SPEAKER_01 1:45

Welcome back to the Hilltop Glove Podcast. Today we have the pleasure of speaking with the remarkable April McKnight, a mother, educator, and entrepreneur whose dedication to education and student success is truly inspiring. April McKnight holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Mass Communication from Winthrop University, a Master's of Education, and a second master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Grand Canyon University, which she received in 2003. With a strong passion for teaching, April has built a successful career in education characterized by her innovation approach to learning. She is adept at designing creative and engaging activities that motivate students to achieve their highest potential. April's dedication to her students extends beyond academic excellence. She fosters positive relationships with both parents and colleagues, ensuring a collaborative and supportive educational environment. Her commitment to creating a safe and inspiring learning space for all students is unwavering. In addition to her role as an educator in the Berkeley County School District, April is the proud owner of Incredible Minds tutoring services. Through her business, she continues to inspire others to pursue educational journeys and strive for personal growth. April's influence as a teacher and entrepreneur is profound as she continues to encourage and uplift every child she encounters. And we are thrilled to have her on today's episode. How are you?

SPEAKER_00 3:14

I am doing very well, very blessed. You have such a much for having me.

SPEAKER_01 3:19

Thank you for being here today, especially. Our only episode today. Reliable episode. But you have a very uh radio voice.

SPEAKER_00 3:30

So you know, I think we're gonna have to talk later on. Yeah, doesn't it? I love it. Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 3:37

So we like to start off each episode with a little history about your upbringing. What was it like growing up? You want to take that question, sir?

SPEAKER_00 3:46

Sure. Um, I'm from North Charleston, South Carolina, born and raised. Um I grew up with my mom and my stepdad, so I had a pretty normal lifestyle. Um, I have two sisters, um Tia and Candace, and a stepsister, Leslie. And I just grew up here in the area.

SPEAKER_02 4:05

So are you the oldest, youngest, middle?

SPEAKER_00 4:08

I'm the middle child. Oh.

SPEAKER_02 4:09

Middle child. We work hard. Yes, we do.

SPEAKER_00 4:15

So who inspired you as a child? Um, for me, I would say it was my band director um from middle school. Her name is Angela Alley. Um, that was her name back then. Um, she's still my friend on social media. And I was just this, you know, young black girl from North Charleston, and she came into Alice Bernie and helped us see things about ourselves that we didn't see playing clarinet. And um, she believed in me and she pressed me and she pushed me, um, and she got me to audition for Charleston County School of the Arts. And I got in in high school. Um, and I was just so fortunate to be able to be up under her leadership and then become an educator because of her to pour back into Nerd Charleston.

SPEAKER_01 4:55

Wow, that's amazing. She went to Bernie. I was supposed to go to Bernie. Yeah, and then I went to Oak Brook and I met her. Yeah, I went to Alice Bernie. I would have met her. Very different.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

That's inspiring that you found a teacher and she inspired your path in life. So shout out to you, whoever you are. If I still your name, shout out to you.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

So you went to what um, so you went to Alice Bernie and then what high school?

SPEAKER_00 5:21

I went to Charleston County School of the Arts. I got a lot of people.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

School of the Arts and then okay. So what was it like going to a school of the arts?

SPEAKER_00 5:29

It was a big culture shock for me. So it did take a lot to adjust and like try to figure out who I was and how I fit in in that space with friends who already had friendships that they had nurtured since sixth grade. Right. And I came in in um ninth grade. So it did take some time to adjust and adapt. But I mean, we were like the top 18 high school bands in the country my freshman year. So we like flew out to Indianapolis, Indiana to Butler University. I mean, my sorority was also founded there, but you know, connections, of course. But so definitely the experiences uh I feel like are just things that I'll take away forever. So that is so dope. Great experience.

SPEAKER_01 6:07

You know, they always have that one teacher that changed your traject trajectory of your whole life. And if you could give her a shout out, or what would you say to her?

SPEAKER_00 6:17

Um, she knows. I tag her all the time on social media when they asked on like news posts and like who's your favorite teacher or who's someone that inspired you. So her name is Angela Alley. Um, and I would just say to her, thank you for believing in me, thank you for pouring into me, um, and thank you for pushing me beyond what I can see in myself at the time.

SPEAKER_02 6:39

It's always that one. And now you're a teacher, and yes, one of your students will definitely be saying the same thing about you. So I hope you're gonna be able to do that. The cycle will continue. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 6:48

So on the role of being a teacher and educator, you know, if you could change anything about the system, if you had no restrictions, what would it be? What's one thing that's dear m dear to your heart? Um that you would love to change.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

So this is probably gonna be like one of those unpopular opinions for parents, but very popular for educators. Um, I would say um hiring somebody on each grade level to design lesson plans so teachers don't have to, and we could just show up and teach because that's what we're hired to do. So I feel like if I could change that, that would be the biggest thing. Like if I just want to teach. Like I the lesson planning part is like we're we're intelligent, we're professionals, we can read a lesson plan, prepare activities, and all the good stuff.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

So somebody it's like a programming. I feel like that's doable.

SPEAKER_00 7:39

Yeah. That's what I think of they can fit it in the budget. So I think so.

SPEAKER_01 7:43

I feel like especially with all this AI stuff going around.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

We just show up, we print, we get the activities and materials together, and then we teach.

SPEAKER_01 7:52

So, what is the schedule like for an average teacher per day? Um, you guys can't leave the campus to go get food, so what do you how do you plan your lessons? What time period, how long do you have?

SPEAKER_00 8:03

Um, like for me, I teach elementary um at Bowen's Corner Elementary in hand-to-hand, and my schedule is from 6.45 to 245. So we have the 645 to 7.15 stretch before kids arrive. Um, and then we have another 40-minute break for them to go to related arts, and then we have the last 45 minutes of the day. So I'm not sure how many minutes that is collectively in one day, but that's if there's not conferences or meetings or trainings and it goes perfectly, or ideally, that's how it looks every day.

SPEAKER_02 8:35

That's stressful. It is, and is it safe to say you take a lot of your work home?

SPEAKER_00 8:40

Yes, Sunday evenings is what I'm prepping for for the week for sure. No, no, no, no. Yeah, I know. No, no, no, no, no. We don't get paid for that.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

We don't no no no. Okay, we need to work something out. That you know, I'm thinking money. I can come in as an independent contractor to do something like that.

SPEAKER_00 9:00

Help us out. We need some lesson planners for sure. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

And what are some hardships you face as an educator?

SPEAKER_00 9:08

Um, I would say um this is my 11th year. I think the village um structure has deflated or it's just not present anymore. And since we don't have the structure of the village, it's hard to be in partnership with parents and with colleagues and with students and really build those relationships and build rapport. So even with if you see a student at a game and a security guard or an officer or a coach or someone redirects or gives a reminder to a child, I think that we just have lost those type of connections because people are a certain way about their children. So I think the hardest thing is just building community and building connection with parents in partnership to support their kids. It's kind of like we're fighting against the parents to help them to get to support their child, which is what we're there to do to begin with.

SPEAKER_01 10:02

Right. I think we all need to look at the bigger picture now. So basically, you would want the community and the parents to support you guys in that. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 10:14

So can you share a story or inspiring moment from your teaching career that has had an impact on you?

SPEAKER_00 10:22

Um, I would say last year, on my tenth year moving to Bowen's Corner in hand-to-hand, um, I taught a GT class, and it was really on the back end of me feeling really at a low point in education and thinking about leaving the profession. So I was like, I got hired, I kind of got thrown into a new school and a new space um that I didn't even know existed, nine minutes from my house. And I had the pleasure of working with kids who are just so motivated. And I don't think I've ever had that experience like with everyone in the classroom being motivated. Like, you know, you have your handful, or some of them you have to give an extra um bit of attention, but like everyone cared about their work, everyone cares about their progress, everyone wants to do better and do the extra credit and get the assignment done. They care about the debates. So when you have kids who are motivated internally themselves, then it creates in you this drive to really want to show up every day in a way that's like I want to go above and beyond for them because they go above and beyond for themselves, for their families, and and for me too. So um last year was really, really a good year for me. And I still get to see them in the hallways and I get to see them at the um end of the day. Um, and sometimes I can be having a very challenging day at school this year, and I'll see one of them and they just give me a hug or hold my hand. They're fourth graders, but they still hold my hand and they hug me and they love on me, and it's just like the perfect dose of what I need to get through the rest of the day, and it provides the solace of like today was rough and it was hard, but then I get to see those kids last year that I really made an impact on.

SPEAKER_02 11:51

So, and so for those who don't know, can you explain what GT means?

SPEAKER_00 11:54

Um, it's the gifted and talented program, um, basically where students are identified based on their academic abilities. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 12:03

So, what advice would you give to an up-and-coming teacher or an inspiring entrepreneur that wants to work with children and in that education space?

SPEAKER_00 12:12

Um, in terms of entrepreneurship, I would just say start. Um, for me, with my tutoring business, I feel like I sat on it for so many years until a point where I was just like, I use you gotta go. You gotta go. And I think we get in our own heads and we get in our own ways and we overplan and we overthink and you know, we have all the things ready to go, and we still feel like we're just not ready yet because of what somebody else has gone on, going on. And I think if you know that if you're in alignment with God and with purpose, that there's enough room and space for everyone. So I feel like for me, I didn't learn much of what I know now about tutoring and leading a tutoring business until I got started. And that's when I realized that God started putting the domino effects into like being at the opportunity center after I've been going to library to library and struggling the very next month of me starting and um like meeting, you know, you all I I hope in and different places that can help us, you know, like really grow as young entrepreneurs. So I feel like just start is the thing, and I think everything else will work itself out. If you have a solid plan, business plan, you've done some of the formal logistical things, it'll all work out.

SPEAKER_02 13:22

That's good advice. I think sometimes we get in our own head, yeah, and we're our own worst enemy, and that fear takes over, we just can't move. We get stuck and frozen.

SPEAKER_00 13:30

Stagnant for sure.

SPEAKER_02 13:32

How did you think of tutoring? Why tutoring?

SPEAKER_00 13:35

Well, for me, um, even though I've had some challenges in the classroom because it is a challenging profession, I still like to pour into children. So I felt like tutoring was a way for me to take my own experiences and knowledge and then kind of do it the way that I want to do it in a way that's still effective. So I don't have to be under the umbrella or restrictive nature of what the school say or what curriculum I have to use or how long to do it or what that looks like. I get to control that um and still get to impact children in that way.

SPEAKER_01 14:04

So now um when you talked about the curriculum and the standards that you have to follow, is it hard to create your lesson plan around the standards?

SPEAKER_00 14:13

Um uh well, my whole team works together. So I started last year with that. Um we like one teacher does like ELA last year, one person did math, one person did um socialized one science. So this year we do the same thing. We have a math and science team. So we all work together to work to put the plans together. Um and it's not difficult, it's just time consuming, I think is the big thing. And then we have a curriculum in the classrooms that we are suggested to use, but that don't necessarily work out or always align with the with the standards. So then we do have to pivot and make different um decisions regarding curriculum resources. So I think that that's part of the challenge.

SPEAKER_01 14:59

No. Sometimes we just have dead moments like that. But um you mentioned resources. Do you feel like as an educator you have enough resources for your students? Um, you mean like in terms of supplies? Supplies, money, and um maybe technology. Like say if you're the kids are trying to learn on a different type of tablet, database, or software, do you have resources available?

SPEAKER_00 15:24

It all depends about where you are. Like I feel like I'm in a place right now where we have such a strong parent support and PTO and fundraising that if we really, really wanted something, they would work hard to get it for us and for the students. So I just think it's all about the funding and like what type of school it is. And I think that's what creates maybe some of the challenges in getting like the money for certain like technology or projects or maybe events or situations. So this year I would say no.

SPEAKER_02 15:56

I didn't like I've heard of the PTL, but I didn't know what their role was within a school. Um, and I didn't know that they had the ability to supplement school and district funding for students.

SPEAKER_00 16:06

They well, I guess for us, um, how do I describe it? Like, this is my first experience being in something to this extent. But I mean, like, they do everything from getting hot chocolate and coffee for teachers and maybe duty-free lunches, and um like they'll have supplies set out for teachers to get for the classroom at the beginning of the year, and they have a form if you need something. Um, to if kids are having an event or they want to have like engaging creative minds come in or the aquarium come in for in-house field trips, they do supplement some of the funding for that. So yeah, okay. Yeah, it's good to know.

SPEAKER_02 16:43

Yeah. So you play a lot of roles. You are a full-time educator, you are a full-time entrepreneur. Um, how do you balance all of the roles and responsibilities? You are a mom, you have a lot of different roles that you play. So, what are some ways that you balance all of those roles?

SPEAKER_00 17:00

Um, I would say for me, um, I think since tutoring and education go hand in hand, I think that's a benefit because it's not like I have to separate the two so much. Um, a lot of times I'm kind of like divvying from each of them, anyways, to get what I need to do both. Um so I think it's about compartmentalizing. I have to section my day in my head to not be overwhelmed because I think about me working all day long and then having to go tutor for three more hours and then having to show up the workout class right after that. Um, so I think compart can compartmentalizing and being present in the rule and the space at that moment is really important, and that kind of helps like me figure out like my my time and I'm like, okay, well, this part of the day is over. Now I'm gonna go tutor now. And I think when I take pauses like that and really focus on the moment, it really causes me to like be able to balance. And yeah, and then same thing with the Sunday evenings. I know we talked about earlier about me doing my lesson plans on Sunday evenings. Same thing with tutoring. So I kind of sit down and do both, and then for me, it knocks it off for the whole week. And at least I'm prepared, or at least am I prepared. Like the slides are done and the the presentations are done, and like I have to just show up and print out and and set up, and that's really the gist of it. But it does make me feel super prepared for my for my my week. That's what you're not.

SPEAKER_02 18:27

If you knew then what you know now, would you still choose the same path? Would you still become an educator?

SPEAKER_01 18:35

Or would you pivot?

SPEAKER_00 18:36

Yeah, I would pivot.

SPEAKER_02 18:38

Oh, into what? Into what?

SPEAKER_00 18:40

Yeah, we would we would have to talk after this episode so I could tell you all um my my plans because I do have a big thing coming up, and I just it's just a thing that I can't talk about just quite. So we got some things in the works, okay. Yeah, we have some things in the works for sure. So I love education and I've loved um the experiences it's afforded me, but I do there's still lots of challenges with it, of course.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

Yeah. So I have a question as an educator, teacher. Um, do you feel supported?

SPEAKER_00 19:15

Um in my like I said, I think it all depends on the school and the space. In my school, yes. I have um really wonderful admin. I mean, it could be like something as small as a parent hiccup, and they like shield us and like protect us and like talk highly of us and talk about what they see in our classrooms every day. Um, and they're they're really supportive in that way to a point where I no longer get stressed or get anxiety about any type of interaction or you know, something that may come off a certain way from a parent because I know that my admin's going to support me. So I just think it's about where you are, like where the school is, which is why choosing your school is really important. So I feel supported. And same thing with parents. I have really supportive parents at my school. So I mean, like above and beyond parents that that will come in and volunteer and stuff your Tuesday folders and what else can I do for you and print off your labels and community.

SPEAKER_01 20:10

I work at everyone. And this is why I ask these questions because I don't know anything from the teacher's point of view. So I'm I'm curious to know how can the community support you and what do you guys really need because you know you your job is really important.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Yes, you're changing minds. Absolutely. I mean, I'm thinking like in terms of nonprofits and churches and other community entities, I think we can all come together for more supply drives, mentorship, um, helping support these kids in their um academic goals and sports and really leading them in um just different areas that can cause them to be successful. So, like if we're all working in collaboration to pour into these kids again, the village effect, I think that's gonna help prepare this next generation to be, you know, productive citizens in our country.

SPEAKER_01 20:59

So I agree. I have another question. I'm sorry, full of questions today that are not on the script. Um so you said your lesson plans are you they're engaging and you add creativity into it. How do you do that?

SPEAKER_00 21:16

Um, like for me, I'll I'll go with tutoring. I feel like I put myself in the position of a child. Like, would I want to sit in my own classroom? Would I want to sit for this boring hour-long tutoring session that my mom drove me to because she feels like I need? So for me, I'm really big on building relationship and rapport. And I think that's huge, huge because a kid is not going to perform or do anything for you if you don't know them. So I think starting foundationally at just getting to know them. So I'm big on like my dice breakers and would you rather questions and brain fun brain breaks and um cute riddles that kind of make them laugh and kind of like blow their minds a little bit at the end of our sessions, um, including affirmations to really affirm these kids and let them know who they are and whose they are is huge for me. Um and then my activities, I feel like I'm still using some of the curriculum resources that I already use as an educator. But then, too, like I've done creative things like for a friend who's learning how to write. We're like writing in sand, or if not sand, we're using baking sheets, and we have the letters already pre-drawn on there, and then they're using dry race markers to trace the letters on a baking sheet. So, like, you have to just find um resources and everyday things. Like, I'll be thinking about like playing cards. I'm like, well, playing cards have numbers on them. I can take out the the the Jack and the Queen and the King, and we can do facts for this. We can do I declare war, I declare war. You got an eight, I got a nine, we got 72. So now we're learning our facts, and that's like super fun. You can do the same thing with Uno. So I just try to find ways to make it fun for them, and then that's how you get them because then they want to come back to the next session and the next session, the next session, and then it becomes this thing of okay, I'm having a lot of fun, but I'm also learning and growing at the same time.

SPEAKER_02 23:05

So do I hear consultant working?

SPEAKER_00 23:08

Right, right, you know, all this, you know, pouring into you. I'll I'll take all the pouring into you for sure.

SPEAKER_01 23:15

We were just talking about that on the ride down here, consultants.

SPEAKER_00 23:17

Yeah, I mean, this year I made some goals for my business, and I'm still obviously within the first year, March 2nd will be a year for me. And I've like added like small group Saturdays, which has become successful. Um, and I've added like our monthly newsletter featuring students of the month and things like that. But I've thought about education consulting and adding that as a piece. Um, and me and some business friends actually had a meeting at the Opportunity Center and made our vision boards. And all the things. And one of the things we said, what's your first in the first three months, your first quarter goal that you want to do? And I was like, well, my small group Saturdays, I want to go ahead and start getting those out. And then I want to go ahead and um implement or have in place my first professional development, like something I've already put together and rehearsed, and I'm ready to go. So that is something that I'm interested in doing as well.

SPEAKER_01 24:08

Please let us know because I love professional developments. Ever since I became at work started working at the Department of Education, is professional developments all the time. And I'm like sending them to Chantel, like, here you want to go to this? You should go to this. Conferences, professional developments, workshops, trainings. I love that stuff. Yeah, exactly. Because adults, we need that too, not just for the kids. Definitely. But I mean, I think we should start doing that for kids. That would be pretty cool.

SPEAKER_02 24:32

Well, I have another question on that line. Okay. You talked about how nonprofits um and other community organizations and the community itself can band together to provide some additional needs for students. But what exactly do you think that should look like?

SPEAKER_00 24:47

I don't have all the answers, but I would say maybe the same thing with I guess what we're talking about right now. Like maybe there could be certain workshops where you have um engineers in the community that are coming out and maybe they're having a STEM event that really intrigue young children or young people who are interested in Legos and robotics and things like that. Or it could be a supply drive one um one month and we're um getting all the supplies for certain teachers in the local area or certain schools in the certain tri-county tri-county area. Um or it could be fundraising and getting like money ahead of time for school and for certain events and sporting events, and again for certain schools, it could be haircuts. So it could just be things that we anything that I guess kind of going around to the schools and maybe just asking, like surveying teachers, educators, principals, admin, um, maybe even students and parents, and saying, like, what do you need? We want to help, um, but we don't know where you need help or how we can help, and just asking those questions, like how you were saying, you don't know if you don't know. So then asking those questions are important. So for incredible incredible minds tutoring, what do you need? Um, for me, I need books. Um, I've had I've been fortunate enough to like work in certain summer camps in certain situations, and they're like, hey, we have all these extra books or these extra like things. And I'm like, well, I'll take them because I can definitely like put them into or give them to kids that I tutor. So I would just say books, um, math manipulatives, um, reading manipulatives, like letters, magnetic letters, so things like that to help with teaching phonics, with teaching math, and then with giving out, like I like to give out things. So and I think books is the big one. I'm at a point now where I'm getting to my older books now, but the older books still work. Um, and then the kids, you know, they're still excited about those too, but I'm getting getting a little low on my books, so yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:42

Do you have um a certain target audience for your incredible minds business, tutoring business?

SPEAKER_00 26:47

Um or any grade level. Oh, okay. Um, for me, I have from I had a friend that was three, she's four now, so from about four years old to sixth grade.

SPEAKER_01 26:58

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

And um, I have a big range, and then handwriting, um, social studies, science, writing, project, essay assistance, um, math, reading, phonics. So basically anything within that realm of those grade levels.

SPEAKER_02 27:18

I like to do my best. So as a parent, what is that sweet spot of knowing when your child may need tutoring?

SPEAKER_00 27:26

Um, I wouldn't start, I think a lot of times parents start to panic at the my child has a C. And I think when they're adjusting or transitioning into a new grade level, you have to give them time to figure out themselves with this teacher with the new grade level, with new friends, with new social settings. And I think once you kind of give them time to adjust within that first quarter, if it persisted like past second quarter, then maybe I would get um a tutor. Um, if the child is failing and the teacher's reaching out and they're having conferences and they're expressing concerns, then I would also um get a tutor as well. So I just wouldn't go and jump ship at, you know, they get a C and then like, oh, we need a tutor because they're not there. You know, it takes there's learning curves and there's challenges to learning. I think sometimes we don't want our children to struggle in learning, but part of learning is struggling.

SPEAKER_01 28:18

So that's a word. Yes. Yeah, that was good. Um, so you are a mother, right? I am okay. I didn't want to put anything on you because I was like, I I thought she was a mother.

SPEAKER_00 28:29

I am 14.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

Okay. He's a big boy.

SPEAKER_00 28:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:33

So I was I would like to ask you, what are some techniques or methods that you've teach taught your son?

SPEAKER_00 28:39

Over the yeah. I mean, this is my 11th year. So I started teaching when he was three years old, and I feel like teaching has made me a better parent. And I say that because you go through all these trainings and professional developments, and sometimes you're like, oh my goodness, not another one of these. Like, I'm so tired of these. Um, but obviously as professionals, we do have to be developed because things are changing and um within education. But um, I would say, like, how do I say it? This is more like Christian-wise or biblical. Um like when I'm teaching in my classroom and I'm saying the same things over and over and over and over and over again, and I'm like, you guys, I'm like, sit down or you know, follow directions or do your work or get on task. Same thing with my son. I'm like telling, I'm like, Peyton, like you could just just just do this thing or just just do this, just do this. I'm telling you, I got it. I got your back. I like I've been through these things. If you just listen to me, I got it. And I think that what sustains me with my grace and parenting and my grace and teaching is the grace that we're given by God. Because I think about how many times I've ran in the wrong direction intentionally, or I said that prayer of forgiveness and I knew what I was getting ready to do. And then God just so gently, over and over again, still calls your name and still yearns after you. And he does it in a way that's gentle. He doesn't do it in a way that's always sometimes like how we get where like, just listen to me, just listen to me, sit down, follow directions, do this, sit down, do your homework. And I think a part of that, um, that's what sustains me as a teacher, and that's what sustains me as a parent because the same things that we see within our own children and students is the same thing God deals or sees in and pertaining to us. So I think that's one of the biggest things that I feel like has that I've learned from teaching and parenting combined.

SPEAKER_01 30:37

Did I answer the question? Yeah, you answered that beautifully. I hope we got that clip for you guys. That's a real because that was great. People need to hear that. Um do you feel like you're walking in your purpose?

SPEAKER_00 30:50

I do feel like I'm walking in my purpose. Um, like I said, we're gonna have to have a conversation after. I working with children is absolutely what I know I'm placed here to do in the context of a classroom, always, maybe not so much, which is which is what the tutoring business startup um has obviously been the reason behind. But I mean, I also teach vacation Bible school with 13 to 15-year-old girls. I teach youth church tomorrow, um, the high school students. So this is something that I'm super dedicated and passionate about. Um, so I know that, but I also feel like there's more. Yeah. And I know like this, like at the end of last year, I've been feeling this big tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, and I couldn't tell what the change was going to be, but I know what it's going to be now. Um, so there's some other things in the works for sure. So we can't. God had his hands on her like my child. Yeah. Well, I think too, not just about me, but I think it's about all of us. I think our parents, you know, and their generation got stuck in this, I have to do the same thing for 20 or 30 years, and because I put this work into this one profession, then I've retired and I'm successful. And I think it just looks different for our generation because just because you were this one thing during this time period and this one thing during this time period and the same thing with the other, all of these things are circling back to lead you to your ultimate purpose. And it's okay to change and to transition and to realize that that 10 years there and this 10 years here can all lend itself to you serving your ultimate purpose and what God's called you to do.

SPEAKER_01 32:23

So I agree. I can't wait for your podcast. That's I just can't wait for your podcast.

SPEAKER_00 32:30

Um, that doesn't make me nervous now about this.

SPEAKER_01 32:34

But that's we we answered all the questions and some, right? And some. That's how you know she's an educator because she got straight to the point, didn't uh fall off track or anything. Um, would you like to shout out your business, how people look find you? Sure.

SPEAKER_00 32:51

So it's called Incredible Minds Cetoring Services, and I am housed at the Opportunity Center. You can follow me on Facebook or Instagram, and I'm also an author, and I wrote a book, it's called For My Good, and it's on Amazon, and it's just a book about my ki cancer survivorship and to inspire young people that have to go through that as well because I had cancer when I was 17, 16, and 17.

SPEAKER_03 33:17

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 33:18

Yeah, we're gonna have to get you on for another episode. Yes, because I didn't know any of that, but I would love to explore that more because we haven't touched that topic during our podcast. So it'll be 20 years in December. So congratulations. Oh my goodness. Well, thank you for an incredible episode with incredible minds.

SPEAKER_00 33:42

Thank you so much for having me.

SPEAKER_01 33:44

Yes, in no time. Um, we would like to say thank you for everyone tuning in and thank you for Chantelle for filling in for Anwar today.

SPEAKER_02 33:53

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 33:53

DJ N What. Sorry, you guys know him as DJ N What. But Chantel is my friend from Charleston, and she has a business herself. She does a lot of things. And I appreciate her because she was great on this episode. You're a natural.

SPEAKER_02 34:09

Thank you. Actually, I received that.

SPEAKER_01 34:11

Yeah, you're a natural. Anytime you want to fill in, that's fine with me. Um but you guys tell someone you love them, and this is us signing off from the Hilltop Club Podcast.