Juanita Allen, a current
senior at Atlanta Metropolitan State
College, wants to encourage others that it’s never too late
to finish your education.
Allen is originally from Pittsburgh where she had a gained a
background in interior design, real estate management. She also had a
professional natural hair care day spa in her community. She’s had much
experience in business but didn’t feel she had the proper training to become a
professional according to the books.
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Photo courtesy of Juanita Allen, in a fashionable dress
“I decided to go back to
school in 2012 to re-purpose my life because I found myself being inattentive with
nothing to do,” Allen said. “I’ve done everything but I decided to go back to
see what would happen if I’ve done it with a college degree instead of natural
instinct in being an entrepreneur.”
Allen is currently
studying sociology
at metro and plans to bridge the gap that seniors have between computer technologies.
Most seniors are alienated with computers, and she wants to expand the use of
digital use within the senior community. Most forms that families and
individuals use to communicate now is digital, and a lot of seniors are
intimidated by that.
Allen already had experience with dealing with
a business, although none of them failed she always thought about how she could
have taken them to the next level. She has also had professional background and
training to have a strong foundation to properly maintain a business. That’s
when she decided to move to Atlanta 10
years ago.
“Having Ms. Allen in
class is a pleasure,” Vivian Wood, a communications professor, said. “It’s
never too late to start over or continue your education. Every experience has a
value no matter if it’s negative or positive, so wanting to do something
positive with your life is always positive”
Upon moving to Atlanta
Allen was so determined and focused on making her college experience an
inspiration to others. When first
attending Atlanta Metro she noticed all the services that were available for
seniors to become successful. She began to take advantage of all the resources
available to her on campus. She was involved in TRIO,
and another that was a support for seniors and other students which she enjoyed
very much.
Family began to notice
how Allen became so distant, forgetting her purpose for becoming a college
student. She started to realize that college had so much to offer and she can
become educated on many different subjects. During the time that Allen applied
to Metro she noticed they didn’t offer a program for sociology and they were
also in the process of transitioning to a four year program, so she left. She
then began studying at Georgia
Military College, where she received her associates in General
Studies.
“I noticed my mom was
acting different” Eric Allen “She wasn’t the same person she used to be, she
used to do this and do that. She seemed like a dinosaur because she was so
focused on school and she was determined to accomplish this goal she had set
for herself”
When Allen began her
college life she met a professor by the name of Terrance Kelly. He taught African
American history, which made a significant impact on Allen’s
decision upon her major. This was her first exposure to African American
history, because when she was younger and in her neighborhood there was no
history five or black history. He helped give her a better look and perspective
as of why she should continue her education.
Allen also wants to study
communications. She wants to be able to share her knowledge and experience with
others through communicating. Since communication is mostly digital now, her
goal is to spread this to the senior community and get them involved with
today’s technology. She loves sharing the creative experiences, because that’s
also another way others can learn. Expressing oneself is a creative way to
teach others.
“Nita is so nice” Deja
Hall, communications
major at Metro, said. “I can tell she is really serious
about her education and for someone her age, that’s really important. She is
like a motivation to me, she shows me that it’s never too late to get an
education and that no matter how much I go through to never give up. Education
is the key to success and in my eyes I can tell she sees that as well.”
Allen has taught others
that no matter how old someone is, they should never stop learning. Even if one
is just at the beginning of their career and still deciding, or one is already
in their field and just wants more knowledge. She has been a great inspiration
to not only her children but also her fellow peers.
Dedicating a lot of
her time to college Allen has learned that it is important to stay cognitive.
To stay cognitive is through learning, while in school one can learn many
different everyday life skills.
Education is ageless and individuals can learn from each other and every
situation is a learning experience. It can teach one how to communicate well
with others as well as academic responsibilities.
“Live as if you were to
die tomorrow,” Bud Bilanich, a career mentor says on http://www.budbilanich.com/successful-people-never-stop-learning/. “Learn as if you were to live forever.”
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