Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Phillips.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to Dallas one year after my first year of college. I had no idea what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be, but I did know that I was not ordinary and that I wanted to break generational curses and barriers not only in my life but in my family. Hope Leadership Academy was not a seed that had been planted in my mind, rather the mind of my Partner, Jackie Ingraham. I was overseas having obtained my TELF and TESOL license in Costa Rica and becoming a full-time first-grade teacher in the Dominican Republic, with dreams of completing college and becoming a journalist.
Once my year of teaching in the Dominican had come to an end, I was elated to come back to the United States because I realized that I loved to travel but this put companies and students in jeopardy of losing a teacher every year, which isn’t uncommon in the “Teaching Abroad” world. “Regular” jobs became, and still are very stressful considering I had been in unfamiliar territory, exploring beautiful new realities for so long. I became a flight attendant for American Airlines. This was the best job I had ever had during that time; considering writing was my real title, traveling the world was an exceptional subtitle for my life. Getting based back in Dallas was oh so perfect and all things were dandelions and tulips. That is until I got transferred to New York and my exceptional middle-class life became poor. It must have been Gods plan because things in New York with the company began to crumble, then long and behold came our dear friend Covid 19. Not making light of the virus or the many lives that were taken, but if you’re an optimist such as myself finding purpose in darkness is my thing. I moved back to Oklahoma City my hometown by force.
Back to square one, not knowing what to do, who I am, or what I am going to do, but I did know that the promise still stands. I knew that I was still chosen by God. I knew that I would have to endure for a moment. I knew that glory would come shortly on the other side of my confusion, sorrow, humility, and pain. My cousin Jackie and her husband DeAngelo were opening a private preschool and needed some help cleaning. I drove to El Reno, which is about 30 minutes away from the city, to help them out. I was a little irritated and something told me that I would one day also own the company. I put my pride aside and began to help clean the building with joy. I went back home and let the entire thought of being a part of the company go.
Two days later, my cousin called and offered a proposition, the original co-owner was nowhere to be found and it seemed as if she did not want to be a part of the company. The proposition was that I could help with the company and get paid for it, or I could be added as a partner while helping unpaid for a while and reaping long-term benefits. That is when I chose to become a permanent partner of Hope Leadership Academy. The school is still being built and a nonprofit camp is taking place during the in-between time. I visit the school in eagerness to see the finished product while taking online college courses and actively pursuing my Journalism degree. Hope Leadership Academy is a subtitle under my main title. I am grateful to be one of the owners, but my story is far from over.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some of the obstacles and challenges along the way mainly consisted of getting in the way of my own self. Unfortunately, when your building something, life does not stop; things that you can’t prepare for still happens without warning or alarm. Returning to safe places, such as my hometown, although I wanted to keep a certain image of myself. I had to humble myself and realize that I cannot do everything on my own; I need people, I need community, I need help.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Writing and speaking is something that I take pride in. Not only do I take pride in it I also perfect it and the surrounding aspects that make it great. I specialize in exhortation; I love to uplift others using my gift of word and speech. As I am writing this right now, my heart feels full, expressing myself in journal and word allows everything that I have been called to be to come out on paper in a way that others feel my heart through my words. I am known for my personality in the social world, however in the professional world, my gift is what they want. My gift is writing I am known for making a stale piece of white paper come to life with my words and my thoughts. Creating an atmosphere on paper that stirs up emotions in others to a point where they don’t feel condemned for their tears or laughter but comfortable to be their authentic selves while in their moment of reading.
Something that sets me apart from others is my willingness to never quite and my courage to continue to pursue success that I can’t quite put my finger on, but I see it every time I lay down to rest. My courage to become a person that I have never met, but that I have admired my entire life, the courage to walk into the fullness of who I have been called to be. My foundation of Jesus Christ and my morals never wavering what I believe in order to achieve success. Prayers from my mother and grandmother catapulting and carrying me through and to my destiny. That is what sets me apart from everyone else who is in pursuit of a similar or completely different dream.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck when it comes the outcome of life. Luck is success based off of chance, sort of like tossing a cup and it landing perfectly. For life, I believe in Destiny, Destiny the hidden power to control what will happen in the future. Destiny is specifically tailored to a person and their life, and the hidden power of fed by the choices that we make.
Contact Info:
- Website: Hopeleadershipacademy.org
- Instagram: Instagram @_absolutleysimone @hope.leadershipacademy
- Facebook: Hope Leadership Academy
Image Credits
Simone Phillips Jakie Jenkins
