February 12, 2026 / By Theresa Shadrix

I love a good comeback story - one where the impossible is conquered by the most improbable person.

I think it's because my life has been filled with slaying dragons and overcoming the defeats that have permeated my mind and existence.

Yesterday, at the JSU Student Success Summit, Dr. Melissa Shields spoke about the importance of relationships with students, where we stand on the educational map, and how she has overcome the impossible in her own learning journey.

By the end of her keynote speech, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Those with almost perfect ACE scores, like me, tried to hold back our emotions to avoid becoming an emotional hurricane.

When we talk about student success, it's not just about academics; it’s about building young people who are compassionate, dedicated, and empathetic, equipping them with the skills to sustain themselves in life.

We don’t often welcome failure in learners' lives, though.

We expect perfection, not perseverance.

How will they succeed if they don’t understand the power of picking themselves up after a fall? Imagine if we never let babies fall while learning to walk; we would all still be crawling through life.

When we fail, we are often judged by how we respond. I fail so often that it has become a jolly companion - sometimes laughing at me and sometimes laughing with me.

No matter what is happening in your life today, just know that you are not alone in your journey.

You are going to be pushed around sometimes.

You are going to be misunderstood at times.

You are going to fail.

But you are also going to defeat dragons.

You are also going to break generational trauma, refusing to let it break you.

You are also going to achieve the impossible.

You are going to succeed.

Be blessed in your journey today.