Traci Payne

When I was growing up, there was not much of an emphasis on school, on college, on higher education. And I always did well in high school, and everyone thought that I’d definitely go to college. People were surprised that I joined the military. But school was not accessible financially and so I had to make a way to do that. And I ended up spending 12 years really having a great time, enjoying myself, living my adult life and then realizing when I was about to turn 30 years old I realized I really wanted to do this—for myself, for my personal goal and also so that my daughter would have something to strive for and a good example. I wanted to be an example for her. So, at the age of 32, I started college.