
Journey of Faith and Education - Jennie Haywood Q&A Interview
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What inspired you to return to school and pursue your degree at this stage of life?
To be honest, at first, it was more my husband. I had worked at Walmart for over 19 years, almost 20, my tenure concluded due to management restructure and my income wasn't what it needed to be. My husband said, "Well, you know, you can go to school for free and get $1,500 a month." I looked at me being let go as an open door for me to start my next journey. So, I said, "Okay, well, I can go to school and get that $1,500." It was more just to go back to school and just, you know, get income. And then, that turned into something more: I wanted to be a leader for my kids and let them know, "Hey, whatever you want in life, you have to work for it." Second, I wanted to prove to myself that, although I'm 50 years old, I'm capable of doing anything and everything as long as I put God first. And that's what happened, and I have my bachelor's degree. Yes.
How did your faith in God help you push through moments of doubt or difficulty?
Wow, wow, wow, wow. Before February 7, 2022, I was the biggest people-pleaser that you would ever know. I didn't know God. I knew God from what people would tell me because I always wanted to just uplift them. If they told me the grass was purple on the other side, I'd believe that because I wanted those right kind of friends.
My turning point was when I lost everything. I lost my job at Walmart, I lost my ride, and I went to that dark place. That dark place took me to the Granada Bridge where I wanted to commit suicide. From that day to this day, the first person in my life is God. I don't do anything without God first. Seriously. Because faith without work is dead. And I'm still alive; faith works.
Were there any specific scriptures, prayers, or people that kept you grounded during your journey?
Oh, girl. It's Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Amen. I love that when God gave me "Faith and Evidence," because my evidence is my faith.
What challenges did you face as a non-traditional student, and how did you overcome them?
When I went back to school, I mean, I'm 50 years old. Back in my day, 2+2 was 4. But now, when you go back to college, you've got to go to New York, Japan, just to find out 2+2 is 2 in English. I hadn't heard of a PowerPoint. I struggled the first semester because I didn't know how to do it.
My thing is, I'm going to go back to when I said I was a people-pleaser. I would pay people top dollar just to think for me because I didn't believe I was capable of doing anything. I believed everything I put my hand on, I would mess it up, or people wouldn't like it, or it wasn't good enough.
I overcame it by putting God first. I ask God to increase my knowledge, increase my focus, and let me have the mindset that I am more than capable of doing things myself. Girl, I got A's and probably one C. You continue believing in God and putting God first, you can do anything and everything.
How did earning your degree change your perspective on what's possible with God?
Wow, I love that. It changed my outlook that any good person can do anything and everything, as long as I put God first. There were hard times and days I wanted to quit, but I keep my mouth closed and pray to God. I don't tell everybody what's going on.
Because I told God, I made it through graduation. And not only did I receive my bachelor's degree, I received my associate degree and my certification for another class. As long as you put God first, everything is possible.
What advice would you give others who may feel it's too late to chase their dreams?
Don't give up. Keep fighting. Continue putting God first because once you give up, it's gone. You got to put it in His hand and let it go. As long as you do that, you're right on time. Trust and believe that faith without work is dead. Continue believing and trusting in God.
What does "get them home" mean to you personally, whether it's spiritually, emotionally, or mentally?
This is placed on my heart today. I, as a mother, was trying many, many times to bring my kids back home after they graduated and went to experience the world with their friends. I was up every night crying. He spoke to me and said, "Do you trust me?" I said, "Yes, I trust you." He said, "Once you put them in My hand, I will bring them home." My daughter is about to graduate, and my son has traveled the world with a handsome job.
As long as you put everything—every problem, anything, everything—in God's hands, they are going to come back home. It kind of reminded me of the Prodigal Son parable, and that's all I can do: open the door and save them with open arms. When my daughter and my son came in, I prayed over them and gave it to God. As a parent, we're not going to leave our child out. You're going to open the door because you don't know what's going on. I left them in God's hand. That's all I can say is God, God, God. They came back home.
Can you talk more about what sparked "Faith and Evidence" and how to get your products?
"Faith and Evidence" merchandise can be purchased. I sell hats (black and white) for $10 each. The shirts are $20 each (add $5 more for 2X and 3X). The notebooks are $10. People can contact me by finding me on Facebook and sending me a direct message (DM). I'm still in the process of setting up everything else.