Deann Smith, Graduating With an Associate Degree in Business in 2026

Chapter 1: Overcoming Adversity: A Journey from Homelessness to Graduation 0:00 I had to overcome a lot of things in my life, uh one of them being homelessness. 0:05 And during that period, it was a lesson and a blessing for me because I was learning myself. 0:13 I was learning how to become a strong person on my own. And I was learning to balance things in life. 0:19 I needed more for myself and I needed to be the best version of me that I can be. 0:25 I was getting my high school diploma. and that high school diploma led me to finding University of Phoenix. 0:36 you Hello and welcome to the Degrees of Success podcast. 0:51 I'm your host, Stephen Paskel and we're here in Phoenix at the 2026 commencement. And I am sitting next to a graduate here. 0:59 Could you introduce yourself? us. My name is Deann, Deann Smith. Deann, congratulations. Thank you. you buzzing with excitement today? 1:06 I am, I'm so nervous but I am buzzing with excitement. Now gotta tell you, I'm buzzing with excitement too, because I've been looking forward to this. 1:13 I'm looking forward to getting a little bit of time to know you, your background, your story, because there's a lot to learn. 1:21 So can I ask for our viewers, for our listeners, can you give us a little background about yourself, your family, anything you want to share? 1:27 Yeah, well was born and raised in Chicago. I live in Gary. I have two children. 1:36 My oldest daughter, she lives in Chicago and my son that's here with me today. Yeah, I am older. 1:44 I'm 39, going on 40 and this is my first degree. Well, congratulations. And you got a chance to meet your son a little while ago. Yes. 1:52 Very nice young man. Thank you. So tell us, what's gotten you to today? What degree are you getting? I'm getting my associate's degree today, associate's in business. 2:01 um Well, got me here today. 2:05 uh Well, my son and also my grit. Your grit. 2:13 Yes. Now I want to know, right? Chicago, Indiana now, you said your grit. Tell me about your grit. my grit? Well, I had to overcome a lot of things in my life. 2:22 ah One of them being homelessness. 2:25 ah And during that period, it was a lesson and a blessing for me because I was learning myself, I was learning how to become a strong person on my own. Chapter 2: The Power of Grit and Self-Discovery 2:37 ah And I was learning to balance things in life. So during that homeless period, I said that I needed more for myself. 2:47 And I needed to be the best version of me that I can be. 2:51 And I was, uh as I was sitting at the motel in Indiana, I was getting my high school diploma and that high school diploma led me to finding University of Phoenix. 3:10 So there's a lot there. Yes. And first off, thank you for sharing. Thank you. So just just to let that that that simmer in for us a little bit here, you're about to walk that aisle. 3:20 You're about to graduate. You got your you're getting your associates. And you just said you were homeless. And now you're here today. 3:28 Now you're here today. What drove you that grit? What drove you to go from that situation where you were? 3:38 What was that drive? That drive was me choosing me for the first time. 3:45 That drive was me telling myself something that no one in my life told me. 3:53 Excuse me. 3:53 um It was time for me to get up and start loving myself, applying myself. 4:03 I knew I was always smart. But when you come from where I come from, the foster system and everything like that, sometimes that can drive your... 4:17 self-esteem down. And I wanted to be a better person for my son. So I had to build me up again. 4:27 I had to find what was in my heart and what was in my soul and build myself up again. And that was the grit. 4:35 There is so much that can be taken and learned just from that. So again, I'm going to say it again, it sounds like, thank you for sharing and having the courage to share that. 4:44 Because our listeners, right? It's a very diverse group that's listening. We all have our stories, we all have our backgrounds, and there's some that are struggling right now that are listening to this. 4:54 They may even be thinking to themselves, I can never get a degree, I can never go back to school. What would you tell them? 5:02 I would tell them, let nothing define you. It's okay to start from the bottom and bring yourself up slowly. 5:12 Keep trying to stand in your strength and stand in your truth and keep moving forward, no matter what. 5:20 Your past does not define who you are. What you do right now defines who you are. And that's what I... 5:29 Thank you for that. Now I gotta know, right? 5:33 As we're going through this journey, as you're taking the steps that have gotten you to this point today, as strong of a woman as you clearly are, because no one gets, right, 5:42 from that situation to where you're at now, without having that drive and passion, also oh very few times can you do it by yourself. 5:50 What has helped you, who has helped you along the way to get to the point where you're at today? Do you want the honest answer? We want the honest answer. Chapter 3: Faith and Support: The Role of God and Community 5:58 It's me and you. 6:00 God, G-O-D, that was my being because of him, because of that spirit being around me, because I chose to believe. 6:15 And when I took that step, God took that next step and said, I'm going to bless you. 6:20 You're going to find a school because the first school I looked at, it was like, they were so rude to me. And I was like, no. 6:30 I'm not going through this. And I went home and I cried. I said, God, what do I do now? Where do I go now? 6:36 Not thinking, okay, there's a million colleges out here, right? I could have chose any one of them. 6:42 But when I called the University of Phoenix, there was a young lady. She was enrollment advisor. 6:50 name was Jessica. And it was like, she saw my vision. She saw me and she said, you don't have to worry about that. 6:59 University of Phoenix will take care of you. And from that moment, I said, this is my home. 7:07 This is where I belong. 7:09 And then my first genetic course, the foundation course, it was like, was talking about me, that grip, mindset, that push, that just, You can do it. 7:24 You can do anything you put your mind to. That ah first video I saw of the woman speaking, I can't remember her name, but it was like this whole time that has been me. 7:36 That's what I want to do. And I'm going to show others who are homeless, who have been in the foster care system, group homes, residential homes. Chapter 4: Inspiring the Next Generation: Lessons for My Children 7:47 Nothing can stop us. You have. definitely got to take that step and once you do this is what happens. 7:57 It's one thing to talk about stuff, right? It's one thing and plenty of people we could talk, do this, do that. 8:03 But when you have an example, someone to look at, someone that you can see can empathize because they've been in the footsteps that you've been in before and see that they've been able to do that. 8:15 That's a powerful gift to give to someone. And that's a powerful gift that you're giving to a lot of people right now. So again, thank you for your openness and sharing that. Thank you. Now you mentioned you have kids. 8:23 Yes. Right? Yes. I'm sure you're proud of your kids. Oh, I am. Both of them, yes. 8:28 So what for your kids, for others, right, that are looking in that example, what lessons would you say you've been able to impart to them by your experience? 8:38 um One was prayer. The other one is I've just been a walking testimony and for them to see my truth, I feel helps make them better and stronger. 8:50 And when they look at their mom's story, they can say, my mother was strong, but I'm going to do better. 8:57 And that's what I instill in them to try to do better than I did. But, you know, if you can at that moment, it's okay. 9:05 That means it's just not your time yet, but keep trying to push toward that. Can't stop, won't stop. uh What lasting impacts do you think this has had on your kids? 9:16 you know, why don't we ask my son Le'trey Smith. Okay? 9:26 Hello, hello. LaTroy? Le'trey Le'trey. Yes, sir. Can you introduce yourself? 9:34 My name is Le'trey Smith. I'm 15 years old and... I'm just really proud of my mother. 9:41 So first off, this wasn't a part of our regularly scheduled programming. Your mom's graduating. You're over there with pride. 9:50 I got to know, right? Freshman in high school? Yes, sir. Tell me about the example your mom set. 9:57 My mother has set a perfect example. How to be a leader, how to. 10:07 just be myself and to strive for my purpose. 10:12 which know, I'm planning on joining the military either army or Marine Corps. I haven't figured it out yet, but I eventually will when I graduate. Chapter 5: Future Aspirations: Building a Shelter and Continuing Education 10:21 And you already have that clear of mind at 15 years old? Yes, sir. So tell me seeing this journey, has this been an easy, easy journey for your mom? 10:30 There's been some ups and there's downs, but that That's the cost. It's been worth it, especially now. 10:40 Now I know it must have been a family, a team effort. What have uh you had to do to chip in to help your mom along the journey? 10:47 Mostly just motivate her to keep her going, be there when she's which is something that's helped her pull through the most. 10:57 I can say that for sure. Absolutely. Now I gotta tell you, right? 11:04 So most kids your age or already, public speaking or speaking in a setting like this are gonna be a little bit nervous or struggling, let alone if they were planning for it. 11:14 You were sitting on the side watching your mom in pride, just asked you to come up here, you popped right up and you're speaking as clear as day about the joy that you have. 11:25 for someone on the outside, because lots of folks go through different challenges, Different upbringings, different challenges going along the way, and it can be hard at times to even see a way out. 11:35 Do you have any doubts about your future? Right now? No. But that this is something I want to do. 11:44 I've been saying this for a long time, so I don't have any doubts about anything. Yeah. 11:51 And looking at what your mom's been able to do, that example, what does that, what does that inspire you to do? 11:58 To push past my limits, to strive for higher, to just be better. 12:07 surpass what people say I can do above and beyond. 12:12 So I got to tell you, like being a parent myself, um you hope that your kids always do better than you and you hope that you're able to set an example that you'd be proud of. 12:23 And without looking, I know you're making your mama a very proud woman right now. And I'm absolutely confident that your future is going to be a wonderful one. 12:32 I look forward to staying in contact too. Thank you so much for telling your story and being here with your mom. I know she's so proud of you. Yeah, no problem. 12:40 So I gotta know, right? Because for all that you've accomplished, right? And very humbly, by the way, as you're talking about the background for, right, to get to where you're at today. 12:50 I know it's not the end. No, it's not. So what's in store for you? What's next for you? OK. So my bachelor's, I'm going to get my bachelor's in business. Chapter 6: Encouragement for Others: Taking the Leap of Faith 12:59 I want to understand organizations and how they work and how they move. So me getting that understanding and eventually getting my master's in that as well. 13:10 I'm also going to get my human service degree because I want to open up a shelter. That's my main goal. 13:16 I want to help others in my community to build themselves up and to have that grit and mindset that I have. 13:22 And I know that not everyone is going to have that motivation, but all I can do is try and give it to them. And that's it. 13:30 And we haven't had a chance to know each other much, but I can tell already, there was no, I'm gonna try for this, I'm gonna try for that. 13:36 It's like, I'm gonna get this, I'm gonna get this, and this is what I'm gonna do. It sounds like you've found your purpose. I really did. 13:45 So there's a lot like we mentioned before, right? The University of Phoenix family is a big one. We're a big one. 13:53 And I wanna know how, and you mentioned Jessica by name, your enrollment counselor, how long ago was that? 14:00 like uh maybe like 14 months ago. months ago. Remember by name, right? That impact that has. 14:07 is the, I'm just curious, University of Phoenix family, how's that been along the way, both the support teams and your classmates? 14:14 Oh my God, University of Phoenix is so persistent and very supportive uh and just encouraging and motivating, you know, like just the teachers all on the way. 14:24 You can do this, you can do this. They remind you, they test you, they just like, it's just a loving thing with the University of Phoenix. 14:33 Like, I love how they move. I love how they encourage their students. I love how they encourage, you know, faculty members. 14:41 I love how they build them up. 14:43 I've seen it like, I've seen students become faculty members and they take them in and love them. 14:51 I love that about the University of Phoenix. Thank you for sharing that. 14:54 You know, because we forget sometimes, right, as alumni, I'm sure there's faculty members that put in long hours that we don't know about afterwards that are watching this. 15:05 And even as classmates, the impact that we can have on one another, right? That encouragement, because there's, right, that's one of the beauties about the programs that we're in. 15:12 We're in classes with, I'm sure you've been in classes with people all over the world, right? And you never know what someone else's story is. 15:19 that little encouragement and the extra work you're putting in can have such a big effect. Yep, it has had an effect on me as well, listening to seeing different stories and I just think it's amazing. 15:29 Yeah, it's a big family. 15:31 So with all the emotion of the day, and that's a big one, and we're so excited, proud, and everything else for you today as you're walking that aisle, for people that are looking again, all different aspects along the journey, right? 15:44 Everyone that may be considering their net, they may be going for their doctorate or the master's, or that person that's sitting out that may be watching this and debating whether or not, should I go back? 15:53 Is it for me? Can I do it? No one else in my family has done it. What would you tell them? Any of that? that might be on the fence. You can do it. 16:02 Strive for it. Don't let anything hold you back. And take a leap of faith. That's the most important thing. 16:10 Take the leap of faith. I love it. I love it. And what's your final shout out to your kids after you've done all this? What are your expectations for them? 16:18 I love you and I want you to follow your dreams. Thank you so much for taking the time today. 16:26 Thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing your journey. It is something that I'm sure is gonna inspire so many different individuals. I hope so. 16:34 It's inspired me. Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm Stephen Paskel and thank you so much for joining us for the 2026 Commencement.