> 00:01:51.211 I'll give you one example. I left government to go to North
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00:01:51.211 --> 00:01:53.146 Central State in Ohio.
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00:01:53.146 --> 00:01:58.051 As part of the process, I met with the president of the college at that time.
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00:01:58.485 --> 00:02:02.188 And his first question to me was, do you want to be a president?
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00:02:03.189 --> 00:02:05.158 And my response to him
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00:02:05.158 --> 00:02:08.528 was, But I'm here for a CFO position.
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00:02:09.162 --> 00:02:14.162 And he responded back to me saying, I know, but I want you to be president.
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00:02:14.801 --> 00:02:19.305 Then I asked him, So why do you think I should be a president, not a CFO?
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00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:22.542 And he said, You look presidential.
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00:02:23.109 --> 00:02:24.844 That helped change
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00:02:24.844 --> 00:02:28.481 my thinking because I wasn't sure
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00:02:28.481 --> 00:02:32.485 what I was going to be since, my medical dream did not come to pass.
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00:02:32.652 --> 00:02:36.456 And he did everything to help me prepare me for presidency.
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00:02:36.456 --> 00:02:39.058 He did everything in his power. So here I am.
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00:02:39.058 --> 00:02:42.695 I look back, I can't help it, but just say thank you to them.
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00:02:42.795 --> 00:02:44.564 Okay. Yeah, for sure.
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00:02:44.564 --> 00:02:45.131 I'm talking.
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00:02:45.131 --> 00:02:48.134 I'm thinking a little bit about
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00:02:48.735 --> 00:02:51.738 you being not only a president, but you're a black man
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00:02:51.971 --> 00:02:54.240 in this presidential position. So a lot of.
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00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:55.575 I know people are looking up to you.
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00:02:55.575 --> 00:02:56.543 I'm curious about what does it mean
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00:02:56.543 --> 00:02:59.946 to be a black man and also to be the president of an HBCU to you?
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00:03:00.313 --> 00:03:01.981 I do thank God for the opportunity.
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00:03:02.982 --> 00:03:06.452 And my prayer every day is to stay true to myself.
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00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:10.490 As my father used to tell me when he was alive.
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00:03:10.557 --> 00:03:13.893 Son, wherever you go, make sure you make it better than you found it.
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00:03:14.394 --> 00:03:18.598 So these young man who happened to look like me, these young women
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00:03:18.598 --> 00:03:23.436 who happen to be like me and other young men and women, they're here for a reason.
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00:03:23.503 --> 00:03:27.740 And my job is to make sure we get them what they come here for.
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00:03:28.041 --> 00:03:31.010 We make them better than they came to us.
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00:03:31.010 --> 00:03:34.647 And then to make this place better than I found it as well.
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00:03:34.847 --> 00:03:35.748 It's fulfilling.
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00:03:35.748 --> 00:03:38.918 All these young men and women are looking up to me
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00:03:38.918 --> 00:03:42.388 and my colleagues, and I'm so proud of them.
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00:03:42.655 --> 00:03:47.060 They are our future, they are our aspiration,
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00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:49.862 they are our dreams.
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00:03:49.862 --> 00:03:52.799 And so we have to encourage each other.
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00:03:52.799 --> 00:03:55.435 And I think sometimes not
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00:03:55.435 --> 00:03:59.739 everyone is fortunate, like you and I. So,
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00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:04.544 passing the word around and encouraging each other is the only way we can do it.
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00:04:04.744 --> 00:04:06.179 I try to do my part.
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00:04:06.179 --> 00:04:09.415 Every brother I see at the store, whenever
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00:04:09.415 --> 00:04:12.418 I see them, I encourage them, I talk to them.
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00:04:12.552 --> 00:04:16.189 There is so much we can gain in higher ed.
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00:04:16.422 --> 00:04:19.692 But it's going to take some work, some encouragement to make sure
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00:04:20.026 --> 00:04:23.029 everyone understand that, like Nelson Mandela said,
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00:04:23.196 --> 00:04:26.199 education is the power to change the world.
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00:04:26.432 --> 00:04:29.602 So what advice would you give to someone who wants to be president
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00:04:29.602 --> 00:04:33.439 of the university or just want to continue to climb the ladder of higher education?
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00:04:33.906 --> 00:04:38.044 The level of opportunities that we have here is not everywhere,
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00:04:38.778 --> 00:04:41.114 but we still need to encourage each other.
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00:04:41.114 --> 00:04:44.117 I tell student all the time, you're doing the right thing.
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00:04:44.517 --> 00:04:46.753 but it's just that encouragement.
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00:04:46.753 --> 00:04:48.488 It means a lot to so many.
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00:04:48.488 --> 00:04:51.791 Be there for each other, be each other's testimony
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00:04:51.891 --> 00:04:56.229 because right there, your testimony is encouraging to me.
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00:04:56.529 --> 00:04:59.766 Because it's going to take us one person at a time
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00:05:00.433 --> 00:05:05.433 to make the difference and encourage others to see that there is always
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00:05:06.039 --> 00:05:09.842 a light at the end of the tunnel. So pursue your dream.
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00:05:10.009 --> 00:05:13.179 Don't let anything stop you from pursuing your dream.
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00:05:13.746 --> 00:05:15.481 Even presidency.
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00:05:15.481 --> 00:05:18.885 I mentor so many people, just like many people have mentored me.
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00:05:19.686 --> 00:05:23.489 And what I always tell people is stay true to yourself,
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00:05:24.023 --> 00:05:28.461 believe in yourself and set your sights on what you want to be.
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00:05:28.461 --> 00:05:32.432 And what you want to do and higher ed is no different.
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00:05:32.832 --> 00:05:35.835 Work hard, believe in yourself.
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00:05:36.002 --> 00:05:38.604 God will put people with the right people
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00:05:38.604 --> 00:05:42.208 on your trajectory to get you to where you need to be.
 

No two days are the same as a university president but every day is a chance to make an impact. I lead by example, working alongside my team to support students in their journey. From problem-solving to inspiring confidence, my role is about transformation. The most fulfilling part is handing students their diplomas, knowing we’ve helped change their lives for the better​.

President

Becoming a medical doctor is the only way to help people.

Trust & Hope

Support & Encouragement

Guidance, Inspiration, And Support

For someone who doesn't know what they wanna do or doesn't know what options are around them, what's the piece of advice or what's something that you would say to someone who's trying to figure all that out? &gt;&gt; Take a breath, relax, it's all gonna work out. It can be just as easy as walking in, going to somebody that's working in reception and ask them, hey, can I hopefully job shadow somebody? Can I do something here or there? Or it can be like me where somebody in my community, in my very small community, was like, hey, do you know anything about this kid? And then actually talking to those companies that are interested in you. There's a lot of opportunities that you can get from being that kid that doesn't just sit in their room and do nothing all day, being out there getting the work experience while they're still in high school. I guess that would probably be the best piece of advice I could think of. That's kind of what I've lived my life off of is, I'll do the best I can, I'll work as hard as I can, but at the end of the day, if something doesn't work out, I gotta know everything's gonna turn out fine. 

2023 WISC Virtual Interviews
trade-school

If you want to be an industrial electrician, I recommend speaking with different factories. You can walk in and ask whoever is working in reception if it's possible to do a job shadow. You can also email the factory's human resources or support department to inquire about shadow opportunities.

Industrial Electrician

You're doing it wrong. You're not good at this.

Have Faith That It’s All Going To Work Out

I honestly got my first apartment with my name on the lease when I was 35. I was living in rooms. Those get real costly. &gt;&gt; Yeah, they do. &gt;&gt; I talked to God about it I pushed my price to the side and I called my mama's older sister. And I was like, hey, if you don't mind, can I come and live with you until I got enough money to get my own place and I'll help pay bills. She was like, yeah, you can always come back here, I don't know why he was living in rooms in the first place. Well, as an adult, you wanna be out on your own, you wanna feel grown. So I took that step and I went back and live with her and everything. And when the pandemic started, it was like, well, I'm not really worried about having to get laid off or nothing like that because I'd already lost my job. But there were times where it was lonely, and during that time, that's when I learned to be comfortable with myself, like, start back loving myself again. Just thinking about all the things that I've been through and I've even questioned like did anybody love me at the age of 13, 14 because how was I drunk? Like, I hate to say it because of my job that I have now, but I've been sober ever since I've been working at that company. Anybody that I talk to friends, whether I still talk to them on a daily basis, or somebody that I hadn't saw in five or ten years. Whenever I tell him I don't smoke anymore, they'd be like what I never thought you quit smoking, &gt;&gt; Same here. [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Drinking, I stopped drinking a long time ago. I used to be real bad on Xanax. Like I used to take those like it was a medication that they prescribed to me. But I can honestly say that since I have been sober, my brain power is even more stronger now. I was real good with numbers. And there was times where I could recite a number or I remember everybody's birthdays and I was just always good with numbers. But when I was on drugs, it was a hindrance, I wasn't myself. So to anybody that does drugs, I know where it can take you. And if you happen to leave them alone, I know it can take you even further. &gt;&gt; Absolutely. &gt;&gt; As a person, or just being able to talk about it, I can actually take my own drug test now and pass it. I haven't weighed this much in about ten years, I didn't even like to look at myself in the mirror. You lose self-esteem, you think you have friends, but they're not. [LAUGH] Yeah, they are only around for the high or for the free drink or whatever the case may be. So if you ever wanna give up something, all you have to do is talk to God about it, that's what I did. I prayed about it, not to have the craving the desire the want, I guess still be around people that actually smoke. But it's more or less like, I missing out on nothing, I save more money. &gt;&gt; That was one of the biggest factors for me is saving money cuz I looked back on just how expensive everything is, and it's just it's really not worth it. Looking back on it, if I were to never picked it up, I'd probably have probably like a quarter of a down payments house over all the years, I mean. &gt;&gt; We'd be rich. [LAUGH] 

2022 THEC Virtual Interviews
sensitive-content
adult-learner
trade-school

My family was poverty-stricken growing up, which made life difficult and stressful. We lived in a trailer house with no running water. Our electricity and gas would get shut off often.

I struggled with alcoholism by the time I was about 13 or 14 years old. My family was struggling financially, I had been molested, and felt I had to take on a lot as the oldest of three. Alcohol was a way to cope.

After graduating high school, I started a cycle of going in and out of prison. July of 2022 marks ten years since I've been home with no problems with the law!

Environmental Material Specialist

Adversity

Finding A Way To Forgive My Mistakes And Change My Life

So you've made a lot of big decisions throughout your journey. Did you ever have feelings of doubt, the decision you made and how did you manage that feeling of doubting yourself? &gt;&gt; Feelings of doubt, yes, fear, no. There's an old acronym that says fear is a lack of faith and it's really not, fear is an opportunity to practice faith. So if you put that into action in everything you do, fear becomes doubt. People will talk about not putting all your eggs in one basket. I've put my eggs in one basket hundreds of times, based on what my gut was telling me and what my heart was telling me instead of my head. And now when others who are part of the team that you brought together say, what are you doing? You got some doubt. But if you know what you're doing is right by following these two things, not this thing, that doubt gives you the opportunity to practice faith. And by leading as an example, not by giving direction that, look, this is gonna work, this is what we're gonna do, this is our fallback if this doesn't work. That doubt becomes less and less. Right now, everybody's looking at me because I'm holding on to approximately $4 million worth of inventory, okay? And everybody is asking the question, what are we doing with all this inventory? It should be gone by now. What are we doing? Well, I've got a plan, and I've got a plan that involves a purpose. And that purpose is gonna lead us to a next step in our growth. And I'm willing to hold on to that to see this whole plan come to fruition. Do I have doubts when they're all talking, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah? Yes, I do have doubts, but it immediately goes to, do I have faith? And do I have faith that God's telling me to do the right thing? And am I doing the right thing for the right reason, and not the wrong reason? And I'm gonna tell you guys, and every finance guy in the whole world will tell you different. All the major CEOs and that will tell you different, but if you're chasing the dollar, the dollar is gonna be your downfall. If you're chasing your dream, you're not gonna worry about the dollars for too long. 

2022 SOCA Roadtrip
entrepreneur
career-change

Stop listening to your head and start listening to your heart and gut instead. When trying to figure out what you're meant to be doing, ask the question, stay quiet, and listen. Meditation is key. You have to be quiet and open in order to feel the lead. Don't listen to the world around you or anyone or anything that says, "You need to do this."

My struggle with addiction started at a young age and lasted for a long time. I eventually went to rehab and got clean. I'm now able to focus all of my effort on my business and my family.

I left my finance job to put my all into PuckerButt Pepper Company. We really struggled at first. I used up all of my money and wasn't sure how I'd continue to pay my employees. Fortunately, our hard work and persistence earned us success!

President, Founder, Mad Scientist, & Chef

Stop messing around with that pepper nonsense, get back to the bank, and take care of your family.

Doubt

Fear

Fear And Doubt Are Opportunities To Practice Faith

I love the wonder that is, finding our power and our powers of manifestation,. So, what I love about life is that we're looking for and finding those moments where we realize that this is all a co-creation and that we have absolute control and power in it. And those moments where I realize I'm part of that magic of this experience, it really releases me from that victimry. And it makes me feel like I just wanna sit back with the popcorn and watch this life unfold and it's gonna be beautiful and everything is happening for a reason. Like our ancestors are giving us all these stories, and these journeys to heal something in us and make us that much more powerful so that whatever's coming we got this. It's a superhero moment really, that's what I love, I love that about existence. And I'm amped to be here right now and watch this crazy thing unfold, it's gonna be quite a show. I guarantee it [LAUGH]. As long as we stay out of our victimry and just stay in wonder, I think then we'll learn what we were put here to learn. And then, we'll become those that will teach. And that's what's important. 

2021 Native American Roadtrip
advanced-degree

Artist

Let's go to New York, join the grind, and become big time artists. That's the next step. That's the goal.

Life Is A Co-Creation And We Have Total Control

I'm very spiritual with things, with my belief system of the earth, and the fire, and the water, and the Sage and tobacco. That was my place to sleep warmly and confidently. And that's what I sought out when I was through those really difficult times. My path was not the typical road to being a comp physician, not at all. My science GPA was horrendous. The MCAT, I took three times, and that's the Medical College Admissions Test to get into medical school. Had to go back into Postback, apply to medical school for four times, did countless board reviews. So It's hard, try harder, it's inevitable, and you will fall and you will cry, [INAUDIBLE] keep going, it's worth it. And when you wake up in the morning and you're doing what you love as a career, then you win. 

I was a student athlete and a science major. It was difficult. I didn't have any friends going through similar experiences, so I felt very alone and discouraged. I struggled with some depression but I kept working and made it through.

Family Medicine Doctor

You can't take this class. You won't do well.

Perseverance

Persevere Through The Difficult Times

Did you have any moment where you feel like man, I don't know if I'm gonna make it out of here or any type of doubt? Or was it always this way of being that just motivates you into just moving forward? &gt;&gt; I'm not gonna lie, I get my motivation from God, I go to church when, before COVID I go to church every Sunday, faithfully. All day while I'm at work, I listen to gospel music because if I don't, if I'm out here listening to others stuff, and I'm not saying, this is just for me, what I do. The whole time I'm at work I have my headphones and I'm listening to gospel music because it keeps me motivated. Because if not, I will be like dang, I don't feel like being at work right now, I'm tired. I worked till 8 o'clock yesterday came home, bathe my daughter, did all this stuff, she cried for an hour, for some reason, she just felt like crying. In the morning she didn't wanna get up, well, I'm tired, so I don't wanna get up but then I go to work scrubbing a toilet. I'm still humbling myself cuz I'm still here scrubbing toilets, and at the end of the day, it's not the most glamorous job and I'm really scrubbing toilets out here. And you get tired, you're like, dang, I wanna go home but I do stay motivated through God and that's what works for me. Because I will fall back and just like it's not even necessarily like I can't do it. It's like I don't want to, I don't have the energy to do it anymore. I'm tired, I get tired, but thank you God, I am able, I'm healthy, I have everything I need. There's nothing I can complain about right now, because I'm so blessed. I have great people around me who motivate me, who have three kids, who have to wake up in the morning. So in order for me to get through this time, because like I said, I get tired, physically tired cuz I do physical work. So I have to stay motivated. I have to listen to my gospel music. I have to read my Bible in the morning. I have to listen to the scripture. I have to do something that's gonna keep these positive things going in my mind and know that I can, I will, and I just must keep pushing like I have to. 

2021 Formerly Incarcerated Roadtrip
school-drop-out
formerly-incarcerated
entrepreneur

Make sure you explore all of your options before committing to a career path. When I first started out in my career path, I wasn't sure what my options were. Once I visited the school I'd be attending, they pressured me into signing up for the first available class. I did it and am grateful for my experience but I wish I would have started with nursing school, which was my true passion.

I was arrested and indicted on drug charges when I was 24 years old. Being formerly incarcerated means that I can't pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. I struggled to find good jobs when I was released, so I ventured into entrepreneurship.

I wake up around 6 a.m. to get myself and my daughter ready for our day. Once I drop her off at daycare, the work begins. I usually clean three houses a day then pick my daughter up to go cook, do homework, and prepare ourselves for the next day. On weekends, we clean offices and Airbnb properties. Those days are usually much more laid back because we don’t have to get up as early and can move at a slower pace.

Entrepreneur

Determination & Hard Work

My Motivation Comes From My Faith

For some of the people out there who struggle figuring out what makes you you, and how to define yourself in a world that would prefer to define you instead. What were some of the ways that you really found yourself? &gt;&gt; I'm actually a foster child, so I was never adopted. I've been a ward of the court till 18 or whatever the case is. And so my foster parents introduced us to a religion at an early age, so I've been going to church all my life. So if you ever have any issues, we've been taught who do you call on. That's who I call on during any of my hard times. I always say, find something that's bigger than you that can help you gravitate towards what it is you want to do positively, that is. Cuz, believe me, without that, I think I'd have probably would have crashed a long time ago. 

2021 Rio Salado
community-college
single-parent
veteran
navy

I was a foster child and never got adopted, so one of my biggest hurdles was trying to navigate my road without any kind of guidance from parents or family.

I joined the military to use a VA loan to pay for school. When I lost my childcare, I had to leave the military and drop out of school, which I couldn't afford without a loan. I later petitioned the military for assistance and went back to school.

Most of my day involves reaching out and contacting people. I start my day by checking my email for any responses from contacts I made the day before. Then I'll set aside time to make calls and put out feelers to see if anyone wants to buy or sell a home. I schedule time for open houses and appointments to show properties to clients, which are based on my clients' schedules. I also spend time doing marketing.

Trust & Hope

Guidance, Inspiration, And Support

Guidance, Inspiration, And Support

Koffi C. Akakpo

94 videos on Trust & Hope: