The odds have never been in Ieshia Champs’ favor. She grew up in foster care as her father was deceased and her mother was a drug addict. As a young teenager she became homeless, living with friends or whoever else was willing to take her in. She later dropped out of high school to find work after becoming pregnant with her first child.
It would seem that Ieshia would be the least likely person to graduate from any college or university; nevertheless, in May 2018 she will be graduating in the top 15% of her law school class and then go on to take the Bar exam a few months later.
Ms. Champs’ story becomes even more amazing as it becomes clear that the above-mentioned obstacles were far from the only ones she faced. The father of two of her children passed away from cancer nearly ten years ago. Her home burned down and she lost all her possessions around the same time. Furthermore, her mother suffered a stroke that she has never fully recovered from and Ms. Champs lost her job at a local call center.
Facing a daunting future without support, Ms. Champs wound up attempting suicide. Thankfully, her attempt was unsuccessful and she found help in starting life afresh. She began attending church and she notes that her church family at Ministers for Christ Christian Center helped her get back on her feet. What is more, one of her church leaders set her on the path to success by taking time to hear from God on her behalf and then calling her one day out of the blue to tell her that God wanted Ms. Champs to pursue a law degree.
This word from God changed Ms. Champs’ life. It seemed it would be an impossible goal to reach as she was already older than the average student and was expecting her fourth child. However, she believed the message was from God as she had never told anyone she wanted to be a lawyer and she showed her belief by taking steps in the right direction.
She finished high school and obtained her GED and then earned an associate’s degree at Houston Community College. She went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston before enrolling in law school at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
While Ms. Champs notes that God is the one who gets the most credit for her success, she also expresses a great deal of appreciation to the many people who helped her along her journey.
Her school and fellow classmates showed a great deal of understanding when she occasionally had to bring her kids to class with her. Her sister offered a great deal of practical support as did her five children who quizzed her at home and then acted as a mock jury so she could practice legal arguments.
Her eldest son, who is fourteen years old, helped take care of his younger siblings while his mother studied or simply took some time to relax and unwind. He often fed them, made sure they bathed, got their school clothes together and did a multitude of other chores on his own, without his mother even asking for his help.
Upon passing the Bar exam, Ms. Champs will become a lawyer. She has expressed a desire to work with young people in difficult situations by either helping them reconcile with their family or find opportunities to work and/or study in order to reach their dreams. She notes that her difficult upbringing has helped her to have a heart for the difficulties that many children in less than ideal family situations go through.
At the same time, she is already using her personal testimony to glorify God and encourage young and old alike that all things are possible. Her church bishop, eager to share the news of God’s goodness with the local community, took professional graduation photos of Ms. Champs with her five children in the background. She holds a sign stating “I did it!” while her children hold signs saying “We helped”, “I helped”, “Me too” and “We did it!”.
The photos, along with her story, have gone viral and will likely be remembered by anyone who is struggling to reach a personal goal or fulfill a God-given dream. It is also an inspiring reminder of the great difference fellow believers can make in the life of a struggling person by offering prayer, support and practical assistance.
~ Christian Patriot Daily
