Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amber Underwood. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amber, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

Becoming a traveling NICU nurse was my dream. I wanted to save the lives of babies like the nurses that saved my life when I was 3 weeks old. In my limited thinking then, I thought the only way to help save lives was by becoming a nurse. I was wrong.

I was a junior in college when I was rejected from nursing school for the 3rd time. I spent that Summer sad and hopeless, trying to make sense of my life and what was next. I had no idea what I was going to do.

I’d watch my classmates prepare for their senior year of college, while I was anxious, trying to figure out if I was even going to graduate from college. It was a scary time and it made me question my self-worth. My parents didn’t have the money to send me to school in the first place, and student loan programs and Pell grants were running out. Every day the sun rose I became more anxious. So I did what I only knew to do – I prayed.

I asked God to show me MY path because the path I was on clearly wasn’t the one for me. I matched my faith in prayer with working through a Strong’s Inventory Test. The baffling part is that the test rated Nursing as a top career fit for me. Chuckling, I continued to scan the rest of the results and my eyes met the words, Social Work. Immediately I unapologetically told God NO!

I didn’t want to be a Social Worker. I’d heard the horror stories of social workers “taking people’s babies” (something I learned wasn’t true). People said there was no money in the profession, and I couldn’t take that risk that considering I was working my way out of financial poverty and drowning in debt. But I’d also had my fair share of experiences with the department of human resources growing up. Humbly speaking… I DID NOT WANT TO DO THIS!

Not only was I taking a risk by staying an extra year at the University of Alabama not knowing if my tuition would be paid, but I was taking a risk changing my major so late in the game. I took that leap of faith and anxiously walked through those double doors of Little Hall to meet a social work faculty advisor, and well… the rest was history.

I became a Social Work major and the doors of my life flung open.

Humility became my best friend, making over every part of my life. I went out of the country for the first time, two times in the same year. I failed a writing exam that pushed my graduation date back further (talk about humbleddd!). The school gave me scholarships and financial assistance (can we say God provided!). They gave me additional assistance to study social services abroad (out of the country for the THIRD time, whew!). And Social Work continued making over my whole being.

I took a risk… a risk that showed me my degree was less about how much money I’d make and more about the woman I’d become for a purpose much bigger than me.

Risks aren’t always easy to take because you don’t know what’s on the other side. While you gain things in the process, you also lose things – that’s life. I’m still riding this Social Work wave and I thank God for it everyday. Because that risk of “not knowing” and taking a leap of faith, put me right where I was supposed to be.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I didn’t choose the life I’m living – this life chose me. In 2012, I was freshman in college when an attempted suicide informed me that I was depressed, anxious, and stressed out – language that was taboo in my culture.

Thereafter I went on a healing journey – Jesus, therapy, and my journal – and I collided with Hupomone, a word I didn’t realize would become my purpose. I was invited to retrace my steps to how I ended up in such a low place. While healing internally, I was on a mission to get my college degree. I came into college as a nursing major but after a series of rejections from nursing schools and other setbacks, I prayed and asked God to lead me to what was supposed to be for me – and He did.

After running from my calling, I graduated with a bachelors and masters in social work, traveled the world, and wrote my first book, Hupomone. Hupomone is someone that runs their race with patient endurance. They endure to the end, no matter how bad it looks or feels, because they know that only good can come from where they are.

I’m often asked how I found my purpose and the honest answer is that I didn’t find it – it met me when I was low. I’m, alive and running my race as a resilience advocate, mental health therapist, speaker, and beacon for the becoming. I didn’t choose my purpose. My purpose chose me and I thank God everyday it didn’t go my way.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Much of my experience in this field has been just that, “experiencing”. While training, knowledge, and wisdom has helped me tremendously, I’ve often found that school didn’t and couldn’t have prepared me for the reality of dealing with people who are healing mentally and emotionally on their own journeys. It’s a practice that must be practiced everyday because not everyone is the same.

I know deeply the success I’ve experienced in this field has come from prayer and running my own race, fulfilling the call God has given ME. I believe we fall short in life because we aren’t aligned in the purposes for our individual lives. When we fix our eyes in OUR life’s direction, I believe success will be inevitable. It’s never ending and that’s because you’re doing what YOU have been called too.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?

When I first started out building my business, I applied for grants and nothing ever opened up for me. I wasn’t where most funders wanted my business to be because my business was new, which I completely understand. I was committed to this vision so the initial capital was and is my own money. I still work a 9-5 so I make my business a “bill” and pay in to bi-weekly. I continue showing up, trusting that when my products release they will bring in the provision and make capital the least of our worries.

To add, last year I was accepted into an 8 month business incubator with Her Pro Bono, backed by Our Village United in Atlanta, GA. I knew that I may not get an opportunity like that again so I gave every session and call my all. In doing so, I was selected to pitch my business for funding – my first time pitching ever. I won 3rd place and secured my business funding that paid for my trademark, covered monthly expenses, and put me into business school to continue creating our mental health planner for black women (set to release in 2025).

When it comes to funding, I simply knock on doors that are inviting people in. If I get in, I walk through it knowing it’s where I was supposed to be. If I don’t, I keep working, using my money to invest, and trusting the process every step of the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amberNunderwood.com
• Instagram: @amberNunderwood
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-underwood-msw-707748115/
• Other: Hupomone, the book: https://www.amazon.com/Hupomone-Journey-Forsaking-Stereotypes-Defying/dp/0578291371

Image Credits

Honey Sage Photography
Taylor Dane Photography
Martin Glaster