Help Me Find My Voice Again: A Teacher's Journey of Healing

Hello everyone!

My name is Makeda Laundry, and I want to thank you for taking the time to read my story.

For nearly a decade, I dedicated myself to the world of education, inspired by teachers who showed me the power of compassion, resilience, and community.

As I grew in my teaching career, I progressed from a teaching assistant to a lead teacher, then to an international teacher, and eventually became a Dean of Students.

Every day, I poured my heart into my students, believing in their potential and doing whatever I could to make a difference.

But over time, the demands of the role took an unexpected toll on my health, leading me down a difficult and, at times, painful path.

The Toll on My Voice: A Silent Battle

During my last 2 years as Dean of Students, I supported our entire school community.

I was everywhere at all times and the point person for everyone. On a given day you could find me responding to behavioral issues and crisis situations. Or planning school culture activities, and or professional development workshops to improve our school culture.

Maybe I'd have a moment to pause for lunch, snacks or water, but then shortly I'd go back to the grind of facilitating meetings for teachers, for parent concerns or with my leadership team all during and after school hours.

All of these required extensive speaking and a great deal of mental fortitude.

This constant vocal strain led to a severe voice disorder, a condition that affects approximately 58% of teachers. For over a year, I attended weekly speech therapy to manage the swelling and vocal cord nodules caused by the excessive use of my voice.

While the therapy improved my condition, my physician has told me that this is the best my voice will ever be, and continuing in a high-demand vocal role could cause permanent damage.

Experiencing Physical and Emotional Challenges

Beyond vocal strain, I also faced physical challenges in my role. Working with young students can sometimes be unpredictable:

But this isn't unique; over 40% of educators report experiencing violence in schools, a reality that has unfortunately become a part of many teaching environments.

These incidents left me questioning how long I could continue without risking my physical and emotional well-being.

Financial Strain and a New Beginning with Heavenly Homes

Stepping away from my role was necessary to protect my health, but it has come with significant financial challenges.

I am currently paying out of pocket for medical care, as I no longer have consistent insurance. Additionally, losing my position as an educator has disqualified me from public student loan forgiveness, leaving me with heavy student debt.

Everyday expenses—rent, utilities, groceries—add to the financial weight, making it difficult to meet even basic needs.

Amid these challenges, I am working hard to build my own business, Heavenly Homes, a cleaning referral service focused on creating peaceful, welcoming spaces.

This business is my way of continuing to serve my community, just in a new way. Starting from the ground up is not easy, especially without a steady income, but I am committed to making this vision a reality.

How You Can Help

Your support of me and kindness means more than words can express. Your support isn’t just helping me launch a business; it’s giving me a chance to turn my journey of hardship into a story of resilience and renewal.

Whether through donations, sharing my story, or sending a message of encouragement, every gesture of support brings me one step closer to creating Heavenly Homes and building a new future.

Thank you so much for being a part of my journey.