September 5, 2025 • 39 mins
Persistence isn't just about pushing through minor inconveniences—sometimes it's about walking four miles to work when you can't afford bus fare, studying during lunch breaks, and refusing to let homelessness define your children's future.
Meet Keisha, a Ross Dental Assistant graduate whose journey exemplifies what it truly means to persist. As a single mother working two jobs, Keisha's path to success wasn't just challenging—it seemed impossible. Yet through a chance encounter with a Ross Education representative, she found herself reconnecting with her childhood passion for dental health while facing the harsh realities of poverty.
What makes Keisha's story extraordinary isn't just her personal triumph but how her transformation has rippled outward. Her experience highlights a crucial truth about overcoming obstacles: while individual determination is essential, success often requires both personal persistence and the helping hands of others who recognize your potential.
Throughout this deeply moving conversation, Keisha shares practical wisdom about time management as a working student, the importance of communication when facing barriers, and how setting small achievable goals eventually leads to major life changes. Her father's powerful words—"Excuses are the nails that build a house of failure"—have become a guiding philosophy not just for her own journey but for the students she now helps in her role at Ross Education.
Whether you're currently struggling with obstacles to your education or simply need inspiration to keep pushing forward, Keisha's story offers both emotional resonance and practical strategies for making the leap from where you are to where you want to be. Listen now and discover what's possible when persistence meets opportunity.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to Make the Leap, the official Ross
Education podcast, where weexplore the real stories,
strategies and successes thathelp our students move from
enrollment to employment andbeyond.
I'm Kristen Beal here withGeorge Rehob and Andy Kephart.
(00:28):
George, what are we talkingabout today?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Today's episode is all about persistence, what it
looks like when you're in thethick of doubt, stress and the
very real pressure that comeswith trying to change your life
through education, Whetheryou're a current student or
someone thinking about makingthe leap.
Today's guest is going to giveyou proof that it's worth to
keep going, even when it's hard.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Thanks, george.
I'm looking forward to chattingwith our guests and learning
more about persistence, andtoday we'll hear from Keisha, a
Ross Dental Assistant graduatewho knows what it feels like to
push through doubt and keep hereyes on the finish line.
If you ever wondered whetheryou're cut out for this, this
episode is for you, keisha,welcome.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Let's start maybe with a little bit of background,
maybe give us like a snapshotof your early journey, both in
terms of life and your career.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Okay, let's see when do I begin.
So I've always been interestedin the medical field.
I'm not too keen on directpatient care, but I had a
passion for teeth.
I know that sounds weird.
Um, uh, being a little kidgoing to the dentist,
(01:49):
everybody's like, oh, no dentist.
But I was like, yes, let's go.
Um, so I uh developed a passionfor dental when I was probably
about 10, maybe 11 years old,when I first got my braces.
And what really sparked myinterest was when my dentist was
(02:12):
like, okay, I really need youto take care of your teeth,
which I did.
But he was like do you realizethat your whole entire health
starts with the mouth?
Any and everything that you putin your mouth is what affects
your body, whether it's a goodeffect or a bad effect.
And so that's what got meinterested.
(02:34):
After high school, I decidedthat I wanted to go to college
and I wanted to be a dentist.
Well, life happened and I endedup having children and I wasn't
able to finish school.
Needless to say, I became asingle parent and I ended up
(02:55):
working two jobs.
I lived in government housingfor quite some time.
I was on welfare.
I struggled without a vehicle.
I was on welfare.
(03:19):
I struggled without a vehicle.
Things were pretty rough.
Lady that came in who comes inevery day and she would always
get a Dr Pepper and a bag ofpretzels.
And she looked at me one day.
She said do they ever let yougo home?
And I kind of looked at her andI was like I'm sorry, what do
(03:41):
you mean?
And she was like every time Icome in here, you're here and it
doesn't matter what day or whattime of day it is, you're here.
And I said, well, sometimes yougot to do what you got to do
when you have children.
And she said aren't you workinganother job?
And I said, well, yes, ma'am.
And she said well, that can'tbe easy being a single parent
(04:04):
and working two jobs.
And I said no, ma'am, it's not,but you do what you have to do
when you have children.
And so I ended up ringing herup and she said she handed me
her card and she said come seeme.
And I'm looking at her likewhere am I going?
So I took a look at the cardand it said Ross Education.
(04:24):
And she said I'll be there,I'll wait on you.
And throughout my lunch break Iwas very nervous.
I tried the whole college thingand I was like this is not for
me right now, I can't afford it.
And I had all of these excuses.
And then I remembered my father.
Before passed away, he told meto live life to the fullest,
(04:50):
make the best of everything.
He said never make excuses.
Excuses are the nails thatbuild a house of failure.
I thought, well, all of theseexcuses, I don't have the money,
I don't have the transportation, I don't have the
transportation, it's all goingto work out.
So I went ahead, took a chance,went to Ross and the lady was
(05:11):
sitting there and she was kindof emotional Because I showed up
.
She was you know, and I'm like Idon't know how this is going to
work, but OK.
But she explained the programsto me.
I explained to her thatpharmacy tech was not for me,
because math is just my math.
(05:33):
Just don't math Right, it justdoes it.
So she gave me the option ofmedical assisting and dental
assisting and dental assisting.
And I thought, oh, you've gotdental assisting.
So I went into dental assistingand it was a ride.
It was an amazing ride.
(05:54):
Ross is not like any otherschool that I've ever been to.
It's smaller classrooms.
I have bad anxiety when itcomes to being around a lot of
people.
So just walking into theclassroom when she did the tour,
I seen everybody in thereWasn't a whole lot of people.
(06:14):
Everybody was just so excitedto see me and I hadn't even
enrolled yet and they were justso amazed to see me.
And the instructor was awesome.
She welcomed me, showed mearound and I thought, ok, I can
do this.
Well, we go.
And she says well, now you haveto take a test to see if you
(06:35):
can come in.
And I thought, what kind oftest?
And she was like, oh, it's justa little small test.
And what she failed to do isremind me that I'm not good at
math.
So I got into the admissionsroom and I did my test and the
math part came up and I wasfreaking out.
(06:56):
I was like I did not pass.
I did not pass.
She said don't worry about it,we'll check your scores, see how
you did.
And I passed Barely, but I didit.
So that was my first obstacle.
Then she was like now let's goahead, do your application, but
we need to take your payment.
And I was like wait, whatpayment?
(07:17):
And she was like well, it's $50.
And I was like I don't have $50.
And she was like she ended up.
It was very emotional.
I started crying because I wasexcited, because I just knew
that I was going to be somebody,I was going to do something and
make my children proud of me.
(07:37):
She said $50.
And I thought, oh man, I don'thave that.
She actually pointed me intothe right direction and I was
able to get that $50.
And I was able to start at Rossthe very next week and it's
been nothing but positivitysince then.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
So, keisha, you mentioned life is hard or life
got hard.
Could you, as comfortable asyou can, if you're willing to
share, can you give people somedetail of how life went sideways
on you?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Of course, and I don't mind going into detail
because I noticed that a lot ofstudents I've been in their
shoes, I know exactly wherethey're at.
I can.
I've been in their shoes.
I know exactly where they're atwhen you work.
(08:40):
You're working two jobs andit's not enough and you've got
children who are hungry and youhave to decide whether you want
to pay your light bill, keepyour lights on or send your
children to school with holes intheir clothes because you don't
have enough money to get themnew clothes, or do you pay the
rent for that month.
That's where I was at.
I walked about four miles a dayback and forth to work.
(09:03):
I didn't have money for a busfare.
I didn't even know how I waseven going to get into Ross.
I didn't know how I was goingto have the transportation
because at that time Ross didnot have the hybrid option.
So it was mandatory that youcome to class every day was
(09:28):
mandatory that you come to classevery day, and it was a huge
struggle for me Huge.
But the thing is is that myfather I'm a preacher's kid and
my father taught me a whole lotof stuff, and the one thing that
he did teach me was to have alittle bit of faith.
And closed mouths don't get fed.
And so when I talked to thisparticular lady at Ross I'm
(09:52):
sorry, I don't mean to beemotional, but when I talked to
this particular lady here atRoss, she told me all you have
to do is communicate with me, me.
All you have to do iscommunicate with me.
I can help you.
And that's what I tell all ofmy students that I enroll.
Don't let life define you.
(10:14):
You define life.
You make life what you want itto be.
Okay, so your kids?
So you're struggling to feedyour children?
Ask somebody, communicate withsomebody.
Hey, where do I go to get helpwith this If you're needing a
ride somewhere?
Hey, um, how do I get a buspass?
(10:36):
How do I get a voucher?
How do I?
Is there someone in theclassroom that could help me get
back and forth to class?
Until I can get on my feet?
All you have to do is keepcommunication open and
everything will fall right therefor you.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
So, keisha, there's an argument in America that if
you work hard, all will be goodright.
If you get up every day, workas hard as you can, then you
know you should be able to dowell.
And you obviously work two jobsand you were still having a
difficult time making thingswork.
(11:14):
Why do you think we fall inlove with the concept that if
you work hard, that takes careof your financial needs or your
money issue?
Why do you think, as a countrywe have and maybe that's kind of
a broader, but from yourpersonal experience why do you
think that's a misguided beliefthat all you have to do is work
(11:36):
hard?
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Because people don't take into consideration I want
to say life itself, theobstacles that life throw at you
.
Everybody is so money, money,money, money, money and money
makes people happy, but only fora little bit of time and my
(11:58):
whole thing was okay.
I'm going to make money, I'mgoing to be okay If I can just
get this dental assisting umcertificate and I'll be able to
get a job and I'll be able totake care of my kids.
But the thing was that once Igot to that point where I was
able to properly take care of mychildren, I still was not happy
(12:21):
because I felt like the onlyway that I was going to be happy
is if my children were to lookat me and say that's my mom and
I'm proud of my mom.
We've been homeless before, andwe were.
We were homeless, we weresleeping couch to couch on the
floor and one night my son hewas about a year old, he was
(12:45):
really sick and he was laying onthe floor at a friend's house
and I thought to myself this isnot fair to them.
This is not fair that theydon't have their own beds to
sleep in, that they don't havetheir own food to eat, that they
have to be careful about whatthey're doing, because they're
in somebody else's house and youdon't want to mess that up,
(13:06):
because then you don't knowwhere you're going to go the
next day if someone kicks youout.
And I promised my children thatI would never put them in that
situation ever again.
And because of Ross, because Iwas able to complete school and
be able to.
You guys helped me find a job,a good paying job, and I only
(13:30):
had to work one job.
That was amazing all by itself.
That was a huge life changerfor me, because I had always
worked the two jobs.
So working that one job andbeing able to take care of my
children was just amazing.
And it's all because of Rossand I have said this even before
I started working here that ifI ever got the opportunity to
(13:54):
let people know how Ross helpedme and to be able to talk to the
people that helped me, I wouldforever be grateful.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Keisha, I have a question for you.
How did you like?
When did you study?
How did you work this outbetween schedules?
Did you say I'm studying atthis time of the day because
it's the best for my learning?
Or did you say my kids havethis and I have this, so I have
to study now, or whatever?
Speaker 3 (14:27):
So it was kind of hard.
I'm not going to lie, it wasvery hard, but it's all about
time management.
So we had a routine.
I set my kids up with a routineand in the mornings I would get
everybody off to school, geteverything situated.
(14:48):
I would have about 15, 20minutes of spare time and I
would just go over my notes, seeif there's anything that I need
done for that day.
At that point in time we didn'thave the laptops here, so we had
a syllabus.
So I would go and look at mysyllabus and see what all I
(15:11):
needed to do for that day.
Go and look at my syllabus andsee what all I needed to do for
that day.
So while I was working on mylunch breaks, I would take my
Roth backpack, my big old blue,rolly backpack with all my books
and everything, and I wouldtake them to lunch and I,
instead of eating lunch, I woulddo my homework.
When my kids finally were ableto go play sports for the school
(15:37):
and things like that, I wouldbe there, I would pay attention,
but I was also reading andtaking notes and things like
that.
So anytime that I had sparetime, I was in my books and I
made it to where I was able tostudy and work and make sure
that I was still that mom for mykids.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Keisha.
Out of curiosity, if you take aquick snapshot of your life
today, what does it look like?
Speaker 3 (16:04):
My life is amazing.
My life today is amazing.
I'm not even going to lie toyou.
I did not picture 10 years ago.
I did not picture me sittinghere actually working for Ross I
really did it and making verygood money.
My children two of them aregrown now.
They are 21 and one's almost 20.
(16:25):
My 21-year-old she actually isa Ross student here.
She's in the medical coding andbilling.
She just finished the classroomportion.
Now she's working on the extern.
She is also enrolled in HowardUniversity.
She's trying to become anorthopedic surgeon and I never
(16:46):
thought in a million years thatI would be able to write a check
for $4,500 to help her with hertuition, with the remaining of
her tuition.
My oldest son he is at EastTennessee State University now
and I'm writing a check for himin a couple of weeks.
(17:09):
Although they do have my bankaccount crying, it's okay
because I'm able to do this andit's all because you guys took
that chance and let me do what Ineeded to do and you guys were
right there to help me.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
You know, we spent a lot of time on this podcast
talking about poverty.
We're talking about overcomingobstacles and today, obviously,
we're talking about persistence,and you came to Ross already
with the persistent part.
You already were working twojobs.
You already were walking towork.
You know four miles.
You know not the easiest placesto walk in Johnson City.
(17:52):
You know not the easiest placesto walk in Johnson City.
So when you look at it in termsof what a different student
maybe may need, that may havebeen in a similar position but
maybe not with as many resourcesavailable to them, what do you
think on the receiving end, onthe Ross side, what do you think
Ross can do better to helpconnect with students who are
(18:16):
truly dealing with meaningfulobstacles, whether it's poverty,
housing insecurity,transportation, insecurity,
whatever it may be.
What do you think we could dobetter on our end?
Think we could do better on ourend?
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Honestly, I think you guys are amazing.
I really do.
Just having that.
It takes a lot for a person whohasn't had anything or who is
struggling to come to someoneand swallow their pride and say
I need help.
And the last thing you need isfor to build up your confidence
(18:57):
to even go ask someone and thenthat person be rude or shoot you
down or make you feel less thanwhat they are.
And Ross I have noticed thatRoss is nothing but positivity.
From the time you walk throughboth of those doors into the
lobby, into your classroom,everybody is cheering you on,
(19:21):
everybody is welcoming you.
Hey, welcome to school, eventhough you've been there for
about six months, but it'salways something new.
My thing is is and I've noticedthat a lot of my students, they
that I enroll, they do havetransportation issues,
especially the ones that live inthe bigger cities, a few of the
(19:59):
campuses to ask is theresomething that we have in place
to where they can get maybe abus voucher or a bus pass or
something like that?
That's mainly the big thingwith my students that I get is
the I don't know how I'm goingto get there, and then I end up
researching myself in their cityand because I'm familiar with
(20:22):
some of the resources you know.
Talk to social services.
Sometimes they give out busvouchers.
Let them know what you're doing, show them that you're in
school and you're trying to besomebody and you're trying to do
the right things, and majorityof them they end up coming back
to me and they're like oh, missKeisha, thank you so much, and
you know, if you don't have aride, see if I have messaged a
(20:45):
lot of the directors and hey, doyou guys have students that
live in this student's area?
She's having issues gettingback to fourth class.
She really wants to do this.
I think the main thing is thetransportation part.
So I feel like if we were ableto maybe communicate with some
(21:05):
of the transportation people ormaybe some agencies to help see
if we can get students likevouchers or, you know, bus
passes for a discounted rate.
Or even I know in Johnson citythey have a program where if
you're in school, you've got toshow proof that you're in school
but you take that enrollmentagreement to the bus station and
(21:29):
they will give you a bus passfor the month.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
How was your?
How was your transition to thefirst job?
What did that look like?
Speaker 3 (21:41):
After I graduated.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Yeah, after you finished your dental program.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Oh man, it was super awesome.
So I worked for Dr JasonCunningham super awesome doctor.
He noticed that I struggled.
He had two locations.
He had one in Johnson City andone in Irwin Tennessee.
The main one was in IrwinTennessee and that's where he
(22:07):
wanted me to be.
Irwin Tennessee is probablyabout 10, I'm going to say I'm
going to say about 20 minutesaway.
So I was having issues gettingback and forth there.
He knew that I had missed acouple of days of extern and he
(22:27):
knew that I lived in anothercity.
So he put me over into theJohnson City location and I went
in there my second week atXtern and he kind of just let me
go.
He was like I don't wantanybody messing with her, you
let her do her thing.
(22:48):
I want to see what she can do.
Well, this particular time thelady that was working for him
for 20 years decided that shedidn't want to come in that day
and left the student by herself,and so I was like you know what
?
Let me put on this lab coat,let me show these folks what I
(23:09):
got going on here.
So I ended up assisting him.
We had brought in over $40,000that day all by myself, and he
was amazed.
He looked at me and he said Areyou sure you've never dental
(23:29):
assisted before?
And I said Well, you got mypaperwork right there, sir.
There's my paperwork.
And he started laughing.
He said you, it seems likeyou've been doing this for 20
years.
I said it's all because of Rossand how they teach.
And right before graduation.
(23:51):
I was graduating on a Fridayand he came to me and he was
like do you want to work for me?
And I said I haven't evengraduated yet.
Like tomorrow's graduation,he's like well, yeah, I'll be
there.
And I said okay.
And he was like well, thinkabout it and let me know.
Well, of course, I had alreadysaid yes before I even walked
(24:13):
out that door, but I wasn'tgoing to tell him that.
So I went to graduation.
He was there and he came up tome and he said so, I'll see you
Monday.
And I said sure.
And so I got the job.
But what I didn't know was thatthe lady that had enrolled me
(24:34):
was actually keeping incommunication with him the whole
entire time on how I was doingand what was going on, and he
got to experience himself thedrive that I had and the.
He got to see what that, thatthis was very important to me,
(24:54):
and so I graduated on Friday,and on Monday I was making money
.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
So, keisha, if you reflect back and you brought to
the table a lot, of, a lot ofhard work, a lot of good ethics,
a lot of persistent, but youalso met two good people.
It looks like you met somebodyat Ross that was there for you,
and then you met Dr Cunningham,who was clearly supportive and
willing to do his part.
(25:22):
Do you think the two thatcombination of working hard and
maybe being somewhat lucky thatyou ran into good, two good
people made a difference?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yes, and I'm going to .
I'm going to say this when youshow people that you really want
something and you're not goingto let your obstacles stand in
the way, whether it's you don'thave that transportation, or you
don't have the money, or youdon't have this and you don't
have that, you don't let thatstop you and you still get to
(25:59):
where you are.
People are more willing to helpyou and get you to where you
need to be to be successful.
And I always tell my childrenno matter what you do, don't let
anything stop you from gettingto your goals.
And when you make your goals,make them small enough to where
(26:22):
you know that you're going to beable to accomplish them.
Don't make big goals foryourself.
Make little small ones, littlesteps, and eventually you'll get
to that big goal and by thetime that you get to that big
goal, you're ready to enjoy life.
And um, I just I think that if Iwas to have told that
(26:49):
particular person and if I wasto have told Dr Jason no, thank
you, I think I'm going to go adifferent way.
I don't think I would be whereI'm at today and I don't think
that my children would have theeducation that they have and
that they are getting.
And I don't think I'm going tobe honest with you.
(27:11):
I don't think that I would besuch a good person Because I
would have been angry withmyself for not trying, for not
getting out there and showing mychildren it's okay, life
happens.
You pick up and you go on andyou don't let what's happened in
(27:32):
the past define your future.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Yeah, not easy, right .
When we stumble, it's alwayshard to get back on our feet.
It's a really remarkable story,I think.
To a certain extent I'm a hugebeliever that to come out of a
difficult situation whether it'spoverty or something different
it really takes more than oneperson to get you out of it.
(27:58):
You know you do have to workhard, you do have to show up,
and half of the battle isshowing up, but you really need
a helping hand along the way andit looks like you got that and
you got the support.
Before we get to the wrap uphere in a bit Kisha outside of
Ross, outside of the doctor whatdo you think was your biggest
(28:20):
support system that helped youor potentially can help other
people in the same position?
Speaker 3 (28:28):
The biggest support system.
I didn't really have anybodybut myself, but I can say it was
.
It was no one but God.
From you know, I've beenthrough a whole lot in my life.
(28:48):
I've been through a lot oflosses, I've been through a lot
of trials, I've had a lot oferrors to pop up, but it's
always and my father taught methis at a young age it's always
that mustard seed of faiththat'll get you to anywhere you
need to be.
That's all you have to have andit will move a whole mountain.
(29:13):
And I am a living testimony ofthat, because at one point in
time I was ready to give up, Iwas ready to call it quits, I
was ready to be, you know, handmy children off to somebody else
and just forget the world.
But then I remembered thatmustard seed of faith.
And when I did, that's when allof this stuff started falling
(29:38):
into place for me.
That's when all of my angels Icall you guys my angels, because
if it wasn't for you all, Iwould not be where I'm at today
and I'm still growing because Iam actually enrolled into the um
healthcare administrationprogram Um, I will be done in
(29:58):
February, fingers crossed, if Ican get that math going, um, um,
and I plan on going evenfurther with that.
I do Um and hopefully one day,um, and hopefully one day Ross
will have more like a bachelor'sdegree or something and I can
(30:18):
come here, because I just don'tsee myself going to another
school.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
I can honestly say that.
Well, I have to say that that'sone thing, that you've learned
lots, but you also have givenlearning to other people that
have been around you as well,and I actually remember that
quote when I trained you andonboarded you, when you said
excuses are the nails used tobuild a house of failure.
I never, I never forgot that,and I feel that your persistence
(30:49):
has also impacted other peopletoo along your journey, and I'm
grateful to have met you.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Thank you, you guys are so awesome.
I love it here.
I do.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Keisha.
Maybe the last question, unlessAndy wants to jump in here, but
we asked you if you take aquick snapshot in terms of where
you are today and you feltyou're really in a much, much
better place.
Are you surprised at that?
Speaker 3 (31:23):
I am Well kind of, because, like I said, I didn't
see myself.
Because, like I said, I didn't,I didn't see myself.
So I, when, when I became thatsingle mother, I thought that my
life was just over, I was justgoing to be my.
I grew up.
(31:43):
I'm going to tell you my age.
I grew up as a latchkey kid OKand kindergarten.
I was getting off the schoolbus, going home, opening that
door, closing it behind me,locking it and waiting for my
mom had set it up to where itwas.
She would call me, but shewould let the phone ring three
(32:05):
times, hang up, do it again andthen the third time she would
call, I would answer because Iknew it was her.
And the third time she wouldcall, I would answer because I
knew it was her and we had that.
I was a latchkey kid, gosh,probably about, I'm going to say
, until I was in maybe sixth orseventh grade and I watched my
(32:27):
mother after my father hadpassed away, I watched my mother
work so hard, so hard.
She is about the strongestwoman that I know.
She worked three jobs and wasgoing to school to get her
master's degree.
How I felt having not gettingto have that childhood that most
(32:58):
kids had, because my mom had towork so much and so I had to
kind of grow up faster than whatmost kids have to, and so I
didn't want that for my children.
And the way that I was going itwas like for my children and
the way that I was going it waslike you're about to be in that
same boat as your mother if youdon't do something about this.
(33:19):
I am very, but I knew that I wasgoing to be able, I was going
to be able to do this.
I was determined to do this.
I was determined to have myname on somebody's piece of
paper saying that I accomplishedsomething.
And my next goal is to have mychildren, as I walk across the
(33:46):
stage, have my children standingthere watching me and say
that's my mom.
You don't know what I know, butthat's my mom.
That's my biggest goal rightnow.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
That's why we have the greatest job in the whole
wide world right.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
Keisha, yes, and I try with all of my students that
I talk to.
Amanda laughs at me a lotbecause I call them my kids.
Because I feel like sometimesthat I am their mom and I'm like
listen, don't do this, don't dothat, go here, go there.
But I feel like, because I'vebeen in their shoes and I know
(34:30):
what's happening and I knowwhat's going on and I know, I
see what's fixing to happen.
I want to stop them and be likelook, stop Stop doubting
yourself, stop making excuses,just do it.
Just be that Nike sign, just doit.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
You know it's a.
I've made a career of arguingthat overcoming challenges and
overcoming poverty is more thana one-person job job.
(35:16):
It's so even difficult for meto imagine how you did Ross, how
you got a job and still triedto raise two kids along the way,
and you did it with no supportsystem.
You did it really basicallyfinding the strength, but you
met somebody at Ross that waswilling to help you and then you
met a good doctor that waswilling to help you and the
combination got you to where youare today.
And I know to a certain extentmany of our students may not get
(35:38):
that opportunity, they may notget that person that they run
into in life that's willing tohelp them.
But it is a remarkable storywhen you consider, you know,
when your hard work, yourpersistent, was matched by
kindness of others and thathelping hand makes such a big
difference in the lives of ourstudents.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Well, as long as I'm here, I want all these students
to know that it doesn't matterif I've enrolled you or not.
It doesn't matter if I'veenrolled you or not.
(36:30):
If you need those few words ofencouragement and I tell every
call that I end I always tellthem here's my number.
If you need me call me, even ifit's just words, for words of
encouragement, because thosewords of encouragement may put
that spark into them and like,okay, somebody does care,
somebody wants me to do this asmuch as I want to do this, let
me go ahead and see what, whathappens.
Everybody needs that positiveperson in a world full of
negativity, and I believe thatthe lady at Ross was my positive
(36:56):
in my world full of negative.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
Yeah, and I hope people who listen to this
podcast you know that your wordswill touch how they interact
with students, with anyonereally overcoming some serious
life issues.
I always feel, to a certainextent, that kindness is
underrated.
You know we can do so muchbetter as humans.
(37:22):
You know, if we're willing toprovide someone a helping hand,
give them a lift, especiallywhen life is difficult.
So, keisha, I truly appreciateyou taking time to be with us
today.
It's a really remarkable storyabout what human spirit can do
in a very difficult andchallenging environment that you
(37:43):
found yourself in working at agas station trying to raise two
kids, whether throughhomelessness or all the other
challenges that you'veencountered.
You found your way through thisand I'm really thankful we get
a chance to tell your story onthis podcast.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
I appreciate you and it was my pleasure.
And again, thank you so muchfor giving me this opportunity,
giving me that opportunity backin 2015, 2016,.
And the opportunity now, and Iwill forever be grateful to you
guys.
And if anybody's looking forcollege, if it's something that
(38:25):
we have, go to Ross, there's noquestion about it.
Go to Ross, fill out thatapplication.
It's free now.
It's not $50 anymore.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
We're going to have to put you on the billboard.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
Only if I can have that big smile and those two
thumbs up there, I'm good to go.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
There you go, Keisha.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Here's the truth Anyone can start a program, but
not everyone finishes.
And when you do, you're notjust earning a credential,
you're building confidence andmarketability and a story of
resilience that no one can takeaway from you.
If today's episode spoke to you, share it with a fellow student
or a friend who might need alittle boost.
(39:12):
Episode spoke to you, share itwith a fellow student or a
friend who might need a littleboost, and don't forget to
subscribe so you never miss aconversation that helps you make
the leap.
Until next time, keep going.
You got this.
Speaker 4 (39:26):
Thank you for listening to this episode of
Make the Leap.
You can follow along atrosspodcastcom or the podcast
platform of your choice andsubscribe to make sure you don't
miss the next episode.
Welcome to Make the Leap, the official Ross
Education podcast, where weexplore the real stories,
strategies and successes thathelp our students move from
enrollment to employment andbeyond.
I'm Kristen Beal here withGeorge Rehob and Andy Kephart.
(00:28):
George, what are we talkingabout today?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Today's episode is all about persistence, what it
looks like when you're in thethick of doubt, stress and the
very real pressure that comeswith trying to change your life
through education, Whetheryou're a current student or
someone thinking about makingthe leap.
Today's guest is going to giveyou proof that it's worth to
keep going, even when it's hard.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Thanks, george.
I'm looking forward to chattingwith our guests and learning
more about persistence, andtoday we'll hear from Keisha, a
Ross Dental Assistant graduatewho knows what it feels like to
push through doubt and keep hereyes on the finish line.
If you ever wondered whetheryou're cut out for this, this
episode is for you, keisha,welcome.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Let's start maybe with a little bit of background,
maybe give us like a snapshotof your early journey, both in
terms of life and your career.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Okay, let's see when do I begin.
So I've always been interestedin the medical field.
I'm not too keen on directpatient care, but I had a
passion for teeth.
I know that sounds weird.
Um, uh, being a little kidgoing to the dentist,
(01:49):
everybody's like, oh, no dentist.
But I was like, yes, let's go.
Um, so I uh developed a passionfor dental when I was probably
about 10, maybe 11 years old,when I first got my braces.
And what really sparked myinterest was when my dentist was
(02:12):
like, okay, I really need youto take care of your teeth,
which I did.
But he was like do you realizethat your whole entire health
starts with the mouth?
Any and everything that you putin your mouth is what affects
your body, whether it's a goodeffect or a bad effect.
And so that's what got meinterested.
(02:34):
After high school, I decidedthat I wanted to go to college
and I wanted to be a dentist.
Well, life happened and I endedup having children and I wasn't
able to finish school.
Needless to say, I became asingle parent and I ended up
(02:55):
working two jobs.
I lived in government housingfor quite some time.
I was on welfare.
I struggled without a vehicle.
I was on welfare.
(03:19):
I struggled without a vehicle.
Things were pretty rough.
Lady that came in who comes inevery day and she would always
get a Dr Pepper and a bag ofpretzels.
And she looked at me one day.
She said do they ever let yougo home?
And I kind of looked at her andI was like I'm sorry, what do
(03:41):
you mean?
And she was like every time Icome in here, you're here and it
doesn't matter what day or whattime of day it is, you're here.
And I said, well, sometimes yougot to do what you got to do
when you have children.
And she said aren't you workinganother job?
And I said, well, yes, ma'am.
And she said well, that can'tbe easy being a single parent
(04:04):
and working two jobs.
And I said no, ma'am, it's not,but you do what you have to do
when you have children.
And so I ended up ringing herup and she said she handed me
her card and she said come seeme.
And I'm looking at her likewhere am I going?
So I took a look at the cardand it said Ross Education.
(04:24):
And she said I'll be there,I'll wait on you.
And throughout my lunch break Iwas very nervous.
I tried the whole college thingand I was like this is not for
me right now, I can't afford it.
And I had all of these excuses.
And then I remembered my father.
Before passed away, he told meto live life to the fullest,
(04:50):
make the best of everything.
He said never make excuses.
Excuses are the nails thatbuild a house of failure.
I thought, well, all of theseexcuses, I don't have the money,
I don't have the transportation, I don't have the
transportation, it's all goingto work out.
So I went ahead, took a chance,went to Ross and the lady was
(05:11):
sitting there and she was kindof emotional Because I showed up
.
She was you know, and I'm like Idon't know how this is going to
work, but OK.
But she explained the programsto me.
I explained to her thatpharmacy tech was not for me,
because math is just my math.
(05:33):
Just don't math Right, it justdoes it.
So she gave me the option ofmedical assisting and dental
assisting and dental assisting.
And I thought, oh, you've gotdental assisting.
So I went into dental assistingand it was a ride.
It was an amazing ride.
(05:54):
Ross is not like any otherschool that I've ever been to.
It's smaller classrooms.
I have bad anxiety when itcomes to being around a lot of
people.
So just walking into theclassroom when she did the tour,
I seen everybody in thereWasn't a whole lot of people.
(06:14):
Everybody was just so excitedto see me and I hadn't even
enrolled yet and they were justso amazed to see me.
And the instructor was awesome.
She welcomed me, showed mearound and I thought, ok, I can
do this.
Well, we go.
And she says well, now you haveto take a test to see if you
(06:35):
can come in.
And I thought, what kind oftest?
And she was like, oh, it's justa little small test.
And what she failed to do isremind me that I'm not good at
math.
So I got into the admissionsroom and I did my test and the
math part came up and I wasfreaking out.
(06:56):
I was like I did not pass.
I did not pass.
She said don't worry about it,we'll check your scores, see how
you did.
And I passed Barely, but I didit.
So that was my first obstacle.
Then she was like now let's goahead, do your application, but
we need to take your payment.
And I was like wait, whatpayment?
(07:17):
And she was like well, it's $50.
And I was like I don't have $50.
And she was like she ended up.
It was very emotional.
I started crying because I wasexcited, because I just knew
that I was going to be somebody,I was going to do something and
make my children proud of me.
(07:37):
She said $50.
And I thought, oh man, I don'thave that.
She actually pointed me intothe right direction and I was
able to get that $50.
And I was able to start at Rossthe very next week and it's
been nothing but positivitysince then.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
So, keisha, you mentioned life is hard or life
got hard.
Could you, as comfortable asyou can, if you're willing to
share, can you give people somedetail of how life went sideways
on you?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Of course, and I don't mind going into detail
because I noticed that a lot ofstudents I've been in their
shoes, I know exactly wherethey're at.
I can.
I've been in their shoes.
I know exactly where they're atwhen you work.
(08:40):
You're working two jobs andit's not enough and you've got
children who are hungry and youhave to decide whether you want
to pay your light bill, keepyour lights on or send your
children to school with holes intheir clothes because you don't
have enough money to get themnew clothes, or do you pay the
rent for that month.
That's where I was at.
I walked about four miles a dayback and forth to work.
(09:03):
I didn't have money for a busfare.
I didn't even know how I waseven going to get into Ross.
I didn't know how I was goingto have the transportation
because at that time Ross didnot have the hybrid option.
So it was mandatory that youcome to class every day was
(09:28):
mandatory that you come to classevery day, and it was a huge
struggle for me Huge.
But the thing is is that myfather I'm a preacher's kid and
my father taught me a whole lotof stuff, and the one thing that
he did teach me was to have alittle bit of faith.
And closed mouths don't get fed.
And so when I talked to thisparticular lady at Ross I'm
(09:52):
sorry, I don't mean to beemotional, but when I talked to
this particular lady here atRoss, she told me all you have
to do is communicate with me, me.
All you have to do iscommunicate with me.
I can help you.
And that's what I tell all ofmy students that I enroll.
Don't let life define you.
(10:14):
You define life.
You make life what you want itto be.
Okay, so your kids?
So you're struggling to feedyour children?
Ask somebody, communicate withsomebody.
Hey, where do I go to get helpwith this If you're needing a
ride somewhere?
Hey, um, how do I get a buspass?
(10:36):
How do I get a voucher?
How do I?
Is there someone in theclassroom that could help me get
back and forth to class?
Until I can get on my feet?
All you have to do is keepcommunication open and
everything will fall right therefor you.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
So, keisha, there's an argument in America that if
you work hard, all will be goodright.
If you get up every day, workas hard as you can, then you
know you should be able to dowell.
And you obviously work two jobsand you were still having a
difficult time making thingswork.
(11:14):
Why do you think we fall inlove with the concept that if
you work hard, that takes careof your financial needs or your
money issue?
Why do you think, as a countrywe have and maybe that's kind of
a broader, but from yourpersonal experience why do you
think that's a misguided beliefthat all you have to do is work
(11:36):
hard?
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Because people don't take into consideration I want
to say life itself, theobstacles that life throw at you
.
Everybody is so money, money,money, money, money and money
makes people happy, but only fora little bit of time and my
(11:58):
whole thing was okay.
I'm going to make money, I'mgoing to be okay If I can just
get this dental assisting umcertificate and I'll be able to
get a job and I'll be able totake care of my kids.
But the thing was that once Igot to that point where I was
able to properly take care of mychildren, I still was not happy
(12:21):
because I felt like the onlyway that I was going to be happy
is if my children were to lookat me and say that's my mom and
I'm proud of my mom.
We've been homeless before, andwe were.
We were homeless, we weresleeping couch to couch on the
floor and one night my son hewas about a year old, he was
(12:45):
really sick and he was laying onthe floor at a friend's house
and I thought to myself this isnot fair to them.
This is not fair that theydon't have their own beds to
sleep in, that they don't havetheir own food to eat, that they
have to be careful about whatthey're doing, because they're
in somebody else's house and youdon't want to mess that up,
(13:06):
because then you don't knowwhere you're going to go the
next day if someone kicks youout.
And I promised my children thatI would never put them in that
situation ever again.
And because of Ross, because Iwas able to complete school and
be able to.
You guys helped me find a job,a good paying job, and I only
(13:30):
had to work one job.
That was amazing all by itself.
That was a huge life changerfor me, because I had always
worked the two jobs.
So working that one job andbeing able to take care of my
children was just amazing.
And it's all because of Rossand I have said this even before
I started working here that ifI ever got the opportunity to
(13:54):
let people know how Ross helpedme and to be able to talk to the
people that helped me, I wouldforever be grateful.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Keisha, I have a question for you.
How did you like?
When did you study?
How did you work this outbetween schedules?
Did you say I'm studying atthis time of the day because
it's the best for my learning?
Or did you say my kids havethis and I have this, so I have
to study now, or whatever?
Speaker 3 (14:27):
So it was kind of hard.
I'm not going to lie, it wasvery hard, but it's all about
time management.
So we had a routine.
I set my kids up with a routineand in the mornings I would get
everybody off to school, geteverything situated.
(14:48):
I would have about 15, 20minutes of spare time and I
would just go over my notes, seeif there's anything that I need
done for that day.
At that point in time we didn'thave the laptops here, so we had
a syllabus.
So I would go and look at mysyllabus and see what all I
(15:11):
needed to do for that day.
Go and look at my syllabus andsee what all I needed to do for
that day.
So while I was working on mylunch breaks, I would take my
Roth backpack, my big old blue,rolly backpack with all my books
and everything, and I wouldtake them to lunch and I,
instead of eating lunch, I woulddo my homework.
When my kids finally were ableto go play sports for the school
(15:37):
and things like that, I wouldbe there, I would pay attention,
but I was also reading andtaking notes and things like
that.
So anytime that I had sparetime, I was in my books and I
made it to where I was able tostudy and work and make sure
that I was still that mom for mykids.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Keisha.
Out of curiosity, if you take aquick snapshot of your life
today, what does it look like?
Speaker 3 (16:04):
My life is amazing.
My life today is amazing.
I'm not even going to lie toyou.
I did not picture 10 years ago.
I did not picture me sittinghere actually working for Ross I
really did it and making verygood money.
My children two of them aregrown now.
They are 21 and one's almost 20.
(16:25):
My 21-year-old she actually isa Ross student here.
She's in the medical coding andbilling.
She just finished the classroomportion.
Now she's working on the extern.
She is also enrolled in HowardUniversity.
She's trying to become anorthopedic surgeon and I never
(16:46):
thought in a million years thatI would be able to write a check
for $4,500 to help her with hertuition, with the remaining of
her tuition.
My oldest son he is at EastTennessee State University now
and I'm writing a check for himin a couple of weeks.
(17:09):
Although they do have my bankaccount crying, it's okay
because I'm able to do this andit's all because you guys took
that chance and let me do what Ineeded to do and you guys were
right there to help me.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
You know, we spent a lot of time on this podcast
talking about poverty.
We're talking about overcomingobstacles and today, obviously,
we're talking about persistence,and you came to Ross already
with the persistent part.
You already were working twojobs.
You already were walking towork.
You know four miles.
You know not the easiest placesto walk in Johnson City.
(17:52):
You know not the easiest placesto walk in Johnson City.
So when you look at it in termsof what a different student
maybe may need, that may havebeen in a similar position but
maybe not with as many resourcesavailable to them, what do you
think on the receiving end, onthe Ross side, what do you think
Ross can do better to helpconnect with students who are
(18:16):
truly dealing with meaningfulobstacles, whether it's poverty,
housing insecurity,transportation, insecurity,
whatever it may be.
What do you think we could dobetter on our end?
Think we could do better on ourend?
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Honestly, I think you guys are amazing.
I really do.
Just having that.
It takes a lot for a person whohasn't had anything or who is
struggling to come to someoneand swallow their pride and say
I need help.
And the last thing you need isfor to build up your confidence
(18:57):
to even go ask someone and thenthat person be rude or shoot you
down or make you feel less thanwhat they are.
And Ross I have noticed thatRoss is nothing but positivity.
From the time you walk throughboth of those doors into the
lobby, into your classroom,everybody is cheering you on,
(19:21):
everybody is welcoming you.
Hey, welcome to school, eventhough you've been there for
about six months, but it'salways something new.
My thing is is and I've noticedthat a lot of my students, they
that I enroll, they do havetransportation issues,
especially the ones that live inthe bigger cities, a few of the
(19:59):
campuses to ask is theresomething that we have in place
to where they can get maybe abus voucher or a bus pass or
something like that?
That's mainly the big thingwith my students that I get is
the I don't know how I'm goingto get there, and then I end up
researching myself in their cityand because I'm familiar with
(20:22):
some of the resources you know.
Talk to social services.
Sometimes they give out busvouchers.
Let them know what you're doing, show them that you're in
school and you're trying to besomebody and you're trying to do
the right things, and majorityof them they end up coming back
to me and they're like oh, missKeisha, thank you so much, and
you know, if you don't have aride, see if I have messaged a
(20:45):
lot of the directors and hey, doyou guys have students that
live in this student's area?
She's having issues gettingback to fourth class.
She really wants to do this.
I think the main thing is thetransportation part.
So I feel like if we were ableto maybe communicate with some
(21:05):
of the transportation people ormaybe some agencies to help see
if we can get students likevouchers or, you know, bus
passes for a discounted rate.
Or even I know in Johnson citythey have a program where if
you're in school, you've got toshow proof that you're in school
but you take that enrollmentagreement to the bus station and
(21:29):
they will give you a bus passfor the month.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
How was your?
How was your transition to thefirst job?
What did that look like?
Speaker 3 (21:41):
After I graduated.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Yeah, after you finished your dental program.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Oh man, it was super awesome.
So I worked for Dr JasonCunningham super awesome doctor.
He noticed that I struggled.
He had two locations.
He had one in Johnson City andone in Irwin Tennessee.
The main one was in IrwinTennessee and that's where he
(22:07):
wanted me to be.
Irwin Tennessee is probablyabout 10, I'm going to say I'm
going to say about 20 minutesaway.
So I was having issues gettingback and forth there.
He knew that I had missed acouple of days of extern and he
(22:27):
knew that I lived in anothercity.
So he put me over into theJohnson City location and I went
in there my second week atXtern and he kind of just let me
go.
He was like I don't wantanybody messing with her, you
let her do her thing.
(22:48):
I want to see what she can do.
Well, this particular time thelady that was working for him
for 20 years decided that shedidn't want to come in that day
and left the student by herself,and so I was like you know what
?
Let me put on this lab coat,let me show these folks what I
(23:09):
got going on here.
So I ended up assisting him.
We had brought in over $40,000that day all by myself, and he
was amazed.
He looked at me and he said Areyou sure you've never dental
(23:29):
assisted before?
And I said Well, you got mypaperwork right there, sir.
There's my paperwork.
And he started laughing.
He said you, it seems likeyou've been doing this for 20
years.
I said it's all because of Rossand how they teach.
And right before graduation.
(23:51):
I was graduating on a Fridayand he came to me and he was
like do you want to work for me?
And I said I haven't evengraduated yet.
Like tomorrow's graduation,he's like well, yeah, I'll be
there.
And I said okay.
And he was like well, thinkabout it and let me know.
Well, of course, I had alreadysaid yes before I even walked
(24:13):
out that door, but I wasn'tgoing to tell him that.
So I went to graduation.
He was there and he came up tome and he said so, I'll see you
Monday.
And I said sure.
And so I got the job.
But what I didn't know was thatthe lady that had enrolled me
(24:34):
was actually keeping incommunication with him the whole
entire time on how I was doingand what was going on, and he
got to experience himself thedrive that I had and the.
He got to see what that, thatthis was very important to me,
(24:54):
and so I graduated on Friday,and on Monday I was making money
.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
So, keisha, if you reflect back and you brought to
the table a lot, of, a lot ofhard work, a lot of good ethics,
a lot of persistent, but youalso met two good people.
It looks like you met somebodyat Ross that was there for you,
and then you met Dr Cunningham,who was clearly supportive and
willing to do his part.
(25:22):
Do you think the two thatcombination of working hard and
maybe being somewhat lucky thatyou ran into good, two good
people made a difference?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yes, and I'm going to .
I'm going to say this when youshow people that you really want
something and you're not goingto let your obstacles stand in
the way, whether it's you don'thave that transportation, or you
don't have the money, or youdon't have this and you don't
have that, you don't let thatstop you and you still get to
(25:59):
where you are.
People are more willing to helpyou and get you to where you
need to be to be successful.
And I always tell my childrenno matter what you do, don't let
anything stop you from gettingto your goals.
And when you make your goals,make them small enough to where
(26:22):
you know that you're going to beable to accomplish them.
Don't make big goals foryourself.
Make little small ones, littlesteps, and eventually you'll get
to that big goal and by thetime that you get to that big
goal, you're ready to enjoy life.
And um, I just I think that if Iwas to have told that
(26:49):
particular person and if I wasto have told Dr Jason no, thank
you, I think I'm going to go adifferent way.
I don't think I would be whereI'm at today and I don't think
that my children would have theeducation that they have and
that they are getting.
And I don't think I'm going tobe honest with you.
(27:11):
I don't think that I would besuch a good person Because I
would have been angry withmyself for not trying, for not
getting out there and showing mychildren it's okay, life
happens.
You pick up and you go on andyou don't let what's happened in
(27:32):
the past define your future.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Yeah, not easy, right .
When we stumble, it's alwayshard to get back on our feet.
It's a really remarkable story,I think.
To a certain extent I'm a hugebeliever that to come out of a
difficult situation whether it'spoverty or something different
it really takes more than oneperson to get you out of it.
(27:58):
You know you do have to workhard, you do have to show up,
and half of the battle isshowing up, but you really need
a helping hand along the way andit looks like you got that and
you got the support.
Before we get to the wrap uphere in a bit Kisha outside of
Ross, outside of the doctor whatdo you think was your biggest
(28:20):
support system that helped youor potentially can help other
people in the same position?
Speaker 3 (28:28):
The biggest support system.
I didn't really have anybodybut myself, but I can say it was
.
It was no one but God.
From you know, I've beenthrough a whole lot in my life.
(28:48):
I've been through a lot oflosses, I've been through a lot
of trials, I've had a lot oferrors to pop up, but it's
always and my father taught methis at a young age it's always
that mustard seed of faiththat'll get you to anywhere you
need to be.
That's all you have to have andit will move a whole mountain.
(29:13):
And I am a living testimony ofthat, because at one point in
time I was ready to give up, Iwas ready to call it quits, I
was ready to be, you know, handmy children off to somebody else
and just forget the world.
But then I remembered thatmustard seed of faith.
And when I did, that's when allof this stuff started falling
(29:38):
into place for me.
That's when all of my angels Icall you guys my angels, because
if it wasn't for you all, Iwould not be where I'm at today
and I'm still growing because Iam actually enrolled into the um
healthcare administrationprogram Um, I will be done in
(29:58):
February, fingers crossed, if Ican get that math going, um, um,
and I plan on going evenfurther with that.
I do Um and hopefully one day,um, and hopefully one day Ross
will have more like a bachelor'sdegree or something and I can
(30:18):
come here, because I just don'tsee myself going to another
school.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
I can honestly say that.
Well, I have to say that that'sone thing, that you've learned
lots, but you also have givenlearning to other people that
have been around you as well,and I actually remember that
quote when I trained you andonboarded you, when you said
excuses are the nails used tobuild a house of failure.
I never, I never forgot that,and I feel that your persistence
(30:49):
has also impacted other peopletoo along your journey, and I'm
grateful to have met you.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Thank you, you guys are so awesome.
I love it here.
I do.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Keisha.
Maybe the last question, unlessAndy wants to jump in here, but
we asked you if you take aquick snapshot in terms of where
you are today and you feltyou're really in a much, much
better place.
Are you surprised at that?
Speaker 3 (31:23):
I am Well kind of, because, like I said, I didn't
see myself.
Because, like I said, I didn't,I didn't see myself.
So I, when, when I became thatsingle mother, I thought that my
life was just over, I was justgoing to be my.
I grew up.
(31:43):
I'm going to tell you my age.
I grew up as a latchkey kid OKand kindergarten.
I was getting off the schoolbus, going home, opening that
door, closing it behind me,locking it and waiting for my
mom had set it up to where itwas.
She would call me, but shewould let the phone ring three
(32:05):
times, hang up, do it again andthen the third time she would
call, I would answer because Iknew it was her.
And the third time she wouldcall, I would answer because I
knew it was her and we had that.
I was a latchkey kid, gosh,probably about, I'm going to say
, until I was in maybe sixth orseventh grade and I watched my
(32:27):
mother after my father hadpassed away, I watched my mother
work so hard, so hard.
She is about the strongestwoman that I know.
She worked three jobs and wasgoing to school to get her
master's degree.
How I felt having not gettingto have that childhood that most
(32:58):
kids had, because my mom had towork so much and so I had to
kind of grow up faster than whatmost kids have to, and so I
didn't want that for my children.
And the way that I was going itwas like for my children and
the way that I was going it waslike you're about to be in that
same boat as your mother if youdon't do something about this.
(33:19):
I am very, but I knew that I wasgoing to be able, I was going
to be able to do this.
I was determined to do this.
I was determined to have myname on somebody's piece of
paper saying that I accomplishedsomething.
And my next goal is to have mychildren, as I walk across the
(33:46):
stage, have my children standingthere watching me and say
that's my mom.
You don't know what I know, butthat's my mom.
That's my biggest goal rightnow.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
That's why we have the greatest job in the whole
wide world right.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
Keisha, yes, and I try with all of my students that
I talk to.
Amanda laughs at me a lotbecause I call them my kids.
Because I feel like sometimesthat I am their mom and I'm like
listen, don't do this, don't dothat, go here, go there.
But I feel like, because I'vebeen in their shoes and I know
(34:30):
what's happening and I knowwhat's going on and I know, I
see what's fixing to happen.
I want to stop them and be likelook, stop Stop doubting
yourself, stop making excuses,just do it.
Just be that Nike sign, just doit.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
You know it's a.
I've made a career of arguingthat overcoming challenges and
overcoming poverty is more thana one-person job job.
(35:16):
It's so even difficult for meto imagine how you did Ross, how
you got a job and still triedto raise two kids along the way,
and you did it with no supportsystem.
You did it really basicallyfinding the strength, but you
met somebody at Ross that waswilling to help you and then you
met a good doctor that waswilling to help you and the
combination got you to where youare today.
And I know to a certain extentmany of our students may not get
(35:38):
that opportunity, they may notget that person that they run
into in life that's willing tohelp them.
But it is a remarkable storywhen you consider, you know,
when your hard work, yourpersistent, was matched by
kindness of others and thathelping hand makes such a big
difference in the lives of ourstudents.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Well, as long as I'm here, I want all these students
to know that it doesn't matterif I've enrolled you or not.
It doesn't matter if I'veenrolled you or not.
(36:30):
If you need those few words ofencouragement and I tell every
call that I end I always tellthem here's my number.
If you need me call me, even ifit's just words, for words of
encouragement, because thosewords of encouragement may put
that spark into them and like,okay, somebody does care,
somebody wants me to do this asmuch as I want to do this, let
me go ahead and see what, whathappens.
Everybody needs that positiveperson in a world full of
negativity, and I believe thatthe lady at Ross was my positive
(36:56):
in my world full of negative.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
Yeah, and I hope people who listen to this
podcast you know that your wordswill touch how they interact
with students, with anyonereally overcoming some serious
life issues.
I always feel, to a certainextent, that kindness is
underrated.
You know we can do so muchbetter as humans.
(37:22):
You know, if we're willing toprovide someone a helping hand,
give them a lift, especiallywhen life is difficult.
So, keisha, I truly appreciateyou taking time to be with us
today.
It's a really remarkable storyabout what human spirit can do
in a very difficult andchallenging environment that you
(37:43):
found yourself in working at agas station trying to raise two
kids, whether throughhomelessness or all the other
challenges that you'veencountered.
You found your way through thisand I'm really thankful we get
a chance to tell your story onthis podcast.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
I appreciate you and it was my pleasure.
And again, thank you so muchfor giving me this opportunity,
giving me that opportunity backin 2015, 2016,.
And the opportunity now, and Iwill forever be grateful to you
guys.
And if anybody's looking forcollege, if it's something that
(38:25):
we have, go to Ross, there's noquestion about it.
Go to Ross, fill out thatapplication.
It's free now.
It's not $50 anymore.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
We're going to have to put you on the billboard.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
Only if I can have that big smile and those two
thumbs up there, I'm good to go.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
There you go, Keisha.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Here's the truth Anyone can start a program, but
not everyone finishes.
And when you do, you're notjust earning a credential,
you're building confidence andmarketability and a story of
resilience that no one can takeaway from you.
If today's episode spoke to you, share it with a fellow student
or a friend who might need alittle boost.
(39:12):
Episode spoke to you, share itwith a fellow student or a
friend who might need a littleboost, and don't forget to
subscribe so you never miss aconversation that helps you make
the leap.
Until next time, keep going.
You got this.
Speaker 4 (39:26):
Thank you for listening to this episode of
Make the Leap.
You can follow along atrosspodcastcom or the podcast
platform of your choice andsubscribe to make sure you don't
miss the next episode.
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