Summer concludes sharing the lessons learned from her memoir with her five lessons from her life.
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10 years later. 5 More Life Lessons from My Story

Ten years ago, I shared my story and life lessons in my first book, Life After Birth: A Memoir of Survival and Success as a Teenage Mother. I had no idea then what would happen when I told it. A new chapter in my life started back then. And…
Bilicia Hill
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My friend, Bilicia Hill, a S.O. What! Success Story

When I moved to Memphis for college in 1997, I came with two of my best friends and Bilicia Hill was one of them. Friends since 8th grade, we had a lot in common. But what I loved the most about Bilicia Hill was how positive she was during…
Summer shares her lessons on why single moms need to keep their dreams alive.
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Single Moms: Keep Your Dreams Alive

Single mothers out there, keep your dreams alive because God fulfills them. By the time I went to graduate school to study for my MBA, I had already achieved a lot in my career and life. Now, I wanted a relationship for myself and a father…
Martin Truitt
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Meet Memphis Alum, Martin Truitt

Although it was a small gesture to him, it was a huge deal to me. Ten years ago when I published my first book, Martin Truitt was the first person to buy one.  And I’ll never forget it. He’s a supporter so it came naturally to him…
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Graduating Against the Odds: How I Made it to My 20 Year College Graduation Anniversary

It's graduation season, and many students are graduating against the odds. Financial challenges, lack of support, illnesses, competing priorities, too many responsibilities and so many other obstacles keep many people from completing college. But…
Jeremy Calhoun
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Meet Jeremy Calhoun, a First-Gen S.O. What! Success Story

When I worked in marketing at FedEx, my VP, Len Hostetter invited me to speak on Creativity as part of the University of Memphis’s 4 C’s program to the class he taught as an adjunct professor. As I walked back to my car that evening after…
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Do you know the FIRST black graduate of the University of Memphis? – Luther McClellan

Luther McClellan is a blessing to our younger generation! Luther McClellan was one of the Memphis State Eight, who were the first African-American students admitted to Memphis State University in 1959.  He became the first African-American…
Summer shares her lessons on how to stay focused on your goals when you feel like giving up.
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Remember this when you feel like giving up

Before finding out that I was pregnant, I had dreams. I wanted to go to college. I wanted to be successful. I wanted a career. Then at 15 I got pregnant by a guy I didn’t know and was soon a single, teenage mother. If you have found yourself…
Reginald Clark
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Meet Reginald and Ebony Clark, S.O. What! Success Stories

As a college freshman, I made a decision to pledge an amazing sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. That decision opened my world up and introduced me to an entire Greek family with incredible brothers sisters who would go on to do incredible…