Growing up, Lakia Elam ’19, ’22, dreamed of being a successful author and leader who helps create positive spaces in the world. She was sidelined, though, when she became a teen mom. Elam enrolled at UMGC in May 2018 and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management in December 2019. Elam was so energized by her education that she kept on going and earned her MBA in 2022, three years after her daughter earned her own master’s degree. Elam is grateful that she had the courage to bet on herself and earn her degree against all odds.
Transcript
| VIDEO | AUDIO |
Lakia on Camera Lower third: Master of Business Administration BS, Human Resource Management | [Music] Lakia: |
Lakia with daughter Photographs | Lakia: I was a teen mom. I come from a line of teen parents, actually, you know, I had dreamed of obviously going to college as a kid, but it didn't happen. |
Lakia on Camera Working in Office High-fives daughter Lakia on Camera |
Lakia: |
Lakia on Camera
| Lakia: I was taking a bet on myself, but something that I had started and stopped so many times before I doubted myself, could I actually do this? |
Lakia on Camera Eating Dinner With Family | Lakia: I haven't been in school for so long. I only have my GED. Am I prepared? I had to completely change the way that I saw things… and put myself first. |
Lakia on Camera Close Up at window | Lakia: With each step you realize “I am worthy. I am capable. I can be the first in my generation of the family to make this step.” You bet on yourself, the best bet you could have ever made. |
Commencement Footage Lakia on Camera | Lakia: So, I am in that space where I have succeeded again and it was all because of, UMGC, … to start receiving job offers, getting the title. |
Eating Dinner With Family Lakia on Camera UMGC sash Office footage | Lakia: Before UMGC I was Lakia, the mother, the friend, the significant other, the professional who lived to help everyone else achieve their goals… after UMGC, I am Lakia Elam, the professional, the business owner, who also knows now how to empower herself. |
Lakia on Camera | Lakia: UMGC has me living dreams that I didn't know to dream. |
UMGC Logo Animation | [Music Ends] |
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