AMERICA | After two decades of living on the streets and in shelters across Raleigh, North Carolina, 60-year-old Michael Watkins has rewritten his life’s story, transforming from homelessness and addiction to academic excellence and service.
Today, he proudly holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree, and has been accepted into a PhD program in Healthcare Administration at Walden University, a journey that proves it’s never too late to chase a dream.
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Michael’s road to success was far from easy. For 20 years, he lived in uncertainty, moving between shelters, enduring hunger, fear, and sleepless nights.
“There were many times I didn’t think I’d make it through the night,” he recalled, reflecting on friends who didn’t survive those years.
Through all of it, one memory kept him grounded, a promise he made to his late mother, who always believed he was capable of earning a doctorate.
“My mother always pressed upon me to go for it. After she passed, I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize myself. I wanted to be someone else,” Watkins said. That realization marked the beginning of his transformation.
Michael started by finding purpose in service. He trained as an emergency response volunteer with the American Red Cross, traveling across the country to help those affected by disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the Texas floods of 2016, and the Oregon wildfires of 2020.
“Service to others is a great way to ensure I never focus too much on my own worries,” he said.
His dedication didn’t go unnoticed — he even received a thank-you letter from President Barack Obama, a recognition that reignited his belief in his own worth.
In 2015, determined to rebuild his life, Michael took a bold step: he returned to school. He enrolled at Wake Technical Community College, where he earned an Associate Degree in Medical Office Administration.
“Although I was proud of that accomplishment, I wanted more,” he shared.
Michael transferred to Campbell University, where he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Healthcare Management. When he graduated in 2020, it wasn’t just a personal victory — it was a symbol of redemption. “The day I got my acceptance letter was one of the happiest moments of my life,” he said.
His passion for healthcare and service didn’t stop there. In 2022, Michael completed a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration at Walden University — and later that same year, he received acceptance into Walden’s PhD program.
Today, as he sits among doctors, professors, and healthcare executives, he admits the feeling can be overwhelming.
“All these high-level experts, and here I am — just a former homeless man who’s going back to school,” he said.
But Michael knows he belongs there. His life experience gives him a perspective few scholars possess. His doctoral research focuses on uncovering gaps in medical care for people experiencing homelessness, turning his past struggles into a powerful tool for change.
“I know what it’s like to go without care, to be invisible,” he reflected. “Now, I want to be a voice for those still out there — to help create systems that don’t leave anyone behind.”
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