Thank You Take Stock: A Lifelong Impact from 1995 to Today

Michelle Campbell, an alum from Take Stock’s first class in our Take Stock Duval program (2001), said this about her life-changing experience: “Because of Take Stock in Children, I have successfully earned my degree and embarked on a fulfilling career. Being one of the first recipients of the scholarship in 1995 has had a lasting impact on my life, and I am forever grateful for that early intervention.”

We’re thrilled to share Michelle’s story and gratitude for Take Stock in Children as she reflects on those early years in the program to hopes for the future. 

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Transcript

MM_Episode 25_Michelle Campbell Class of 2001

Thank You Take Stock: A Lifelong Impact from 1995 to Today

 0:00
 Let's go back to a time not too long ago and maybe a very long time to sum the 90s.

 0:07
 Some great things were invented in that time, specifically in 1995.

 0:12
 We're talking DVDs, the movie, Toy Story, Amazon, and a little nonprofit in the Sunshine State called Take Stock in Children.

 0:21
 For 30 years, Take Stock has served over 44,000 low-income, at-risk students throughout Florida.

 0:28
 And we're honored to be talking with today.

 0:31
 One of the students from the first class of Take Stock program graduates, Michelle Campbell, is from Duval County and credits Take Stock for unlocking opportunities for her to earn her degree and embark on a fulfilling career.

 0:46
 It's your host, Tatiana Green, inviting you to tune into this special conversation.

 0:51
 And let us welcome Michelle Campbell to the Mentors and Milestones podcast.

 0:55
 Thank you for having me.

 0:57
 So we want to hear from you.

 0:58
 OK, I'm a 90 as well.

 1:01
 But you got to take us back to the 90s when things were a little simpler if you will when you were in middle school, and you were just navigating life.

 1:12
 Like how did you hear about this new program in Florida called Take Stock in Children?

 1:17
 How was that for you?

 1:18
 I heard about the program through my I want to say what they were back then.

 1:23
 I think they were called guidance counselors.

 1:24
 Now they want to be called school counselors, but the guy and his counselor was talking about it.

 1:29
 And so I got the flyer, took it home to my mom and I was talking to her about it.

 1:34
 I've always been the student that made the grades, so I knew the grades wouldn't stop me.

 1:39
 So I remember telling my mom, I need you to apply.

 1:41
 Like we have to apply because my I always wanted to go to college.

 1:45
 So when I applied for the scholarship, I remember them telling me, you know, it's a process we have, you know, we get all the applications, then we do the selection.

 1:55
 Every time I've seen the lady and I do not remember the latest name.

 1:57
 Have you guys made a selection yet?

 1:59
 Like remember me, I'm Michelle, you know, So I remember just always when I seen them, I would always ask, where are you at?

 2:06
 In the process, just keep my name out there and keep them a face with the name.

 2:10
 Because just like with jobs and resumes, they can have the paper and the name, but with a face, it makes a difference.

 2:16
 OK, so when you first heard about the program and the option to get a scholarship for school, what did your family think about it?

 2:23
 Did you grow up in a family where they encouraged you all to go to college?

 2:27
 What was the background behind that?

 2:29
 I didn't grow up in a family that encouraged, but they didn't deny it.

 2:32
 So my mom, I'm like the one that anytime I wanted to do something and I was probably the only with someone out of I'm the middle out of five, and I would always go and tell her if I heard something from school, I'm going home and I'm telling her about it.

 2:44
 So I was the 1st.

 2:45
 So, I am the first out of the five, including my parents, to get a bachelor's degree.

 2:51
 So my mom never, you know, she didn't deny me.

 2:54
 She would always say, well, you have good grades so you know, you can do it.

 2:57
And me just starting to do research because I've always done research, I would look for different scholarships or what is college like, how much it costs and making sure that wasn't a barrier.

 3:09
 So once I started doing researching, I thought, OK, so I'm going to have to do XY and Z to make sure that I get this scholarship because it is harder and I didn't want that hindrance.

 3:20
 So, you know, my mom just always just tell me you can do it.

 3:22
 You know, just keep your mind to it.

 3:24
 You'll be able to do it.

 3:25
 And so that's what I did.

 3:27
 You know, my dad has his degree, but he has an A so I was the first to actually finish and get a, a bachelor's.

 3:35
 Wow.

 3:35
 And congratulations on that as well.

 3:38
 From your perspective, especially you being in the first class of a Take Stock in Children program, how would you say is the college preparation process compared to what you see it in the lives of students in your, in your life today?

 3:54
 It seems like it's easier now to get in.

 3:55
 You can get into any college you want.

 3:58
 The process was harder then, you know, so I had to make sure for my grades stayed up and you know, I had to make sure that I was in after school activities to put it on my application, making sure I was volunteering.

 4:12
 So, you know, I had to show that you're the type of student that the college wanted, not only on the middle school and high school level, but thinking as an adult, because when you go to college, you're an adult.

 4:25
 So it's like I had to take that.

 4:26
 I'm a child, but I know where my end result is going to be, so not hanging out with my friends after school and doing things that I needed to do to prepare me for college first.

 4:38
 Now I see you don't have a child who's in that age now where your friendships are more important than what you want for your future.

 4:47
 You know you want this future and all your friends are coming with you in this future because it's easier.

 4:54
 Back then, I think it was harder for you to to get in the door to get the college that you wanted so you can get in, but to get the one that you wanted.

 5:03
 Interesting, Thank you for sharing that.

 5:05
 So we're going to go back to your time in Take Stock.

 5:08
 Did you have a favorite memory or story from your years in the Take Stock program that you like to share?

 5:14
 I love seeing my mentor.

 5:15
 I love when she came.

 5:17
 I look forward to it.

 5:18
 You know, people get sick, but you know, if she couldn't make it that week or for whatever reason, I was like, tell her.

 5:23
 Well, you know, I was looking forward because I have the story I want to tell her or, you know, whatever we're working on, I want to give her that information of what I, you know, she had me, me doing.

 5:34
 So a big part is remembering the mentorship of the program, having that person that I can talk to outside of my parents, because sometimes it's not easy to talk to our parents, but it's easy to talk to that other person who was an adult as well, but it was easier.

 5:49
 So the mentorship, I can say it was the most important part of the scholarship for me.

 5:55
 I love that we get that a lot as well from alumni in the program who say like the mentoring are receiving that personal care, those meetings, that consistency from a caring adult is definitely in that sticks with them.

 6:08
 You want to give a shout out to your mentor, like say her name or anything.

 6:11
 Yes.

 6:12
 So if she ever hears this or if you listen, her name was Miss Rita Scott, and I love Miss Rita Scott.

 6:18
 She worked for CSX.

 6:20
 OK, that's beautiful.

 6:22
 And you definitely shared earlier that you all kept in touch after you graduated from the program.

 6:28
 What was something that she was able to do for you post-high school years that you remember from your time together?

 6:34
 I was in college.

 6:35
 She gave me, you know, things that I needed for my dorm room as a gift.

 6:40
 I have seen things that I, you know, I didn't know I needed.

 6:43
 So she gave me some gifts that was my send off when I got pregnant with my daughter, I invited her to my baby shower.

 6:52
 So, you know, I kept that ascension like you're part of the family.

 6:55
 You can come, you know, the family event, but you're part of the family.

 6:58
 And I didn't know if she was going to show up or not, but she did.

 7:00
 She showed up to that.

 7:02
 She showed up to my college graduation as well.

 7:05
 So it didn't only lead me into high school.

 7:08
 And it's like here go, you're at the doorstep by she taught to me here and there when I needed her throughout college and then showed up at my college graduation as well.

 7:18
 Awesome.

 7:18
 And what year did you graduate from college?

 7:20
 I graduated college in 2009.

 7:24
 OK, very good.

 7:25
 When you were in tech stock and you and your mentor were exploring colleges, college options, what helped you make your selection?

 7:32
 Did your mentor help you?

 7:33
 Was there a certain program that you were looking for?

 7:35
 What was the determining factor for you because you are a first-generation college student? How is that process for you?

 7:41
 So the process for me, I remember her just telling me about the different levels of a college.

 7:46
 You know, you have your community colleges, you have your public universities, you have your private universities.

 7:51
 So just understanding the difference first.

 7:54
 So, you know, we had meetings where she would tell me the difference of which ones I wanted to do, what cities, you know, and that you, you know, I have to stay here and check out Florida, not Jacksonville, but here in Florida.

 8:05
 But apart from me was that I'm I was in the band, so I knew I wanted to go to a school because I was going into the band in college.

 8:12
 So I wanted to find a school where I can get extra scholarship money.

 8:17
 So I made sure that I was going to a school that had a band that played a big part.

 8:22
 And then narrowing it down.

 8:24
 You know, I assumed I only had to, you know, you apply to 1:00 and you're going to get that one not thinking that you have to do more.

 8:29
 So she explained to me, well, you know, you want to put them out to multiple and then let you be the final selector of which one you want to go to.

 8:37
 So we she sat down and did applications to multiple colleges and this was back in the days with the paper when it's not going on the Internet doing applications.

 8:48
 So it was receiving, you know, applications and mailing out applications, which that is one of the things that's easier for college students.

 8:56
 Now you can just sit at your desk and do everything verse mailing out everything and financial aid.

 9:01
 So, you know, she helped me understand all of that.

 9:04
 Yeah, that's a good point about the college applications, like the format being in paper, having to mail them out and then you have to wait for not an e-mail, but the full your paperwork to be mailed back to you to see if you got into college, not the e-mail that you're waiting on.

 9:19
 You're waiting on it to come through USPS.

 9:22
 Wow, you just waiting at the mailbox, Like come on any day now.

 9:26
 Did I get in?

 9:27
 Did I get in or?

 9:28
 You know, it's an exciting time back then.

 9:30
 And we see today that this generation of college bound students like our scholars are celebrating right now.

 9:36
 This time of year, they're getting their acceptance letters either digitally or through the mail.

 9:41
 And it's always exciting to see because they're sharing it on social media.

 9:44
 Now when they're opening it, they're getting accepted, they're sharing it with us.

 9:48
 And we love to celebrate that.

 9:50
 Every May we talk about college decision day, college decision month, and just celebrating all the great things that are our next class of students are going to go to, whether they choose college or career, technical education or even going to the military, we love to celebrate their next step.

 10:06
 So that is an exciting time.

 10:08
 I'm glad we had that moment.

 10:10
 So what advice would you give to other students about college readiness?

 10:14
 So I would say focus on developing strong study habits because it is different when you're on the college level.

 10:24
 That foundation of study habits, time management skills, and this is a new word that I'm learning now as changing your mindset.

 10:33
 So have that growth one, not a fixed mindset.

 10:37
 Get involved, get involved in a lot of things on campus to get that full experience of college working, volunteering.

 10:44
 Make sure whatever field you go into that you get the internship that works for that one because that will help you see if that's where you really need to be or want to be.

 10:56
 And one things that my professor always said, we're bringing these people in here.

 11:01
 So making sure you network will be a big one as well as something so simple that we have a hard time doing is asking for help.

 11:10
 It is OK to ask for help.

 11:12
 Yes, those are biggies.

 11:13
 Those are that's really good advice for our class of 2025 and for our current take stock in college and career scholars.

 11:20
 Absolutely.

 11:21
 He let us know what your highest degree earned is and what was your major in college.

 11:26
 Initially when I went to college, I was majoring in psychology, but I did change.

 11:31
 So I have my degree now and I have a bachelor's of arts in criminal justice.

 11:37
 Nice.

 11:37
 What made you switch over from psychology to criminal justice?

 11:40
 Going in as a freshman and I remember my first site class that I took, the professor told us basically if you don't plan on getting your master's degree in psychology, you won't make money.

 11:53
 And then like or this wasn't the right degree.

 11:56
 And as a freshman, I'm already trying to thinking of four years to worry about two more on top of that.

 12:01
 So I changed.

 12:04
 It was me changing and it's crazy because now I'm thinking about going back to get the masters of psychology.

 12:10
 So I didn't really need to even change it because that's I think where I'm led to be.

 12:15
 Yeah.

 12:15
 It keeps calling you so meant to go after it.

 12:19
 I know that's right.

 12:19
 Yeah.

 12:20
 While you were getting ready for college, there were probably other moments too, that you had with your mentor.

 12:26
 Did you have a memorable lesson that you learned from your mentor that you still kind of incorporate in your life today?

 12:33
 This studying, because she was one that told me about, you know, it's okay to, you know, go and party and do you know the things on campus, but remember what your end goal is and your end goal is to obtain the degree.

 12:47
 Definitely.

 12:48
 And why do you think having a mentor or mentors is so important throughout life?

 12:53
 I think having a mentor is or was important because it's always good to have someone that's going to help guide you just getting insights of their own experiences or something that maybe you went through and you don't talk about it and you know they're open.

 13:10
 And so it gives you just insight of that individual that you can talk to is someone that can help you navigate your personal life as well as your professional life.

 13:22
 The mentors are role models for you and that's any part of your life at work, church, school, just role models for you.

 13:29
 I totally agree.

 13:30
 And did you have any of these role models or mentors in other stages of your life?

 13:34
 Like, did you have a college-level mentor?

 13:36
 Did you have one in your career so far?

 13:39
 And how have they helped you if so?

 13:41
 I've had mentors at different jobs that I've held.

 13:45
 So some of my coworkers, they have been mentors and some of them to this day are close friends.

 13:50
 Even if I'm not at that position or at that company anymore, they're still close to me because they teach you life lessons.

 13:58
 I know the type of person that I am where I will give the job my all.

 14:02
 And I remember one of my mentors was like, but you have to think about you and your daughter, this job, if they wanted to let you go tomorrow, they're going to let you go tomorrow without it.

 14:12
 Think about you and your your child.

 14:15
 And I was in the mindset that, yeah, but I'm dedicated to the job.

 14:18
 I have to do this, you know, so just having someone that was older because she was an older lady around that been there done that understands the way that companies runs.

 14:27
 It was an eye-opener.

 14:29
 And then at church, I have mentors to help me, you know, grow as a Christian friends through my my own children.

 14:36
 So being with my children and their parents, sometimes they're older or younger and I'm like, oh, but I don't think like that, especially the younger ones.

 14:44
 So I know I keep saying the older generation, but it has helped me because the way we were raised is different.

 14:51
 So that's why I said that fixed mindset and, you know, the growth mindset of understanding that raising children now is different than how it was.

 15:00
 So even friends are mentors on OK, I can do this better or I didn't think about it that way.

 15:06
 So I have them off different stages of life.

 15:09
 I have someone that I could say I look up to.

 15:11
 Wow, that's really powerful.

 15:13
 And I hope that they continue to be that inspiration, that support for you as you continue to push forward towards any other milestone that you have in your life.

 15:21
 Yes, thank you.

 15:23
 When you were growing up in Duval County, what did you want to be when you grew up?

 15:27
 Like?

 15:27
 What was your your dream job or ideal job?

 15:30
 My ideal job initially when before I even went to college was I want to be a police officer, but I think I only wanted to be a police officer because my dad was a police officer.

 15:39
 So, you know, I want to be what daddy is, you know, I want to put on the uniform and go out and save the world and do all this.

 15:44
 So but then once I got into college and understanding growth within myself, I'm like, oh, psychology seems like something that I want to do.

 15:54
 And then like I said, when that teacher told me you got two more years on top of these 4, And I changed and went to criminal justice.

 16:00
 So when I was into criminal justice, the field that I wanted to do within the criminal justice field was to be a probation officer.

 16:08
 But unfortunately, the year that I graduated was during the time where they were laying off people.

 16:14
 So they were like, hey, so they're laying off people.

 16:17
 And so the ones they're going to finally, when they finally do bring back people, they're bringing back the people with experience.

 16:23
 And I'm like, but we have to learn experience somewhere.

 16:26
 Which, you know, I always look at everything happens for a reason.

 16:29
 So maybe that wasn't my plan in life, but I've always been a teacher.

 16:33
 So whatever type of jobs I've been at, I'm always receiving information and putting out information.

 16:40
 I've started off in positions and ended up creating training manuals.

 16:44
 So teaching has always been with me and I, I think that's what led me to where I'm at now, being a teacher for Duval County Public Schools.

 16:53
 So like I said, every step that I've taken, I didn't look at it as a roadblock.

 16:57
 I just looked at it as being prepared to go the path that was meant for me.

 17:01
 That's really powerful.

 17:02
 And that's a good outlook because sometimes people can, especially younger people, can look at changes in the job market or changes in their circumstances and make it seem like it is a roadblock.

 17:14
 Oh, I can't go the way I intend to go.

 17:17
 What am I going to do now?

 17:19
 Your story is like inspiration for students and adults alike to be OK with pivoting, changing direction, trying something else.

 17:27
 How long have you been working in education for Duval County?

 17:30
 It's been 10 years.

 17:31
 I left twice.

 17:32
 Throughout that time.

 17:33
 I did use my degree or I went and worked for JSO, but I ended up, you know, deciding to leave there because of the shift and came back to the school.

 17:43
 Then I left the school again and went into mental health because I just love mental health.

 17:49
 I love like the psychology part of it.

 17:51
 So I went in work at MHRC as a discharge planner for the adult side for inpatient and I did that for two years and then I came back to DCPS, which I've been here now consecutively for the last six years.

 18:05
 Nice, thank you.

 18:06
 And what grade level do you teach?

 18:08
 So now I am teaching pre-K-K.

 18:11
 I'm at a Montessori school, so we have the blended grade levels.

 18:15
 So I have the little ones.

 18:17
 So I'm laying that foundation for them.

 18:19
 That's awesome.

 18:20
 That's awesome.

 18:21
 Michelle, thank you for sharing that.

 18:22
 We usually ask people on this podcast what is their next milestone.

 18:26
 So I ask you what milestone are you working on next?

 18:30
 My next milestone for me is getting back into school and finishing my master's and just walking in.

 18:38
 My purpose is my next step.

 18:40
 My whole thing that was I can school counseling.

 18:42
 You know, they need school counselors and school therapist.

 18:46
 So I'm like, I think that's why I'm going to go back into getting my master's.

 18:50
 So that's my next purpose and just showing my daughter, it doesn't matter what age, if you stop your dreams, you can always pick up where you left off and continue.

 18:59
 One of the things I know she jokes of is, well, mom, we can go to school together and I was like, we can we can go to school together or we can finish when you're starting.

 19:08
 But yeah, so it's not too late.

 19:10
 That's awesome.

 19:11
 Well, thank you for sharing that.

 19:12
 I love that what you said about purpose.

 19:14
 And I think that's so important because sometimes like people get lost in their career and titles, but they may not be exactly operating in their purpose.

 19:22
 So I think that's really good that you're listening to the call, you know, and that you're pursuing that.

 19:27
 How do you pay it forward to the Take Stock in Children program?

 19:31
 Is there any way that you give back to take stock at this point?

 19:34
 Yes, it is.

 19:35
 One of the things that I've done was applying for mentorships to to be a mentor.

 19:42
 So that's one way that I want to pay it forward is by volunteering my time to the next person who hopefully I can make an impact.

 19:49
 So just talking about the organization as well.

 19:52
 So even if I haven't gotten fully into the mentoring part, I'm always word of mouth letting people know that there's ways your kids can go.

 20:01
 Don't let it stop you that you don't have money.

 20:03
 That's so true.

 20:03
 True, and I forgot to ask you What advice would you give to the next generation of youth in your life about education and college?

 20:11
 Going to school is the key.

 20:14
 Even if they choose not to go to a university, getting a trade, you have to have something that you can stand on in your future.

 20:25
 Just letting them know that they need to focus on school.

 20:29
 Focus on your grades.

 20:30
 Get involved in these extracurriculum activities at school.

 20:34
 Volunteer.

 20:35
 It could be simple volunteering.

 20:38
 Get in organizations at school that helps with the volunteering.

 20:42
 My daughter is in ROTC, they give back at the local church doing food drives.

 20:47
 So it's not.

 20:48
 If you don't know where you can volunteer at, getting organizations at school that will help give you that volunteering experience, or just being open minded to ask someone help.

 21:00
 The word that no one likes.

 21:02
 Just ask for help and there's going to be someone somewhere that's willing to give you that information.

 21:08
 Don't be scared of college.

 21:09
 It's not difficult.

 21:11
 Once you get there, it's going to fly fast.

 21:13
 For one, if you get involved, you're going to like being in college and if you get discouraged and you have to take a break, it is OK.

 21:23
 If you looked at my timeline, I didn't finish college in four years.

 21:27
 I went stop, but I went back and when I went back I finished.

 21:31
 So it is OK if you have to take that break for family reasons, personal reasons, whatever, you know, just get back on that horse and continue to go.

 21:40
 Hopefully we reach someone out there who maybe who wasn't thinking about college or scared, you can do it and share, Share your story with someone else, share the if you receive the scholarship, you know, just giving that information to someone else that maybe they can have that same opportunity as we did to go to school.

 22:02
 Absolutely.

 22:03
 Thank you for sharing that.

 22:05
 That's so true.

 22:05
 They need that that inspiration to keep going.

 22:08
 So this is right on time for the classes 2025 and before I let you go, Take Stock is celebrating 30 years of scholarships, mentors and hope as one of the first in the programs graduating class.

 22:21
 How has Take Stock in Children impacted your life?

 22:24
 Because of Take Stock, I was able to go to college, obtain my degree.

 22:29
 It opened doors for me that might have been closed and I didn't think was able to be open.

 22:37
 It taught me how important it was to have a good role model in my life and I got to be around different people that I might not have ever had a chance to be around if I stayed in the same community.

 22:51
 So being able to branch out of that community and become part of the bigger community.

 22:56
 Take Stock help with that.

 22:58
 Beautifully said.

 22:59
 Thank you so much, Michelle.

 23:01
 Thank you, Michelle for sharing your Take Stock story with us, especially during the 30th anniversary year.

 23:07
 Tech Stock Alumni Nation.

 23:09
 If you have a Take Stock story you'd like to share in celebration of our special milestone, visit techstockandchildren.org/alumni to get started.

 23:19
 Thank you for listening to the Mentors and Milestones podcast and happy Anniversary Take Stock.