糖心Vlog传媒

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alum Cassandra Booker Overcomes Incredible Odds That Lead to a Family Legacy of College Graduates

Cassandra Booker, a 2008 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, overcame incredible odds to graduate with the bachelor鈥檚 degree that she is so thankful for. Yet, her college journey is far from over. Booker first attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 1978 when she was 27, but she soon left college to support her family. 鈥淢y journey by far is not like most. I found myself pregnant with my second child and responsible not only for them, but three siblings,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 able to figure all this out as a single mom. I decided to put school on the back burner and work two jobs to care for the children. It was crazy but there were no other options for me. My sisters had to be safe. When you are dealing with addiction and mental illness with your family members, it is even harder.鈥� Booker said that setting a good example for her family and showing them the value of hard work and education has always been her motivation to succeed. 鈥淚 worked two jobs for years to provide because I did not want to depend on the state or compromise my integrity to keep a roof over our heads,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s long as I can remember, I have lived in a survival mold. Not because I wanted to, because I didn’t want the other option. It has always been me and God, and I had my siblings watching.鈥� In 2000, Booker鈥檚 life took an unexpected turn when she was laid off from her job. She decided to go after the degree she left behind more than two decades earlier. 鈥淲hen it came to going back to school in 2000, the only other option was to be laid off and do nothing,鈥� Booker said. 鈥淭o me, that was not an option so I chose to go back to school. I was afraid, embarrassed, unprepared, and uneducated for college life.鈥� TRiO Student Support Services turned out to be Booker鈥檚 key to prepare for the long-awaited return to college. She took classes on college preparation and met with academic advisors, mentors, and career counselors to help with her college education. 鈥淢s. Valerie Brown (former director of TRiO) was there to help connect me with mentors and tutors,鈥� she said. 鈥淢s. Brown followed me and ensured that I had guidance counselors, academic advisors, and that they did their jobs. Her and Gus Swain (a counselor) were advocates for the advancement of higher education. They pushed us to do our best and worked with us if necessary to get the resources we needed.鈥� Several caring professors also served as mentors for Booker and helped her through some difficult times in her life. 鈥淭hey did not just care about our education,鈥� Booker said. 鈥淭hey cared about our families. We talked about my health and all. I had 27 hospital stays while at 糖心Vlog传媒LR, but my professors ensured that I got my assignments and turned them in. Even in the hospital in the rain, they came through. I really appreciate professors like Dr. Briscoe and Dr. Krain, who was also my academic advisor and stood up for me regarding an internship. I love them both.鈥� Going to college turned into a family affair as Booker鈥檚 younger sisters also earned degrees at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淢y sister worked at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock the first time I got on the Dean鈥檚 List,鈥� Booker said. 鈥淭hey were so proud of me to know that I made the Dean鈥檚 List. It鈥檚 crazy how I look back at how we started, how God blessed us all, and how my siblings and I ended up where we are today. There was a time I didn鈥檛 think it was even possible that we would all graduate from college.鈥� In 2008, Booker鈥檚 long fought journey to complete her college education came to fruition with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work and a minor in psychology. It was even a suggestion by an inspirational professor that sent her on her current career journey to help children and Alzheimer鈥檚 patients. 鈥淒r. Carolyn Turturro (former gerontology program coordinator) told me that I had a spirit that would work well with geriatrics before I even knew what that was,鈥� Booker said. 鈥淚 went on to work and care for Alzheimer’s patients for 15 years. Go figure. I loved it.鈥� While she currently works as an administrator with DCFS, Booker has also worked as a case manager, paraprofessional, sponsor in recovery, and an investigator with DCFS. 鈥淚 have been with the state a total of 18 years, and it has been a ride,鈥� Booker said. 鈥淧rofessors like David Briscoe and Mark Krain showed me what a good social worker looks like. Without the tools that were given to me and the support that was shown to me from the faithful few, I would not be where I am.鈥� As she looks back on her time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Booker is grateful not only for her degree, but also that her sisters were able to earn their college degrees as well. 鈥淚 tell people I earned this degree for sure,鈥� Booker said. “We came from small beginnings, but God had me and two of my siblings all on that campus at the same time and we all have graduated with degrees.鈥� Booker and her family aren鈥檛 finished with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock yet. She and her granddaughter, Airianna McDaniel, are both planning to go to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2022 to pursue graduate degrees together. McDaniel, who is graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work from Philander Smith University this December, and her grandmother are both applying for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Master of Social Work Program. For Booker, it will be the third time she鈥檚 attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock throughout her 45-year history with the university. 鈥淎irianna is my oldest grandchild out of 14,鈥� Booker said. 鈥淚鈥檝e worked really hard to maintain my health because I want us to do this together. That鈥檚 our plan. Whatever we do, we are going to enter the master鈥檚 program together, me and my oldest grandchild. We鈥檝e excited to do this together.鈥�