My Story: 33 and Re-Enrolled

Let’s get real…

In 2010, I graduated high school full of big dreams and even bigger determination. I left NYC and headed to Cheyney University in Pennsylvania — and let’s just say, that chapter? Whew. A mess. (That story alone deserves its own podcast episode )

In 2011, I transferred to Lincoln University — even after they told me it wouldn’t be possible. But I made it happen. Because when I want something, I move mountains.

By 2013, I was living off-campus. But something still didn’t feel aligned.

One spontaneous weekend trip to the Allen Entrepreneurial Institute in Atlanta changed everything.

The moment I stepped into that space, I felt it in my spirit — this is where I belong. Surrounded by legacy, vision, and Black excellence, something in me woke up.

That trip didn’t just inspire me — it activated me.

It planted the seed for everything I would later try to build.

Even though I left Lincoln as a senior, I didn’t leave empty-handed. I left with purpose.

That weekend was the beginning of the entrepreneur in me — the dreamer, the brand builder, the healer. The version of me that started imagining a future that didn’t exist yet.

So I took a leap of faith…

I moved to Atlanta and got accepted into Clark Atlanta University — no scholarship, no family support, just faith and big dreams.

I took a “temporary” year off.

But temporary turned into a journey I never saw coming.

From 2014 to 2018, I studied Mass Media at CAU while working at the campus TV station. I learned production, programming, and the magic of storytelling.

I was so close to breaking through — both in my degree and in my career — when life hit me again.

A serious car accident left me in physical therapy for nearly two years.

No car. No income. No degree. Just pain — and the pressure to keep going.

2019–2020 were some of the darkest years of my life.

Then in 2020, I received a settlement and did what I thought was the right thing…

I opened two retail stores during the pandemic.

I thought I had finally made it.

But the world had other plans.

By 2021, I lost everything.

In 2022, I returned to NYC with nothing but heartbreak and broken dreams.

I entered a two-year relationship I thought would be forever…

But it ended right before I almost lost my mother.

I became her full-time caregiver while trying to hold myself together.

No time to grieve. No blueprint. Just faith and survival.

Fast forward…

2024: A new job. A new apartment. A fresh start.

2025: My mother got a second chance at life.

And now… so do I.

Back to School at 33

Today, I’m 33 years old — working full-time, rebuilding my life, and finally, after more than a decade of delays, detours, and divine redirection…

I've been re-accepted to college to finish what I started.

I’m only 33 credits away from walking across the stage — just two semesters away from turning a dream deferred into a dream fulfilled.

But I can’t do this alone.

“My goal is to raise $3,000 to cover my first semester, school supplies, and the cost of transitioning back into student life. Every dollar truly helps.”

Why I Need Your Help

I’m returning to school as a full-time adult student, juggling:

A full-time job

A healing body

A dog to care for

And a BIG vision to bring to life

Your donation will directly support:

Tuition & fees

Textbooks, course materials, and supplies

Transportation & commuting

School tech (laptop/software upgrades)

Mental health support & self-care during the transition

Even $10 gets me closer to the finish line.

✨ Can’t donate? Share my story. Tag someone who believes in second chances. Your support matters more than you know.

What I Plan To Do With My Degree

I'm completing my Bachelor's in Mass Communications & Public Relations, but this isn’t just about the degree. It’s about the mission.

After graduation, I plan to:

✅ Use my story to become a transformational coach, media creator, and wellness advocate

✅ Expand my business, Yoni’s Intimacy — a brand focused on self-care, sensual healing, and feminine wellness

✅ Host healing retreats, pop-ups, and safe spaces where women feel seen, heard, and whole

✅ Work behind the scenes in media + film as a set designer, stylist, and creative director

✅ Return to Clark Atlanta University for my Master’s in Business

✅ Launch a creative agency + healing network for women of color

— blending branding, wellness, and storytelling to help women rise.

This degree is a key to unlock it all.

Final Words

I had 33 reasons to give up…

But I found 34 reasons to go back.

And that one extra reason?

Was ME.

If you believe in second chances…

If you’ve ever had to start over from scratch…

If you know what it’s like to hold on just long enough to see the light again—

Then I hope you’ll walk beside me on this journey.

Help me cross the finish line.

With love,

Jasmine M. Rasdell

#BackToSchoolAt33

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#YonisIntimacy

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