As I am writing this, I am trying not to cry. Remembering such pain is hard, but it is part of my story. I got a telephone call from a nurse in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Auburn, Alabama. My daughter had been brought by ambulance to the hospital, and they had stabilized her. She had been physically and sexually assaulted. I could not move. I vaguely listened to what the nurse was saying. When I hung up the phone, I collapsed onto the floor sobbing. What happened, who did this to my child? I had to get to Alabama from Tennessee. I cried all of the way to Auburn. When I reached the hospital, my legs felt heavy as I walked from the parking lot into the building. My mind was moving to a million different places. As I made it to the information desk, the kind woman at the desk directed me to the intensive care unit. I made it up the elevator to ICU, and I found the nurses’ station. I told them that my daughter was brought in, and a nurse led me to her room. When I saw my daughter, I collapsed onto the floor. The cries and sobbing wouldn’t stop. They were uncontrollable. Machines were beeping, and tubes were in her and liquid was coming out of her. My child! My baby! Who would do such a thing? Finally, I was able to regain my composure. Her health was my number one concern, and the strong mother in me, came out. I would fight for her while she could not fight for herself. Eventually she came off of the ventilator and she was able to talk to the police, the rape crisis team, and the hospital’s therapists. As the bruises on her legs came to the surface, my resolve to help her rose as well. From being able to eat again, to combatting nightmares, together, we fought back. After she was discharged from the hospital, she withdrew from college so that she could come home to heal. After months of intense therapy, she was able to return to college and she graduated this past May 2025. While she was in the hospital, I thought that I would go crazy. I had just went back to college, and my textbooks were back at home in Knoxville. I reached out to my English professor, and she encouraged me to write and journal. She also helped me to find online textbooks, so that I could continue with my class. I poured myself into writing when my daughter was asleep, but I could not sleep. I promised her that I would go back to school and complete my degree. I am doing that now with hopes of graduating in December of 2026. I have worked for many years as a medical laboratory technician and have seen horrible healthcare disparities. The disparities that I have witnessed have led me to try to help people in my community by offering a free medical clinic. The kindness that I was a recipient of at the hospital with my daughter, made a huge difference in my life and her recovery. I hope to be a source of comfort for others. Older members of my community often lack transportation to medical appointments. Young mothers need assistance as well. Having a local free medical clinic will ease some of the burdens that they face. The scholarship will help me by freeing up tuition money. The money that I save on tuition will go towards building the medical center and staffing it.

World Book Vickie E. Johnson World Book is the nickname that my siblings and I gave to my father, Clarence Leon Tate, Sr. When we were in elementary school, our school did not allow us to bring textbooks home from school. Our elementary school was slowing being integrated from an all-White school to one with a mixed student body. Some of our teachers were subtly racist. My father took an active role in our education and in our lives. Good behavior was required at all times, and academic excellence was expected. When I was in the third grade, I could not grasp the idea of subjects and verbs. My English grades began to reflect this deficiency. My father did not like the fact that we could not bring home our books. So, he purchased a set of books that covered all school subjects from elementary school to high school. Those books were big! My exhausted father would come home from work in the evenings and work with me on subjects and verbs. He coached me and my four siblings in math, English, spelling, and geography. He was our homeschool teacher. Oh, how I wanted to be outside riding my bike, but school had to come first. My father instilled in us a sense of pride for doing our best. He knew his three Black daughters would have to work harder because of how a White male-dominated world would judge us. Me, my sisters, and brothers successfully made it through high school, technical school, and now I am completing my college education. When we have questions and problems, we still call Daddy. We nicknamed him World Book because of the books that he used to teach us with. He is wise and shares truth and wisdom with us. He sees all sides of issues, and he has never led us astray. We love him and are fortunate to have him in our lives. He will be eighty-four years old in October. I returned to school at an older age. I worked full-time while homeschooling my daughters so that they would have their education aligned with their interests. Homeschooling gave us the flexibility to combine dual-enrollment classes with their studies. One child pursued a scientific tract with animal volunteering and mentorship experiences. The other child was able to pursue extensive artistic training as a performer. I am thankful for the example that my father set, and I was able to pass the tradition of excellence to my own children. I am majoring in sociology with the hope of building a community center that will house classrooms and a medical and dental clinic. There is a need for healthcare in my community that is close to where residents live. Older residents must take public transportation to doctors’ appointments that are quite a distance away from their homes. They must stand out in all kinds of weather to wait for buses. Travel to and from appointments may be long. It is difficult for them since many do not feel well to begin with. The center will also house classrooms to help students with homework. Afterschool snacks and tutoring will help to reinforce concepts being taught at school. World Book is excited that I am back in school, and he is my source of inspiration. His eyes are clear, bright, and sure. He completes crossword puzzles every day, and he always has a listening ear. I hope to just imitate his efforts with us and become a World Book, myself, to others.

I am Vickie Johnson, a wife and mother of two daughters. I am currently working full-time as a medical laboratory technician while also taking college classes. I work in the student health center at a local college, and I enjoy interacting with college students. I have worked in the laboratory field of medicine for over twenty-five years. I decided to return to college in order to enter a new career and help those in my community who are dealing with poor health outcomes due to health inequity. As a mother, I am the first person that my daughters come to when they are ill. My oldest daughter faced numerous health challenges, and my determination to find a surgeon who could help her led me to discover that perseverance is a quality that I possess. This quality was developed when I began to take college classes. I became efficient with computer technology and online classes. If I did not know how to do something, I asked for help and practiced until I became proficient. Mothers cannot give up. Our children may want to give up when difficulties arise, but we have to show them by example that they can make it through all challenges. My focus is on low-income residents who lack sufficient medical insurance and income that is necessary for good medical care. College students who age off of their parent’s medical insurance and international students often fall into this category. Many of these students lack medical insurance and take a chance that they may be alright without it. Poor residents in my hometown suffer due to lack of adequate medical care. Local emergency rooms serve them when they are often very ill with conditions that may have been treated with less cost if caught early. As a mother, I care about the suffering that I see. Empathy goes a long way, but adequate medical coverage will really make a difference. After obtaining my associate degree last December, I enrolled in Austin Peay State University where I am majoring in sociology and community development. I hope to make a small difference in my community by opening a medical and dental clinic that serves low-income residents. If they can receive medical and dental care and not have to worry about the cost, their lives will be brightened. Mothers are also great listeners. Listening to other people’s concerns and fears will help to direct their care and treatment plans. Mental health care will also be provided. The stress of bad health and lack of money to improve it can lead to depression and hopelessness. I can share my own life’s journey with them, and hopefully make a small difference. Being a mother, working full-time, and going back to school at an older age is hard, but focusing on a positive outcome gives me the strength to endure.

Trust God I love to read Christian biographies, and the major lesson that I have learned is to always trust God. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom is one of my favorite books. After she and her sister were imprisoned for helping Jews, they had to trust God to carry them through many horrors. Corrie even was able to forgive her captors. She exemplified her faith by trusting God. The Bible reinforces God’s faithfulness, and its truths have helped me to face many challenges in my life and in that of my family. I had to blindly trust God numerous times to heal my daughter. She bravely faced surgeries while I would stay in my knees in hospital chapels and pray for God to protect her and heal her. He never let me down. Those trying times have increased my faith in God and in what He alone is capable of. Another book that has had an impact on my life is Crossing the Line by Kareem Rosser. Rosser lived in a dangerous area of Philadelphia and could have succumbed to drugs and violence. However, a chance meeting with Lezlie Hiner who ran the Work to Ride program changed his life. He had to trust her leadership and training so that he could learn to ride and eventually become an outstanding polo player. He also had to trust horses and his teammates. I have learned that trust builds confidence in both me and in others. I am an older, non-traditional student. As the oldest of five children, I went to college for one year on a scholarship. I decided to go to trade school instead of returning to college so that I could make money to support myself and help my parents. I got married, had two daughters, and continued to work full-time while homeschooling my children. As I was teaching them, I realized that I wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives through health equity and education. So, I returned to college and completed my associate degree last December. I am currently taking classes at Austin Peay State University for a degree in sociology. I hope to work for social justice as it relates to health equity. I also love biographical movies. Every year at Easter my family watches The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston as Moses. The movie reinforces my faith in God’s power. I also enjoyed The Pianist. It is a movie about the survival of Wladyslaw Szpilman. Szpilman was a Jewish pianist who managed to survive in Warsaw, Poland during World War II with Nazi’s from Germany. He had to trust God for his very existence every single day. I hope to make a positive impact by using my education to improve the health care of low-income residents in my city. Lack of health insurance has resulted in poor health outcomes for many residents. I hope to change that by opening a community medical clinic to help those in need. I hope to gain the trust of those who may be skeptical by showing compassion and genuine empathy. I trust God to lead me to make a positive difference.

I love to watch juggling acts at the circus. It is fun to see balls and other items that a juggler keeps in motion. Juggling school and work has required determination and strength that I did not know I had. I work full time and two days a week I work cleaning an office in order to help with my daughters’ college expenses. I go into work at 7:45 am, and my day is completed at 5:00 pm. When I get home from work, I make dinner, walk the dog, and then study. On days when I clean the office it is often 9:00 pm before I get home. When I am exceptionally tired, coffee and chocolate are my energy sources. I try to keep my eyes on the reason that I chose to go back to school. I want to make a difference in the lives of people who are unable to afford adequate medical and dental care. I hope to be an advocate for social justice as it relates to equity in healthcare. I have experienced first-hand the devastating effects that a lack of medical insurance may cause. If a family is fortunate enough to have medical insurance, children age off the insurance when they reach a certain age. Many are still in school and unable to purchase expensive private medical insurance. Some go without coverage, and hope for good health until they can gain employment with great medical benefits. This option is risky because juggling healthcare is dangerous. I hope to make a difference. So, when I am exhausted and it is midnight or later, I push myself to finish that last paper or assignment. My experience with school and working full time causes me to celebrate small steps on the way to graduation. If I look at the volume of assignments that need to be completed, it is easy for me to get overwhelmed. So, I just make small steps in order to complete large projects. Working full-time while going to school has positively impacted me by causing me to stay focused and manage my time well. When I narrow my focus towards getting an assignment completed, it is easy for me to ignore distractions and use all of my energy towards the assignment. I also have developed incredible organizational skills which help me at work. I am able to prioritize tasks and get work completed efficiently and on time. Occasionally, I may drop the ball just like a circus juggler does. When that happens, I pick the ball back up and begin juggling again. I do not let small setbacks stop me. I use them to learn and continue in my educational pursuits.

Miss Solomon By Vickie E. Johnson Miss Kelsie Solomon was my English literature teacher while I was a student at Walters State Community College. I went back to college at an older age to teach and work in social justice. I was nervous about returning to college, and I needed to brush up on my computer skills. Writing was a passion that I enjoyed, and I had no idea that my life was about to change because of that passion. The fall semester had just started during my return to college, when I got a telephone call to come to Alabama where my daughter had been admitted to the intensive care unit. I just grabbed a change of clothes and took off driving to Alabama from Tennessee. When I got to the hospital, I just collapsed from the emotions of it all. School was the last thing on my mind. I just wanted my daughter to be alright. Days after she was doing much better, I remembered school and panicked. My textbooks were back in Knoxville, but I did have my laptop. I reached out to Miss Solomon and told her what was going on. I was sure that I would have to withdraw, but she assured me that she would help me to find some on-line textbooks to supplement what was being taught in class. Her simple act of kindness helped me to stay in school. She also encouraged me to journal as a form of release. When it would get quiet in the hospital, I would journal my thoughts, and I began to write poetry to try to put into words all of the emotions that I was experiencing. Once my daughter was out of the hospital and doing much better, I returned home. At Miss Solomon’s recommendation, I became the editor-in-chief for my community college’s student literary magazine, and my poetry was published. Miss Solomon’s gentle encouragement led me to push on an obtain my associate’s degree. She also encouraged me to continue on to a four-year university to complete my studies. I want to pursue a degree in education because I believe in the power of knowledge. I home-schooled both of my daughters while working full-time. Homeschooling allowed me to customize each daughter’s education. One was more gifted in math and science, while the other’s strengths were in language arts. Due to the flexibility of a home-school education, they were able to develop their interests outside of a traditional classroom with community and cultural mentoring opportunities. One was able to complete research at a local zoo, and work at a veterinary clinic, and the other was able to train and compete as a dancer while working as a dance instructor to supplement her education. Both were dual-enrolled students with our local community colleges. Dual enrollment allowed them to simultaneously complete college classes and high school classes. The freedom to use an individual student’s academic strengths to develop an interesting curriculum is what fuels my desire to teach. If a student is not learning, the underlying cause must be discovered. Freedom to use unconventional learning methods must be explored. I hope to use my interest in social justice to work at positively reforming the outlook for low-income students in my community. One person can make a difference.

Shaken, Pressed Down, and Running Over By Vickie E. Johnson One of my favorite Bible verses is Luke 6:38 which states, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” This is a promise from Jesus that when we give, we will receive innumerable blessings. I have witnessed this principle many times over in my life and in that of my family. I am a married mother with two daughters who are both in college. I work full-time, and I decided to return to college after promising my daughters that I would complete my education once they went off to college. I work full-time as a medical lab technician, and I have experienced the healing power of a positive attitude along with kindness from clinical staff. One of my daughters had to have many surgeries and medical procedures before she was healed. We had to travel to out of state hospitals and see specialists and other medical professionals. That journey was life changing. Bills mounted, and we had to oftentimes leave her younger sister with family members while our older daughter was in the hospital. I worried about losing my job and bills, but we managed to survive. During one of my daughter’s hospital stays in Atlanta, the hospital chaplain came by her room and said he wanted to give me something. It was a free meal card. I am crying as I type this. His simple act of care brought me to tears. A smile, a gentle hug, and knowing nod are small acts that can turn a dark situation to one of positiveness. I work in a student health center, and many of the students who come to the lab for testing and blood work are scared. For many, it is their first time away from home, and they are terrified from being sick and not having a parent with them. I use my compassion as a mother to assure them that they will be alright, and a ginger-ale and animal crackers help tremendously. My journey with my own daughter ignited my desire to pursue sociology in the form of healthcare access reform. I am learning a lot about social justice, and I want to improve the health outcomes for those who lack medical and dental care from babies to senior citizens. Compassion and empathy go a long way in alleviating pain both physical and mental. I want to use my own experiences to encourage others who may be experiencing health challenges. I plan to use my education to build a community healthcare center in a low-income area of my city. Medical professionals are located quite a distance from an area in East Knoxville where low income residents need healthcare the most. It is difficult for senior citizens to use public transportation to get to appointments that are a long distance from their housing units. Private transportation is too costly for many. I hope to partner with local churches for staffing the clinic and for volunteers. Health inequity is a huge social problem, and one small clinic can make a big difference for many in my community. The scholarship will help me to complete my educational goals while continuing to work and get my family out of large medical debts. Giving to others always brings the giver many rewards, and they will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

Walters State Community College’s English professor, Kelsie Solomon is the woman who inspired me to complete my education at Walters State. Without her simple and unwavering support, I would not have graduated just a few weeks ago on December 7, 2023. Due to her encouragement at a critical time in my life, I was able to stay on track, graduate, and enroll in a four-year university, Austin Peay State, to continue my studies and obtain a bachelor’s degree. Fall 2022 semester of classes had just begun. We were beginning our first week of class when I got a terrible phone call from the emergency room at a hospital in Auburn, Alabama. My daughter had been assaulted and was at the hospital. They were putting her on a ventilator. My world stopped. I am crying as I write this. The emotions are still raw. I could not pack. My husband was torn. Our younger daughter had to get to school out of state, and her things were packed in the van. I grabbed a bag, threw some clothes in it, and took off for Alabama. Auburn is a five- hour drive from Knoxville. I made it to the hospital and up to intensive care. My daughter was hooked up to machines, and I collapsed. For a mother to see her child like that, it changes you in an instant! Oh, how I wished it was me! What I wouldn’t do to trade places. So young. So much promise. So much hope!! After coming around, the staff explained to me her condition and that she would recover. But, we had a long road ahead of us. The relief that I felt gave me hope that we would somehow get on the other side. When they took her off the ventilator, the real challenges began. A crisis team came to talk to her about the assault, and a detective gave information on pressing charges. I was just so thankful that she was alive! When the medical staff would come into her room for different procedures, I would have to leave. I spent most of my time in the chapel, praying. When she started to improve, I remembered school! My English textbooks were in Knoxville. I was able to email Kelsie Solomon and let her know where I was and what had happened. I told her that my books were in Knoxville and how would I do schoolwork? Her simple act of kindness changed my life. She said that we would find online copies, and she would send me sections of the material that were being taught so that I could complete my assignments. Little did she know then, but her kindness fueled me. I used the reading and writing assignments as mental distractions from the horror in the hospital. School helped me to keep my sanity! I also began to journal and write poetry. Writing was therapeutic! My daughter got better and was discharged. She had to sit out that semester while she physically and emotionally healed from her injuries. Kelsie Solomon never waived in her support. Due to her encouragement and recommendation, I was chosen to be editor-in-chief for the Walters State Community College literary magazine, and my poetry was published. Kelsie told our class that she came back to our small community in Morristown to give back. She wants to help educate us so that we will have a chance to contribute to our community in outstanding ways. She succeeded with me. I am continuing my education at Austin Peay State, and I hope to pass on encouragement to others.

A Delay is Not a Denial By Vickie E. Johnson I am Vickie Elisa Johnson, a mother who returned to college once her two daughters also began their college educations. My college education has been delayed due to numerous factors, but I refuse to be denied the opportunity to reach my goal of obtaining a college degree. My educational journey began when I received a college scholarship when I graduated from high school that covered one year of tuition. As the oldest of six children, my family could not afford additional tuition for the remining three years of college. So, I withdrew and entered a training program for medical laboratory technicians. I began working full-time in the lab of a local hospital and put my dream on hold. Eventually, I got married and had two daughters. We stressed to them the importance of a college education so that they would not have to work as many jobs as we were working in order to make ends meet. My husband and I both worked multiple jobs simultaneously in order to provide. My daughters reminded me that I did not have a degree, so I promised them and myself that I would return to college once they were in college too. Both girls received scholarships, and with loans to supplement their scholarships they are both thriving in college. I began my commitment to finish by enrolling in Walters State Community College while working full-time and occasionally part-time side jobs. I am happy to say that I will graduate on December 7, 2023, with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies, Summa Cum Laude. It is by the grace of God that I have a 4.0 G.P.A. I have been accepted into Austin Peay State University. Austin Peay is a four-year university, and I hope to complete requirements for my bachelor’s degree there. I am looking at English or sociology for my focus area of study. Being awarded the Concrete Rose Scholarship would impact me by encouraging me to press on towards my goal. I plan to help others by teaching English and by helping international students with community assimilation and adjustments. The scholarship will encourage me to know that like concrete, I can absorb shocks that come my way, but I will remain resilient and focused. Thanks for offering the scholarship. It is difficult to provide assistance for my daughters while also trying to finance my own education. The scholarship would ease the financial burden that I am under. My education may have been delayed, but I will not be denied my dream.

Being the First By Vickie E. Johnson First place is often the coveted spot. First place wins the Olympic Gold medal. First class has better seats and meals on flights, and the first-born receives the monarchy’s crown. Being the first is also a lonely place when you are the first of your race to occupy a job or a position. When you are a female, African-American, being the first is often like being thrown off of a ship into shark-infested waters. I have been the first many times in my life, and I developed resilience by focusing on my faith and by having an incredible support system outside of work and school. Positive words of encouragement and prayers enabled me to succeed and lift others up who are and were experiencing similar challenges. I am the mother of two daughters who are attending college, and I promised them that I would obtain a college education as well. Education is the equalizer that will make our lives better so that we can help others navigate through life too. I will graduate with an associate degree in December of 2023, and I plan to enter a four-year institution in the spring of 2024. I plan to major in English with a concentration in creative writing. I hope to become an inspirational author and start a non-profit organization to help international students. I have the opportunity to interact with many international students, and many struggle with healthcare access and access to food sources that are similar to their native countries, so I would like to use the non-profit to help these students. Many are from African countries like Ghana and Nigeria. They struggle with being the first. The first from their village, or the first in their family to seek an international education. Their race often unfortunately causes them to experience racism for the first time. They are away from what is familiar, and they too face feelings of loneliness and being thrown to the sharks. If they can find a friendly face, who looks like them, they are put at ease. If that face offers help and walks with them through their challenges, then they can be successful. I hope to offer mentorship and learning opportunities to African-American students in my community as well. These individuals rarely get the chance to study abroad. International travel is expensive, and many families in my community can not afford to send their students to other countries. I hope to close that gap so that the well-deserving students in my community will have to opportunity to enrich their lives by studying abroad. Being the first has both challenges and responsibilities, and I hope that I will blaze a trail for many others to follow.

As a Christian, the most important thing that I have learned from the books that I have read and films seen is that compassion is necessary to successfully navigate through life. The last movie that I watched was The Pianist. It was based on the life of Wladyslaw Szpilmann, a Polish Jew who survived Nazi-occupied Poland. The compassion shown to him by a Nazi officer helped to save his life. I love true stories and biographies because they encourage me to try to implement more compassion into my own life. As Christians, I believe our actions are the forces that draw unbelievers to faith in Christ. Words may have little effect, but if we act with kindness and love, we can leave a positive impact. One of the most positive books that I read was Crossing the Line by Kareem Rosser. In Kareem’s life, the kindness of just one woman changed the course of his life. A single act of love or faith can literally change a life. I have also read books like The 48 Laws of Power by Richard Green that celebrate uses of power that are sinister. As an unapologetic Christian, I try to treat others with kindness knowing that God will bless my efforts. I returned to school when my two daughters entered college. I promised them that I would complete my degree once they began college. I will graduate in December of 2023 from community college, and I plan to enroll in a four-year institution in the spring of 2024. I plan to major in English with a focus on creative writing. I hope to become an inspirational author. I also hope to teach English and start a non-profit for international college students to help with the assimilation process. Service to others is the backbone of my existence, and if I can make a positive difference or offer hope for someone struggling, then my efforts will be rewarded. This scholarship is important to me because I am trying to put my daughters through college while attending school myself. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I must have a college education in order to be equipped with the tools that are needed for me to successfully become a writer and an educator. I also need the skills and resources that are necessary to run a non-profit organization. Being a Christian offers me hope, and my faith in God encourages me as I walk along this educational journey.

Running Out of Time I am Vickie Elisa Johnson, an African American mother who is attending community college in order to complete my education. I have two daughters who are also in college. Winning the scholarship will help me with tuition as I transfer to a four-year institution to obtain my bachelor’s degree. I work full-time to support my daughters, and a college degree will allow me to switch to a better-paying profession. As a mother, I have experienced abuse through the life of one of my daughters. My job to protect and provide security was shattered. She was abused last fall. I received a phone call late at night from an emergency room in Alabama that she had been brought in by ambulance, was unconscious, and they were moving her to intensive care. She was placed on a ventilator. I could not get dressed quickly enough. I rushed to my parent’s house and told them what happened and drove as fast as possible from Tennessee to Alabama. When I finally made it to ICU, I collapsed when I saw her on the ventilator. I wished it was me instead of her. Oh, how I felt like a failure! She had just started her fall semester. The guy who did this to her might as well have done it to me! I hurt in unexplainable ways! She is such a caring, joyful person. Why did this have to happen? The doctors successfully took her off the vent, and she has since made a remarkable recovery. Therapy, both physical and mental, helped her tremendously. I am continuing to deal with both shock and grief; however, there was a lot of good that came from the assault. Doctors and nurses were amazing. Hospital counselors walked with us through difficult conversations. Local law enforcement officers were patient and helpful. We saw good in the midst of evil. As a mother, I realized that I can only try my best, and I must have faith and believe that everything will be alright. When I had to leave for Alabama, I had just started the fall semester as well. I left all of my textbooks in Tennessee. When I was finally able to remember school, I contacted one of my professors, an English instructor. I told her what was going on, and she encouraged me not to sit out the semester. Instead, she offered to help me to find online copies of my textbooks. She encouraged me to journal as a way of release. I took her advice, and when it would get quiet in the hospital’s waiting room, I would write. When my daughter was discharged and came home, I was able to continue with classes. My writing expanded, and I was selected to be editor-in-chief of the community college’s literary magazine. My poetry was also published. I am a much older student, but my life experiences are invaluable. I feel as though I still have a lot to contribute, but I need to complete my education so that I will have the tools that are necessary to succeed. I don’t want to run out of time. I want to use the time that I have left to help others. I am African American, a working mother, a first-generation college student, and a survivor.

Demolish By Vickie E. Johnson I work full-time near an area where there is a lot of construction going on. There are cranes, construction crews, and large trucks that do various jobs. There were several old buildings where the construction is taking place. The old buildings were torn down, and now new buildings are rising up. The new buildings are sleek and modern looking. They will most likely have efficient heating and air conditioning. Insulation will probably be adequate, and tenants will be able to be productive in such a nice work environment. My life has been like the construction. I am an older, non-traditional student from an underrepresented minority. My grandparents never completed high school. My grandfather made it to the eighth grade. He could read well, and he was great at math. However, my grandmother only completed fifth grade. They were grandchildren of sharecroppers. Both of my parents completed high school, but neither attended college. They stressed the importance of going to college to me and my five brothers and sisters. I was granted a college scholarship for my first year of college. I did not have the funds to continue in college, so I enrolled in a technical certificate program and began working full-time. I got married and had two daughters. I promised my daughters that I would return to school when they began their college careers. I hope to demolish generational college degree deficiencies in my family. I want to stop the trend of education so that we will be better off financially. I hope to complete the requirements for my Associate’s Degree and transfer to a four-year university to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree in English. My goal is to teach English. I am driven by a desire to educate students in my city’s urban school districts. Patterns may be broken when students are given the hope and the tools to successfully navigate through college. I hope to build and insulate them against obstacles that they will face because of their ethnicity. I will be empathetic to my students because I can relate to their circumstances. I want to show them that they already have within them the strength to do what is necessary to be successful in a world that is different from where they are. I hope to successfully enable them to complete college, return to their communities, and give back. I hope to inspire them to build sleek modern buildings and demolish old buildings as well as old ideas and patterns of thinking.

My classroom which is full of English students will erupt into laughter as I hilariously describe unknown facts about one of the authors that they are studying.

No Veils By Vickie E. Johnson Veils are commonly used to cover or conceal. They are used in weddings to conceal the bride’s face. They are used at museums and auctions to cover priceless artifacts. They are also used during surgical procedures to isolate areas that will not be used. There is one veil that is most important to me. It is located on a statue at Tuskegee University and is called “Lifting the Veil of Ignorance.” The statue is of Booker T. Washington pulling a veil back from the head of an African American young man. Booker T. Washington said, “A race, like an individual, lifts itself up by lifting others up.” I hope to remove veils and enlighten my students about the possibilities and opportunities that are available to them if they make obtaining an education a life-long goal. I am a non-traditional, older student. As the oldest of six children, I attended college on a scholarship for one year. Lack of funding caused me to seek a vocational certificate and work so that my younger siblings could go to college. I got married, worked full-time, and had two daughters. My older daughter attended school up to the eighth grade when I noticed that she lacked language arts skills. I nervously decided to homeschool her so that I could focus on strengthening her language arts skills. I had the support of a homeschool organization, and her annual test scores improved dramatically. Homeschooling as an African American family was challenging, but we succeeded. She was able to focus on her love for animals by creating individual opportunities at a local zoo, horse sanctuary, and vet hospital. When she tested well and gained college admission, I knew my efforts as an educator were successful. My younger daughter never attended traditional school. I homeschooled her from pre-school to the twelfth grade. She also took college-dual enrollment classes while in high school. It was challenging to homeschool both girls at the same time, but I was determined to make sure that their educational needs were met. Due to my full-time job, we homeschooled six days a week and during the summers. I promised my daughters that I would return to college once they both started, and that is where I am in life now. I am close to completing the requirements for my Associate’s Degree, and I plan to enroll in a four-year university to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree. I plan to teach when I graduate. I hope to encourage my students to push forward and make a difference in their lives and their communities. I plan to teach in an urban or inner-city school where my students look like me. I am able to show empathy and shared experiences with my students as an African American educator. We are aware of our racial minority, but we will not let it limit us. I will strive to be like Booker T. Washington and uplift my students one class at a time. I hope to make a positive impact by removing all veils and ignorance and instilling hope and promise instead.

Stained-Glass By: Vickie E. Johnson The chapel in the hospital was a sanctuary for me. It was quiet and cool. The stained-glass windows offered me hope, especially when sunlight would shine in thru them. I had a small notebook, and the chapel was a place where I could write and pray. I am Vickie Johnson, an older, non-traditional student. I am the oldest of six children, and I left college because my siblings were starting college soon after me. I attended a year of college on a scholarship, but my family could not afford the other three years, so I dropped out and entered a program to work as a medical laboratory technician. I worked full-time after completing the program so that I could pay my own way thru life, and my parents would only have to worry about my younger brothers and sisters. I got married and had two daughters. I promised my daughters that I would complete my college education once they entered college. I kept that promise and went back to school. One of my daughters is in school in Alabama. Last fall, she was assaulted, and placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit of the hospital. I was devastated. When the hospital called, I rushed from Tennessee to Alabama. My only thought was to get to my child. After she came off of the ventilator and started doing better, I thought about school. Classes had begun, and my books were back home in Tennessee. I reached out to my English teacher and explained the situation. I fully expected to withdraw from classes; however, my English teacher changed that. She was incredible and supportive. She offered to find online books and help me in any way that she could. Her support was a lifeline. She encouraged me to write and journal as a way to express what I was going thru. The chapel became my safe space. Her encouragement helped me to cope during an incredibly hard time. She encouraged me to submit my writings to my college’s literary magazine. She also encouraged me to apply for a position with the magazine which led to my appointment as editor-in-chief. Due to her unrelenting support, I received an award for outstanding work as editor of the Gallery magazine at my college. Without her encouragement, I may have dropped out, but instead, I stayed enrolled and will graduate on time. I am passionate about education because knowledge is power. An education can improve a person’s life. An education can transform a family’s lifestyle from one of poverty to one that is more sustainable. An education helps us to learn about the world and others who are in it. Education unites rather than divides. An education offers hope in situations that seem hopeless. Education closes the gap between the powerful and those who are marginalized. Education gives us the tools that are necessary to successfully navigate the world and our local environments. Education promotes selflessness. The more that we obtain, the more that we want to share with and enlighten others. The lasting impact that I want to leave with my students is the knowledge that they are prepared and capable of succeeding. I want them to believe that they have the tools inside of them that are necessary to achieve their dreams. I plan to empower them to do outstanding things with joy and positivity. I want them to remember my classroom as a place where light came thru the windows brilliantly like those in the chapel, and that light illuminated their futures with hope and success.

I am a non-traditional college student. I am a wife and a mother of two daughters who are both in college. It is demanding for me to attend college while working at a full-time job. It is challenging for me to find funds to supplement my daughters’ educations while trying to pay for my own. Student loans fill the gap where scholarships and income from jobs and work studies fail to meet financial demands. I am trying to address student loan debt by trying to save as much as possible. It is challenging when tuition, transportation costs, housing, books, and meal plans increase yearly. I try to get overtime pay whenever it is available. I have to be mindful of class assignments and due dates. I also have to balance my time between work commitments and family duties. I want to set an example for my daughters that hard work will pay off, and together we devise strategies to succeed. Along with overtime, I write poetry and short stories as a source of income, and I delay making large purchases. Home renovations must wait until both I and my daughters complete our college educations. Once I graduate and begin work at a better-paying job, I will be in a better financial position. Student loan debt is the first area of my finances that I hope to get rid of. For future student loan debt, I hope to find loans with the lowest possible interest rates. I try to keep a good credit rating so that interest rates will be lower. I also plan to look for state-sponsored tuition reimbursement programs after I complete my associate’s degree and begin working toward my bachelor’s degree. For textbooks, some colleges offer textbook loan programs where books are made available free of use for each semester. Looking forward, I try to explore all options to acquire an education without accumulating staggering student debt. I am in a unique situation because my income is used to calculate financial aid for my daughters. So, while I look for creative ways to reduce my own student loan debt, I have to also help them so that they do not accumulate a lot of debt. College is expensive, but if I remain creative and dedicated, I will reap the rewards of obtaining a college degree. I plan to continue working full-time, writing for hire, and looking for overtime opportunities. Hopefully, I will graduate with a low amount of student loan debt as a result of my efforts.

Condi By Vickie Elisa Johnson Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family by Condoleezza Rice is the book that I would like for everyone to read. It is the incredible story of how a little, Black girl from Alabama became the first African American female Secretary of State for the United States. I want everyone to read it as an inspiration for facing challenges. I want everyone who reads it to be encouraged that their future is based on their strengths and hard work. Condoleezza’s high school guidance counselor thought very little of her and her academic future. Condoleezza went on to achieve great things. The book inspires those who read it to be all that they can possibly be. Challenges will come, but they can be pushed back. Condoleezza had an incredible support system. Her parents stressed that education was the way to success. Community support and educational opportunities gave her the tools to succeed. She had a well-rounded education that included music and figure skating. Readers of the book can follow her educational journey and take away a resilience to succeed. Condoleezza grew up in Birmingham where one of her friends was killed when 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed. She grew up in a time of racial hatred. She was despised because of her skin color, yet she rose to be a defender of the very country whose citizens once hated her race. She was a national security advisor for the Bush administration, and she is fluent in Russian. Condoleezza continues to help others today at Stanford University. Her books and lectures encourage others to strive for greatness. Skin color and race do not have to be deterrents. She teaches us that everyone has the capacity for greatness. Everyone has the capacity to contribute positively to the United States. Her book offers hope instead of despair.

Seasoned and Strong By Vickie E. Johnson Collard greens taste the best when they are cooked with many seasonings and a dash of vinegar which gives them an even stronger taste. I am like collard greens. I am seasoned by life’s challenges which have also made me strong. I went back to college, and I will complete my Associate’s Degree in General Studies in December of 2023 at the age of sixty. I plan to transfer my credits to a four-year university and earn my English degree. I plan to become a writer. Both of my daughters are in college, and I promised them that I would go back to school once my younger daughter started college. It has been a very difficult process. Last August, I received a phone call from a hospital in Alabama where my older daughter is attending college. She had been assaulted and was in the intensive care unit on a ventilator. When I got to the hospital after driving from Tennessee to Alabama, I collapsed when I saw her on the vent. School was the last thing on my mind. The semester had just started, and I left my textbooks at home. When my daughter came off of the vent, I could relax just a little bit. I began to think about school. I contacted my English professor who encouraged me to continue. She encouraged me to use writing as an emotional outlet. She even offered to find online versions of our textbook so that I would not fall behind in class. Her suggestions were a lifeline for me. During quiet moments in the hospital, I would work on my assignments. At night, when I could not sleep, I would journal and write poetry. School literally gave me a survival outlet. When my daughter was discharged, I was able to continue with classes while taking care of her at home and while on a leave of absence from work. School has not been easy, but I was strengthened by the adversity. Like collard greens that have to be scrubbed cleaned and rinsed many times. I have been rubbed, stripped, and dunked many times. The challenges have caused me to reach deep down and focus on my ultimate goal of becoming a writer. I hope to inspire others through my books and poetry. So far, the perseverance has paid off. I was selected to be editor-in-chief for my college’s literary magazine, and I have received an academic award for excellence. My daughters can see from my example that earning a degree comes with challenges and with support they can make it. They can see that I refused to give up, and they too have the strength deep inside to achieve their goals.

Intensive Care Unit By Vickie Johnson The greatest challenge that I have faced so far on returning to school has been that as a mother with medical power of attorney for my daughter. Last fall, right before classes were scheduled to begin, I got a phone call from a hospital in Alabama. My daughter, who is a college student in that state, had been assaulted. She was on a ventilator and in the intensive care unit. I collapsed to the floor when I heard the news. It was nearly impossible to pack. I just grabbed some things, jumped in the car and drove to Alabama as fast as I could. When I got to the hospital and ran up to the ICU, I saw her hooked up to machines, and the floor just gave away beneath me. I only heard muffled sounds from the hospital staff. I remember talking to my father, who could not travel with me because of his health. He told me that I had to be strong. He said that she needed me to be strong. I have seen a lot, but nothing prepares a mother for that. I finally gained inner strength and faced the situation head-on. My daughter had been assaulted physically and sexually. The outcome looked good for her though, and the medical staff was simply amazing. All of this happened right at the beginning of the fall semester. My classes were online, but all my textbooks were back in Tennessee. I had grabbed my computer but not a single book. I reached out to my English instructor who literally helped me get through one of the worst times of my life. She encouraged me to journal and not give up. She offered to help me with online textbooks so that I would not fall behind. My other instructors were understanding as well. One of the college counselors helped me too. I was physically in the intensive care unit with my daughter, but mentally, I could escape by focusing on school during quiet moments. School literally helped me to keep my sanity. My daughter was discharged and underwent physical and emotional therapy, and she is back in college. Maintaining close contact with her and visiting her and her sister who is also in college is challenging. It is expensive for them to travel home, but we manage to make sacrifices so that we can remain close and support each other. Being a mother is both the hardest and most rewarding challenge of returning to school, but with a lot of help from family and friends, I will graduate. I am thankful for the great care that we both received in the intensive care unit.

Better By Vickie Elisa Johnson I only wanted to please you With whatever I would do, But I was taught It didn’t matter Someone is better than you. On my report card I didn’t get all A’s. But it didn’t matter, She got all the praise. Spelling was a challenge, I couldn’t do it well. You made fun of me in front of your friends When you made us stand side by side and spell. I rode my bike Played kickball, and slid down slides. She stayed in and read. You got glasses for her eyes. I ran track in middle school, And trophies they gave me. You told me I needed stiffer competition. You didn’t congratulate me. She wanted to be a doctor, And that made you proud. I chose a medical field too. I just want to scream out loud. I love you even though You loved her better. I couldn’t tell you that Not even in a letter. Now I have stopped comparing myself, I know I am enough. I put in the garbage can All that better stuff.

Flotation Device Writing for me is a flotation device. Writing has literally allowed me to survive horrifying events in my life. One of my daughters was assaulted while in college in Alabama, and she was placed in intensive care and put on a ventilator. When I got the phone call, I felt as if my world had crashed into a million pieces. When I made it to Alabama after driving from Tennessee and when I first saw her on the vent, I just collapsed. After days of waiting, she was taken off of the vent, and she has made a complete recovery. This took place in August of 2022 just when my semester at school began. I left my textbooks in Tennessee, and I considered dropping out of classes. I reached out to my English professor who encouraged me to stay in school and to continue writing, and she actively looked for online textbooks so that I could remain in classes. I took her advice, and when it would get quiet in my daughter’s hospital room, I would write. I would journal, write poems, and jot down my emotions. Writing literally gave me something positive to focus on during a very dark time. Writing lifted my head the way that a flotation device lifts the heads of those who may sink in raging waters. Poetry allows me to express feelings that others may also relate to. Writing gives me freedom and hope. Writing gives me an avenue to share my experiences with others, and it enables me to make a connection with my readers. Writing for me is an art that can cause readers to make positive changes and advocate for others. Writing for me is an avenue to generate smiles, hope and humor. Writing inspires me to be thankful and appreciative for all of the good things in my life. Writing helps me to “find to good and praise it”, as Alex Haley said. Writing is important to me also because it allows me to leave a positive legacy for my family. When I die, my writing will continue to live on for many generations. My grandchildren, great-grandchildren and my nieces and nephews will have my writings when they will not have me. They will be able to connect to me during many stages of their lives. Although I may not be able to be with them physically, I will be able to be with them in spirit, and my writing will be a flotation device for them as well.

Uncle George By Vickie E. Johnson Handwritten notes are more meaningful because they connect you with the writer. The person who sent the letter may have an unusual slant to their writing, or they may have a funny style to their writing. A personal handwritten note means so much. Someone who takes out time to sit down and write a note to someone else, means a lot more. The most meaningful letter that I received was from my Uncle George. He sent a Mother’s Day card to me, and there was a handwritten letter inside. It brought me to tears. I was going through a lot of medical issues with my daughter, and I was exhausted mentally and physically. When I read his card and letter that came in the mail, I just sat down and cried. It was the inspiration that I needed, right at the moment when I needed it the most. He writes with a very left-handed slant, and I smile just thing about his hand writing. I saved that card and letter, and whenever I see it, I think of Uncle George.

I am a non-traditional student. I am an African-American mother who is working full-time while going back to college to first get my Associate’s degree, and then transfer to a four-year college to get my Undergraduate degree. Working full-time while also going to school is not easy. There are days when I am so tired after working a long day, and all I want to do is eat dinner and go to bed, but I push myself to complete my college assignments because I know that one day, I will earn my degrees. I am trying to set money aside to help finance my education. I would like to try to graduate without a lot of debt, so I am actively looking for scholarships and grants, and I am seeking financial advice from my community college’s financial aid office and the Office of Student Success at Walters State Community College where I attend. The first step that I have taken is to fill out the FAFSA and to apply for aid from the college. There is s diversity grant that I have also applied for. I know that once I transfer into the four-year university, I will have to take out loans, so I am actively researching for loans with low, fixed interest rates. I am comparing loans to see which ones would be most affordable for me. My job offers a small tuition reimbursement program, and I plan to take advantage of all discounts that may be available. I have two daughter who are also in college, and I am trying to help them with living expenses. My budget is very tight and both daughters are working part-time while going to school, and one is participating in a work-study program. I plan to try to avoid student debt, but when I have to, I will select the loan that has the lowest interest rate, and I will apply for tuition reimbursement. I will graduate, and I will have just a small amount of debt to repay.

I am Vickie Johnson, and I have decided to return to school to complete my associate’s degree. After working for many years, I was passed over for a promotion due to a lack of a formal, college education. Although, I was the most senior and experienced applicant, not having a degree pushed me out of the job promotion pool. This experience caused me to push toward my goal of obtaining a college degree. I put my education on hold in order to pour myself into my family. I have two amazing daughters and a supportive husband. After homeschooling my daughters, and seeing them both off to college, I decided that it was my turn. As a parent, I set aside my dreams in order to make sure that my children accomplished theirs. I was responsible for making sure that my girls used critical thinking and logic for all of their assignments. I taught them to create learning opportunities such as internships and work-study programs in their areas of interest when such opportunities were scarce or non-existent. So, after years of encouraging my daughters to go for their dreams, I realized that I had not reached one of my own. I know the importance of a college education, first-hand, and I am now ready to reach that goal. Working full time and going to school is challenging, but I hope that by my example, I will inspire my girls to push and reach their goals. I want to show them that I am responsible for making things better for both of them and for myself. Once, I complete my associate’s degree, I will be able to be considered for management positions in my field. Age for me is not a hinderance, for with age comes the experience that I hope to use to improve the working conditions for women in my workplace which is in a male-dominated field. After obtaining my associate’s degree, I plan to transfer from the community college that I am attending and obtain my bachelor’s degree. The degrees will help me qualify for positions that have a higher pay rate, and I will be able to supplement my daughters’ tuitions and alleviate the strain that is on my husband so that he will no longer have to work two jobs to support his family.