Jasmine’s journey has only just begun. She has exciting job prospects at her fingertips that align with her mission to make a positive impact in others’ lives through development and education by enrolling them in every community support group she could find, including HelpMeGrow, Spark, Babies and Me, and Ready.Set.Grow. She particularly appreciated HelpMeGrow, through which her children received amazing support for five years. It was this program that launched Jasmine’s dream of a career in social work. These programs and supports were key to the skill development and goal achievements that led her to enroll at Columbus State Community College in 2016. “While getting accepted and starting at Columbus State was an accomplishment for me, the true test of my ability to achieve came in persevering through to the finish line,” Jasmine says. Jasmine is proud to say that she graduated from Columbus State in 2019 with an Associate of Arts degree, all while healing through her trauma, being a full-time parent, and supporting her children through their healing as well. At Columbus State, she also joined programs such as Victims Advocacy, Women’s Connection, TRiO program, Disability Services, and Student Advocacy, all of which supported her higher education. Jasmine didn’t stop there. She went on to apply for and earn acceptance into, The Ohio State University’s College of Social Work. Once again, she found herself navigating full-time schooling and full-time parenting as a single mother –this time, during a pandemic. Leaning into her strengths, practicing self-care, and receiving support from her community networks were paramount during this time. In 2021, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and in 2022, she graduated with her Master’s degree in social work through a one-year accelerated program. This is the accomplishment she is most proud of. 32 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE her education and her lived experiences. She is growing her art business and creating pieces focused on authenticity, Black beauty, experiences with imposter syndrome, and more. Jasmine is focused not on reliving the details of her harmful past, but on acknowledging the lessons learned from her experiences and healing and elevating her life and the lives of her children. “Even though those things have happened to me, that is not who I am,” Jasmine says. Looking ahead, Jasmine is determined to successfully transition from student to professional and achieve full financial stability for herself and her family. She envisions one day soon holding a leadership position here in Columbus where she can make even more of an impact. She sees herself continuing to engage with other women in the community in healthy and empowering ways, always setting the example to step above the comparison trap. “ Don’t give somebody else your power. ” Jasmine closes with her most powerful advice: “Don’t give somebody else your power. Don’t let somebody else question your worth or make you feel less than others. Trust your intuition, trust your journey, and trust your capabilities.” Diana Yates Diana currently serves as a marketing strategist to increase exposure and enrollments for The Ohio State University’s online programs. She is also the owner and founder of tangibles. She is passionate about community, faith, equity and inclusion, her lovable pit bull, and champion/best friend/husband.
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