I am profoundly grateful for the transformative power of institutions like Berea College. Growing up in Greenville, South Carolina, college was a distant dream. Balancing a 40-hour work week with high school to support my single mother left little room for academic aspirations. Berea College, however, saw potential where others might not have, taking a chance that fundamentally altered the trajectory of my life. This opportunity opened doors I never imagined, providing an education and a pathway to a future filled with purpose.

Now, I have the privilege of serving as Dean of Student Labor at Berea College and dedicating my career to empowering students as I was empowered. Work Colleges like Berea occupy a unique and vital space in higher education. By combining rigorous academic programs with practical work-learning service experiences, they offer students the chance to reduce undergraduate debt while gaining invaluable skills significantly. This model provides an equitable pathway to success, ensuring financial constraints do not dictate a student's potential. Because of Berea College, I obtained a master's degree and a Doctorate in Education.