Quick Search

Active Bloggers

Reginald Culpepper Reginald Culpepper
Clark Atlanta University class of 1998
HBCU CONNECT HBCU CONNECT
Central State University class of 1995
How May I Help You NC How May I Help You NC
Bellarmine University class of 2021
Shykeria Lifleur Shykeria Lifleur
Other College... class of
Yazmín Müller Yazmín Müller
class of
rickey johnson rickey johnson
Other College... class of
Beverly Johnson Beverly Johnson
class of
LaMarr Blackmon LaMarr Blackmon
Cal St Univ, Long Beach class of 1992

Living in answered Prayers

Posted By: Shanique Iysis Coleman on September 01, 2025

I posted this as a reminder that people are not a product of their environment—they are a product of their choices. If someone had told me years ago that I would be here today, transitioning into nursing school, I would have never believed them. After dropping out of college in 2011, I faced obstacle after obstacle: surviving sexual assault, incarceration, homelessness, abuse, and depression. Each of these trials could have stopped me, but instead they fueled my determination to keep pushing forward. I am grateful for the family and friends who have stood by me, and most of all, I thank God for instilling perseverance into my veins.

After a decade of being tired of dead-end jobs, I made the decision to return to school and pursue the future I once thought was out of reach. It wasn’t easy—I went from barely holding a 2.0 GPA to maintaining a 4.0 and earning a spot on the Dean’s List every semester. That transformation represents more than grades; it is proof that resilience, faith, and focus can turn failure into triumph. Every step has been a reminder that I am capable of rewriting my story.

Now, I am stepping into a new chapter: nursing school at North Carolina Central University.



At 34 years old, I am proud to be an African American woman pursuing this path. Representation matters, and I want to be an example to young Black girls that they, too, can rise above adversity and succeed in fields where our presence is still underrepresented. Nursing, for me, is not just a profession—it’s a calling. I want to bring compassion, advocacy, and cultural understanding into healthcare, and to stand as proof that our voices belong in every room. My husband, David, and my two boys—my amazing 13-year-old bonus son, Damani, and my brilliant autistic 3-year-old, Davi—are the pillars of my strength and the reason I refuse to give up.

This journey is my testimony: you are who you choose to be, not what your past dictates. No matter where you come from or what you’ve endured, it is never too late to begin again. As long as you are still breathing, there is time to chase your purpose. My story is living proof that with faith, perseverance, and courage, you can turn pain into power and dreams into reality. My long-term dream is to become a nurse who not only heals but inspires—to serve my community, advocate for the overlooked, and remind every patient and young woman watching me that their story, too, can be rewritten into something greater.
If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email!

Living in answered Prayers

Comments
Please Login To Post Comments...
Email:
Password:

 
More From This Author
Latest Blogs
FREE Valentine's Day E-Cards Available! ♥️

FREE Valentine's Day E-Cards Available! ♥️

Happy Valentine's Day! ♥️ ♥️ Free Valentine's Day E-Cards Link: https://www.pinterest.com/shykerialifleur/valentines-day-greetings ♥️ What to Write In Va ...more
Shykeria Lifleur • 107 Views • February 11th, 2026
BLACK OWNED BEAUTY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION (BOBSA) AND JUNIQUES AD SERVICE CREATES DFY 30 SEC DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

BLACK OWNED BEAUTY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION (BOBSA) AND JUNIQUES AD SERVICE CREATES DFY 30 SEC DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

ANNOUNCEMENT Juniques Ad Service, a proud Juniques Company, is excited to share a powerful new collaboration with the Black Owned Beauty Supply Organization. Through this collaboration, members and s ...more
rickey johnson • 86 Views • February 11th, 2026
MEDIA ALERT! USA  -Call for Submissions- Gumbo for the Soul: Women of Honor with Power

MEDIA ALERT! USA -Call for Submissions- Gumbo for the Soul: Women of Honor with Power

MEDIA ALERT! USA -Call for Submissions- Gumbo for the Soul: Women of Honor with Power is currently under development by the visionary team of Gumbo for the Soul International®. This a ...more
Beverly Johnson • 95 Views • February 10th, 2026
Keeping the Faith!!!!  10 Videos, MindMap, CheetSheet, and so much more to discuss FAITH!!!!

Keeping the Faith!!!! 10 Videos, MindMap, CheetSheet, and so much more to discuss FAITH!!!!

https://learners.juniquesadservice.com/courses/offers/21e32619-5774-44e2-93d9-a3df7d93a778 Welcome to the course for You!!! Keep The Faith Video 0- Introduction Video 1 Why Faith is So Import ...more
rickey johnson • 212 Views • February 9th, 2026
RON CARTER & RICKY DILLARD Is Taking Church To The Jazz Club With New Single

RON CARTER & RICKY DILLARD Is Taking Church To The Jazz Club With New Single "Open My Eyes"

@RONCARTER #RONCARTER@RICKYDILLARD #RICKYDILLARDLegendary in the genres of Jazz and Gospel music, the "Maestro" Ron Carter and the "Choirmaster" Ricky Dillard are taking church to the Jazz club with t ...more
LaMarr Blackmon • 131 Views • February 9th, 2026
Popular Blogs
Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?

Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?

Join Brother Marcus and the cast and the crew of the Brother Marcus Show live this Sunday evening on February 1, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. for another hot topic in our community! “Divorce in America in 2009 ...more
Brother Marcus! • 70,796,100 Views • January 27th, 2009
VISINE ALERT!!!

VISINE ALERT!!!

Seemingly innocent medication such as Visine eyedrops are used by people to concoct a mixture with similar effects as a date-rape drug. When mixed with alcohol and taken orally, the eyedrops can l ...more
Siebra Muhammad • 118,217 Views • May 23rd, 2009

"Chain Hang Low" check out the real meaning of the Lyrics!

Recently there is a new artist out of Saint Louis that goes by the name JIBBS. Jibbs debut single "Chain hang low" has a history that most people are not aware of. The particular nursery rhyme that th ...more
Tyhesha Judge-Fogle • 74,941 Views • November 9th, 2006
HBCU Marketplace Gifts: Divine 9 Premium Fraternity / Sorority Playing Cards

HBCU Marketplace Gifts: Divine 9 Premium Fraternity / Sorority Playing Cards

Vendor: Charles Jones Item Price: $20.00 Price Includes Shipping: Yes - Shipping Included Item Description: Pantheon Series - Divine 9 - Premium Playing Cards (choose Gold Series or Silve ...more
How May I Help You NC • 61,498 Views • December 2nd, 2018
Black College Student Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Kissing a White Girl

Black College Student Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Kissing a White Girl

Albert N. Wilson, a former University of Kansas student, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and a lifetime of probation after being convicted by an all-white jury of raping a white teen girl. Bu ...more
Will Moss • 54,371 Views • June 4th, 2020
Please Give Us a Like on Facebook!