Meet Jasmine Griffin | Educator and Career Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmine Griffin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The single most important decision that has contributed to my success was me surrendering not only my life but also the vision of my business to God. Allowing God to lead through me has granted me the will to extend grace to my clients. I believe I’m walking in my God’s given purpose.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It all started back when I was a teenager. I was blessed to be raised by my grandmother’s. I primarily lived with my mother’s mom. She would exclaim to my sister and I “that we wouldn’t bring any babies in her house!” In order to ensure her exclamations remained concrete at the age of 14, she threw me in the baby room of our family’s owned daycare. I found my love for education at that very moment. Educational background is strong within my family. I promoted fairly quickly within the daycare setting. Upon graduating high school, I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I enrolled into a local university and did just as I dreamed. I now have 10 years of teaching experience. I’ve successfully taught in the private and school sector. Over the years, I learned that all students learn at a different pace and levels. I’ve taught students who were academic genius yet socially introverted. I don’t label my students who struggle academically with learning disabilities. In fact, it’s merely an inability that we strive to strengthen through hard work and consistency.

In 2019, I accepted the position as site director of a Headstart Preschool. I was a young professional overseeing a fully staffed and enrolled educational institution. I absolutely loved being able to mentor the educators on staff. We were able to accomplish numerous academic gains within the toddler student body. However, I realized that leadership wasn’t for me in that season.

Home is where the heart is so I returned back to the classroom setting. All was excelling, I started face to face tutoring part time totaling 8 hours weekly. I successfully did so roughly for 8 months. I was also working full time on the weekends as a server at a local steakhouse. At that current time I was a single parent to my two young boys, Antonio who’s now 16 and Nyne is 6. My extraneous work hours begin to cause a raft in my parenting. I knew that I didn’t want to continue to cultivate such an environment for my kids. Then boom the pandemic hit! I contracted Covid from a scholar during a face to face session. I’ll never forget having to fight Covid, more sadly it was during the Christmas holidays. That was my first Christmas without my boys. My body was exhausted however, I was determined to be a full time entrepreneur.

God provided me with a vision to virtually service scholars. I knew kids would be participating in temporary remote learning. I faced much self doubt in the beginning. Yet, I knew my God would not give me a vision that would perish. I’m blessed to have a praying grandmothers and mother. I allowed my faith to trump my fears.

I want the word to know that I successfully operate within 7 US states. I speak expansion over my business daily. I received my first out of state scholar by a posting a multi millionaire entrepreneur shared on her IG story. I’m forever thankful for Supa Cent’s kindness and belief in Book A Teacher. With consistency, diligence, patience and prayer I’ve expanded into the professional career services world. I obtained my resume and cover letter writing certification. I’m currently preparing to take the National Resume Writer exam. I affirm that I’m walking in my God’s given purpose. My business horizons are broadening daily for my company. I’ve allowed where I come from to bridge a gap academically and professionally.

Was this journey easy? Absolutely not! I was born with an eye condition called Kerataconus. In my late 20’s I was declared legally blind in my right eye. This past August I was graced with the ability of vision. I’m a successful cornea transplant recipient. My road to recover was tough, however I come from a praying family. I was blessed to have an understanding and sympathetic clientele. Faith must always trump any obstacle set forth.

From my experience there’s nothing smooth about being an entrepreneur operating multi streams of income can become stressful abruptly. Businesses have peek and off peak seasons. In addition to being the owner, bookkeeper, customer service representative and most importantly balancing family. My biggest struggle was time management even when I wasn’t working I was working. I had become mentally overwhelmed. I must admit that I quit my business at least twice in my head. Considering time management was also a struggle I began to increase my knowledge on time management while implementing more intentional organization strategies. I now live by Google Calendar. I’ve found not only myself but also balance within my personal life and entrepreneurship.

What set’s me apart from my competitors? My rates are affordable. I believe I’m walking in my God’s given purpose. My ability to extend grace to my young scholar’s and adult clients has allowed me to be successful. The extension of grace is what saves us. I’m a conscious believer in God, so therefore I allow him to lead through me. Often times I find myself empathizing with my parents, 80% of my enrolled scholar’s are being raised in a single parent (primarily mom) home. I recall on several occasions struggling as a single parent. As a provider we must make self sacrifices in order to provide. I inform my clients that my services are an investment to their success. Whether, I’m providing virtual learning services or professional career services it’s all an investment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The city of Atlanta is filled with my places and opportunities.

Considering I recently relocated here I’m not familiar with the scenes this amazing city has to offer. However, I use Tik-Tok as my travel guide when seeking places to eat and fun things to experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I’d like to give honor to God! All my success and glory is deserving unto him.

Secondly, My kids- Antonio and Nyne.

Antonio (16) is my scholar athlete. He aspires to be a medical surgeon. I’ve always thought that having a mother who was a strict educator was challenging growing up. However, Antonio states differently, “Growing up with a teacher as a parent wasn’t pressuring at all, it was actually very reliable and helpful when it came to school, everything that I needed to know was basically right in front of me but in the form of a human being.”

I dedicate this article to Nyne who’s the baby of the two. I pray that he will realize the sacrifices that mommy has made to ensure he’s a recipient of generational wealth. The fruits of my labor shall be reaped by son’s.

Website: Www.bookateacher.us

Image Credits
Family portraits- Billionare Shots- Malysa Jones Professional portraits- Dreaming Wild Photography- Eric Vinson