There are moments that quietly redirect the course of our lives, not with grand gestures, but with simple words spoken at the right time. For me, that moment came in the year 2000, during one of the most uncertain seasons of my youth.
I was standing at a crossroads, convinced I had lost my way. As a child, I had dreamt of becoming a medical doctor. It was all I ever wanted. But when I finally got into medical school, I realized it wasn’t for me. The only problem was, I had been so laser-focused for so long that I never considered alternate paths.
So, in my naïveté and frustration, I decided to quit school altogether and learn a trade. After all, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs did (haha) although they left Ivy League halls with purpose and privilege I didn’t yet understand.
That’s when my uncle, who also doubled as “Dad” stepped in. Sir Koye listened patiently, then shared a line that would stay with me for decades:
“It’s better to have a degree you don’t need than to need a degree you don’t have.”
At the time, it felt like tough love. But 25 years later, as a Black woman living and working in North America, I’ve learned how deeply true those words were. Education, structure, and resilience have shaped not just my career but my character.
Looking back now, I realize that moment wasn’t just about staying in school: it was about being seen, guided, and grounded when I couldn’t see the road ahead. Mentorship isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about offering perspective when someone else’s world feels small.
Sir Koye’s words became a compass shaping how I lead, how I listen, and how I advocate for mental health and personal growth.
✨ To every mentor, leader, and parent:
Please, keep showing up. Create safe spaces where young adults can question, doubt, dream, and redefine success without shame or fear.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one conversation, one sentence, or one person who believes in you to change everything.
Written by Persie Williams
Product Owner | Business Systems Analyst | Mental Health Advocate | Storyteller passionate about doing the write-thing
#Mentorship #Leadership #MentalHealth #CareerJourney #GrowthMindset #PeopleFirst #Inspiration #Gratitude #Storytelling #DoingTheWriteThing
#Psychology #YoungProfessionals #Inspiration #CareerDevelopment #Gratitude #Mentorship #Leadership #CareerJourney #GrowthMindset #PeopleFirst #YoungProfessionals #Inspiration #CareerDevelopment #Gratitude
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