Talayia Humphrey always knew college was in her future, but she didn’t know how it was going to happen until her I Know I Can advisor and school counselors made her aware of the Columbus Promise. A scholarship for Columbus City Schools graduates that offers free tuition to Columbus State Community College, the Columbus Promise became her ticket to college.

Talayia is currently in her 3rd semester at Columbus State taking pre-requisites with intentions to complete an associate’s degree in respiratory care. Like many other Promise scholars, she is balancing her classes with working part-time—at a job that she found through a job fair on campus.

Besides the fact that the Columbus Promise offers free tuition, Talayia highlights two other things that she likes the most about the program.

1) Advisors help make it possible to work and study at the same time. She says, “The balance is there if you put in the work. They make it possible to do a job and do school.”

2) Support services to help keep her motivated. She says going to college is hard and when you don’t have people around you who have been through it, it can be a challenge. The Columbus Promise has people who listen and offer advice on everything from improving study skills to staying motivated.

Talayia has big plans for the future, including working full time using her Respiratory Care degree and traveling around the country to experience all there is to see. But more importantly, she is determined to let her six younger siblings see her thrive as she works to be her best self and set a road map for them to follow in her footsteps.