AFRICA | A resilient woman named Lakina Mabins has proven that it is never too late to chase your dreams.
Twenty years after dropping out of college to raise her children, the devoted mother of five made a remarkable comeback, graduating as valedictorian from Kennedy-King College in Chicago with a perfect 4.00 grade point average in Criminology.
Lakina's Story and How She Did It
Lakina began college two decades ago but had to put her education on hold to focus on motherhood. Juggling school, work, and childcare became overwhelming, so she made the painful choice to sacrifice her studies for her family’s well-being.
That sacrifice, however, paid off; her children flourished academically, with one of them, Kinarria Davis, earning a full-ride scholarship to Illinois State University. Seeing her daughter achieve what she once dreamed of reignited Lakina’s passion for education.
She decided to go to college, enrolling for a bachelor’s degree at Kennedy-King College. However, her return to college was not easy.
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While studying for her degree, she balanced two jobs, ran a small business, and continued caring for her five children, all while maintaining top grades.
“My life became school, work, home,” she recalled. Despite the hard tasks and busy schedules, Lakina persevered.
Her incredible discipline and drive paid off. Lakina graduated with a 4.0 GPA, earning recognition as the best graduating student of the class of 2025.
She was also inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, received the Presidential Scholar Award, and was nominated for the All-USA Academic Team, honors reserved for the most outstanding students in the nation.
Her daughter, Kinarria, expressed deep pride in her mother’s achievement: “It’s a big accomplishment watching her handle everything on her own. I’m glad she finally got to give back to her dream, even if it took so long. She worked so hard, and I’m proud she did it.”
Lakina was able to attend college tuition-free through the Chicago Housing Authority’s Partners in Education Program, which supports residents seeking higher education.
After graduation, she plans to continue her studies at National Louis University to become a forensic psychologist.
Advising others like her, Lakina said, “It’s never too late. Nothing is too difficult. Nothing is impossible. If you want to do it, do it. Keep striving to be the best version of yourself. We are stronger than we know.”
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