Today, we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Ivey. Dawn was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Kim Petitt.
Hi Dawn, we’re so thrilled to have you sharing your story with us today. Maybe we can kick things off by having you introduce yourself to our readers? We’d love to have you go into your story and how you got to where you are today.
Wow, thank you for this opportunity to share about my journey! I am grateful for the chance to reflect on some of the blessings I have received and the lessons I have learned.
Not too long ago, as I drove into the parking lot at my workplace, I thought to myself, “Wow, I’ve been doing this for over 30 years!” For 30 years I have been part of the workforce and when I look back, I can see that time has flown by. But I know I am not alone. Countless people have been doing the same thing as me and many of them have been doing it longer. When I reflect on my years of working, I remember that as a child, I wanted to be a teacher. I am guessing that is because teachers are some of the first people we meet as children, and they have a lasting impact. I can actually remember the names of all my teachers from kindergarten through twelfth grade. However, during high school, I spent some time working in retail and after I graduated, I joined the U.S. Army and spent a few years there. Once I exited the military, I started my journey in corporate America and pursued my bachelor’s degree in accounting. Out of the 30 years I have been working, about 20 of them have been spent in the accounting field. I currently work as a staff accountant in financial reporting and budgeting.
I went through a period where I did consider a career change from out of the accounting field but eventually decided to continue in business and pursue my master’s degree in business administration (MBA). I enjoyed the MBA program and the opportunity to learn more about various aspects of business, important leadership qualities, and various management principles. Completing the MBA program gave me the eligibility I needed to become a candidate for the Certified Public Accountant Examination (CPA). So earlier this year, I began studying for the CPA exams; there are four exams you must pass to receive your CPA license. Accounting is not a very diverse field, so with less than five percent of CPA’s identifying as black, I feel blessed to be on the journey.
In early 2024, I selected a word for the year and that word was “persevere.” I have had to persevere through my studies and keep going, even when faced with failure. I love the bible verse in Romans 5:3-4 that reminds us that perseverance builds character. So I know anytime we persevere through our challenges, we are building character.
In addition to my studies, I have also had to persevere through some other challenges such as learning to live life without my mom, Belle, who passed away in January 2023. Grief is hard, but I have been told it does get easier as time passes. Life has also brought me, relationship challenges, work challenges, and the many other challenges that come with learning to navigate the various seasons of life and keep persevering. I am sure that most people can relate to what I am saying.
However, I have found joy in the journey and that joy comes from knowing that God always sees me and always hears me. I am also uplifted by the love I receive from others who care. I believe our journeys are greatly enhanced by those in our lives and communities who have inspired us to grow into who God created us to be.
My mom is no longer here, but I will always remember and be thankful for her love and care for me. When she passed away, she was a retired nurse, and I still have vivid memories of being a young girl and seeing her diligently study while in nursing school. I remember how excited she was when she graduated from nursing school, passed her nursing state board exam, and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Remembering her love for me and her diligence in her nursing career inspires me to keep going for my CPA license.
My daughter Shalenah, loves to travel and has visited eleven countries, with number twelve coming up soon, including living in Spain for three years. She also set a goal of being fluent in Spanish in ten years and did it in about eight. Her courage to travel, her commitment to her goals, and the love she shows me, inspire me to keep persevering with my CPA studies and in life period.
My sister Angie, is a gifted and brave singer, and exhibits courage by using the gift God gave her to encourage others, my cousin Rose, a prayer warrior who loves to give to others along with her husband Ray, and my cousin Bertha whose love for our family continuously uplifts us. And many more family and friends have helped me to stay in the fight because of the love they show, the example they set, or the encouragement they give.
In closing, my journey has taught me about the importance of trusting God and remaining prayerful through every season of life, learning to be thankful in all circumstances, and learning to give and receive love. And the giving and receiving of love may look different depending on what season of life we are in. But I am convinced that love never runs out of lessons so I will be learning until the day I take my last breath. No matter where you find yourself today, don’t give up. Keep persevering in love and life!
Please tell us more about your brand, Dawn is a student
I do not have a business.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by M-POWERED and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with M-POWERED.
I am thankful for those in my community who have a positive influence on me. I have been a Christian blogger for seven years and I created my blog, Drawing Closer to Christ at www.drawingclosertochrist to encourage others in their faith. Through my blog, I have had the opportunity to meet many bloggers who use the power of their written words to add light to the world. One such blogger is Kim Petit, some years ago, I subscribed to Kim’s blog, “Beyond My Limitations.” I appreciate Kim’s blog posts because of her transparency in sharing her own experiences, including her struggles, her victories, and her faith in God. I think the name she chose for her blog inspires us to realize that we are capable of doing more than we think we can. We don’t have to have all the answers, instead, we can trust God and be determined to achieve the things He planted in our hearts. When we do, there are no limits to what we can accomplish.
I was happy when I saw on Kim’s blog that she had opened her store M-POWERED and started selling clothing with the message, “Beyond My Limitations.” The shirt I ordered from her has the Bible verse Philippians 4:13. Her clothing has inspired me in my CPA studies to realize that no matter what challenges I face, with God’s help, I can keep pushing and going “Beyond My Limitations.” I hope her clothing touches the lives of other men and women like it has mine. And that they too will be encouraged by the message of perseverance that her clothing brings. Thanks, Kim!
Website: www.drawingclosertochrist.com