We asked some of the brightest folks from within the community to reflect back on their days in school and to share with us a story of when they learned a particularly important or impactful lesson. We’ve shared highlights below.

Niharika Khanna Kripalu

The most important lesson I learned in school, as cliche as it sounds, was the importance of teamwork! Growing up, I was always a person who thrived when I worked by myself. I was good at setting timelines, was realistic about what I could achieve, and was comfortable with my way of working. With few initial successes, I believed I worked better alone! Read more>>

Brandyss Howard

I knew early in my high school years that I wanted to be a journalist. I always enjoyed photography, writing and sharing positive stories with others, so I researched careers that would allow me to work in a field that allowed me to earn an income doing something I enjoyed, I majored in Mass Communications in college while accepting both paid and unpaid internships. Read more>>

Mallorie Robinson

The most important lesson I learned in school was to “find a way or make one.” I graduated from the illustrious Clark Atlanta University, and “find a way or make one” is our school’s motto. When I stepped on campus during my first-year orientation, that motto began to be instilled in me and would remain with me throughout my life. It means when we are faced with the impossible, failure is not an option. Read more>>

Laura Thompson

The most important and memorable lesson that I learned in school is related to the art of negotiation. I took a negotiation skills class in while working on my MBA at Georgia State. Subsequently, I have leveraged tactics that I learned in the course in both my professional and personal life numerous times. Read more>>