Young people choose their college for all manner of reasons. Shameka Shoemaker needed a school with dependable transportation back to her family home in case she ran out of money for food.

In episode four of The Blueprint, a Brilliant Pathways podcast, Shoemaker shares how she leveraged determination and key life skills to move from a childhood shaped by federal assistance to earning an accounting degree, an MBA, and soon a PhD in educational leadership.

Today, Shoemaker is using her doctoral work—and her own lived experience—to inspire first-generation students navigating challenges similar to those she once faced.

“My mom raised four of us as a single parent,” Shoemaker said on the podcast. “We grew up on welfare. College just wasn’t something we talked about at home, and hardly at school.”

That changed when CFES-Brilliant Pathways, a college and career readiness nonprofit based in Essex, NY, came to Wadleigh Secondary School in Harlem. With a strong track record of helping students earn degrees and achieve financial stability, the organization gave Shoemaker her first real exposure to higher education opportunities.

“When Brilliant Pathways came to our school, it opened the door for me (and all of my classmates) to think about college,” she said. “They showed us how to overcome obstacles like being first-generation or lacking financial resources—and how not to let those stop us.”

Brilliant Pathways CEO Tara Smith noted that students in urban and rural areas often face similar hurdles and benefit from similar support. “Students need practical knowledge, like navigating financial aid, and they need the Essential Skills—perseverance, agility, networking—to help them not just get into college, but stay there,” Smith said.

Shoemaker credits those skills with getting her through difficult moments. “I definitely thought about dropping out,” she said. “But the perseverance and determination I learned from Brilliant Pathways helped me push through.”

Giving back is also central to the Brilliant Pathways approach, and it’s a theme that resonates strongly with Shoemaker. Though much of her professional background is in healthcare finance, her passion for teaching led her back to the classroom, where she now works as a second-grade special education teacher. She also volunteers on weekends to support Harlem residents with practical skills—like navigating their cell phones—that can make everyday life easier.

Host Manny Tejeda noted on the episode that first-generation college students are on the rise, yet half report seriously considering leaving college before finishing. Shoemaker said the continued support of the Brilliant Pathways network was vital for her. “Having people just a call or email away made such a difference,” she said. “That network helped me navigate obstacles I didn’t always know how to handle.”

Now closing in on her doctorate, Shoemaker hopes her story encourages others. “Brilliant Pathways came into our school and told us, ‘You can go to college. You can have a career. Don’t let finances stop you,’” she said. “That changed something in me.”

The Blueprint is a forward-looking podcast exploring the evolving challenges and opportunities in preparing today’s students for college and career success. Featuring expert insights, practical strategies, and powerful personal stories, the series helps listeners better support young people on their pathways to the future. Previous episodes are available at brilliantpathways.org/podcast.