Luvenia Hankins

Wow, I quit my full-time ‘adult’ job! For five years prior to pursuing my bachelor’;s degree I worked in banking, making pretty decent money. Initially, I enrolled at ODU and went part time. For about 6 months prior to quitting I complained every day about how I wanted to leave my job and pursue my dreams in entrepreneurship and begin my journey to opening my own coffeeshop. After some planning and preparing, mentally, I pulled the trigger and put in my two-week notice. The beginning was EASY! I had savings, child support, some residual checks from 401K payouts, vacation redemption and the support from my boyfriend. I told my sister, who is an ODU alum, both first generation, and she almost had a cow, calling me irresponsible for quitting my job and pursuing my dreams. Then my mother piggybacked on her sentiments. Their opinions otherwise meant something to me, but this time their concern was one I had already overcome. I was ready. So, I was jobless and, eventually, going broke. I started doing odd jobs to make extra money, but I became slightly fearful. I started doing some catering, one thing I’;m good at, and it did ok but it wasn’t doing anything for my soul and there were a lot of financial downs. I still dreamt of my coffeeshop. Fast-forward to summer of 2017, I had cut ties with my partner in the catering business and was left to decide my next step. I told a business friend about my dream of a coffeeshop and she hooked me up with a local roaster. He propelled me forward. I began doing Art of Coffee _&_amp; Tea meetups just to learn about it more and consider myself a connoisseur. Then, over winter break 2017 I wrote my first business plan to begin looking for investors. One day the owner of the art gallery where I host them spoke to me about where I saw myself going with my coffee venture. I told her my plans and it was history from there. She offered me a space inside her gallery. Now, it had been my worry for a few months as to how I was going to pay student loans in 2019 so I took on the task of working toward my goals anyway–everything would work out. Well, my positivity and hard work paid off. I am opening my very own coffee shop in June, right after I graduate in May. My overhead is low, I was approved for a bank loan to get started and I have tons of support. I’ve yet to tell my mother and sister because I want to stay humble and just let things roll. I say this to say, I hit rock bottom before the opportunity fell into my lap. I was nervous and afraid things wouldn’t happen for me. There were times I needed to quit school so that I could find financial means to support my life, but then I realized…school was my need. I didn’t think it was possible to start and run a business while in school, but I did it–twice! All the lessons I learned, the tussles I got into with my boyfriend about money, the neglect to my child because I was so busy, everything. It all brought me to where I am now. I took the leap and I’m so proud I did. My child and partner will benefit from my hard work. I’m a first generation college graduate and I own my own my dream!