Makayla Jones, Wilberforce University Senior

Makayla Jones has been helping with family businesses for years. Now, in her senior year at Wilberforce University, she’s completing her degree in business management with her sights set on launching her own business.

What’s more, Makayla is earning A’s while playing forward on the Wilberforce University women’s basketball team.

Makayla, who has a learning disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, has found support from Taleisa Jones, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, dedicated to Wilberforce University through OOD’s Ohio College2Careers (Ohio C2C) program. 

Ohio C2C is available at 17 public colleges and universities in Ohio to ensure students with disabilities have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market.

Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.

Need more information or have general questions about Ohio College2Careers? Email college2careers@ood.ohio.gov.

Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. 

Find Ohio College2Careers on social media: @OhioC2C. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

Have a disability? Want to work? Visit OODWorks.com!

Transcript

Kim Jump: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities offers Ohio College2Careers at 17 colleges and universities in Ohio to ensure students with disabilities have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market. Our counselors are located in the disability and/or career services offices at each school to assist students with disabilities with additional supports. In this episode, I am joined by Ohio College2Careers Counselor Taleisa Jones, who is at Wilberforce University, and student Makayla Jones.

Makayla Jones: My name is Makayla Jones. I go to Wilberforce University and my major is business management. 

Kim Jump: And, what year are you in?

Makayla Jones: I’m a senior, so I will be graduating on May 7th.

Kim Jump: May 7th is coming up! Now, how did you first get connected with your counselor, with Ms. Jones?

Makayla Jones: Mr. Ford because when I first came here, I had my IEP in high school. And, he was just letting me know that it’s not called IEP anymore.

Kim Jump: What made Mr. Ford think OOD would be helpful to you? Do you remember?

Makayla Jones:  Because I needed it.  Like I said, I met Ms. Jones and she helped with the things I need to get done in class and off class. And, also the OOD helps me with my accommodations. So, when I need my extra extended time in class, or if I need a better understanding, my teachers will understand, I guess. I’m thinking not get frustrated, but I’m thinking they will understand that I need that extra push and that extra help. I get my accommodations and my help outside of the classroom with the program. So, I guess I felt that would help and be a good fit for me. 

Kim Jump: Yeah, that’s awesome. Looking ahead to your career, have there been any things that you and Ms. Jones have been working on just to get you job-ready for when you do graduate?

Makayla Jones:  All the time.  I can’t show you my paper because I’d be telling you. But, that’s all she be on me about is the future. So, I don’t have much choice but to be successful. 

Kim Jump: Yeah, getting ready early, that is smart. You know, as a student, did you have any of those thoughts of just kind of being worried about maybe what the future is going to hold when you’re done with school?

Makayla Jones:  It’s like a 50 50.  I’m ready, but at the same time, I still have jitters because this is the next chapter. So, of course in my eyes, I see all this good stuff.  Good jobs, good home, good cars, but I don’t know what reality is, because I haven’t been experiencing that yet. But, I am getting ready physically and mentally for it because it is coming and I want to make sure I’m ready for anything that comes my way.  

Kim Jump: Yeah, that’s awesome to be ready. So, tell me about your athletic involvement there at the school.

Makayla Jones: Well, I’m on the woman’s basketball team. I don’t know what to tell you because that’s where I’m at full time. That’s all we do every day, all day. We actually have conference coming up so can win our ring, well, we will win our ring. I’m going to speak that into the distance. So, we go to Iowa this Thursday. If we win two out of the three games, we will go to nationals for the third time.  Back-to-back-to-back. But the goal is to win our three games, so we get a ring this year and still go to nationals. 

Kim Jump: This is a huge week for you then. 

Makayla Jones: Yes, and we just had Senior Night last week. I had eight points, 16 rebounds, and six assists, and one block. And, we got the W. So, that was pretty cool.

Kim Jump: How is it for you balancing all of that? You’re balancing having some challenges that come with accommodations, a sport.  How do you keep it all in balance?

Makayla Jones: I don’t know if you went to a zodiac sign, but I always say it’s because I’m a Libra. Libras – it’s about having a balanced life. I’m big on a balanced life, make sure I sleep, make sure I eat right. And, like I said, I just make sure I balance everything because it’s real life. You have to be able to make a balance with your mental health. Even when basketball drains you. I do meditate. I don’t know if you’re into crystals, but I’m into my spiritual awakening. So, I do meditate. Try to talk to my ancestors. I do a lot of praying because I’m really big on balance.  I don’t want anything I do to get me drained or not physically be there. During COVID, I was concerned because I’m like she’s out here in the bubble and just out here still doing work and doing basketball.

Kim Jump:  You were working? You had a job while you are doing all of this too?

Makayla Jones: Yeah, when it was COVID and I was at home and we didn’t have basketball last year, yes I was.  I was in Cincinnati, drive an hour to practice, come back home to work. Like every day just back and forth.  I like being busy. I don’t know if it’s because my mom, I never really see her sit around or ask for handouts. So, I actually just want to make sure I always work hard to my ability. So, I can get things in life that I deserve and want. To be happy in life.

Kim Jump:  That’s awesome. Right. How did you get the job you worked at in Cincinnati?

Makayla Jones: It’s my grandma’s agency. So, she has an agency with kids with disabilities. So, I work with kids that have autism, behavioral issues, and stuff. I’m the kid’s entertainment. So, I dress up in Minnie and Mickey Mouse. They have different characters, so I be Coco Melon. I don’t know if you know the Paw Patrol. We’ve got all the clubhouse, the Minions. We’ve got any character you can think of.    

Kim Jump: That brings a lot of joy to kids.

Makayla Jones:  Yeah, when they’re not being bad. But yeah, it’s pretty fun.  I like it.

Kim Jump: Do you mind me asking what your disability is?

Makayla Jones: I have a learning disability and comprehension. So, I struggle a lot with understanding things. 

Makayla Jones: And I also do have ADHD.

Kim Jump: Gotcha. So does it make you feel like you can relate with your family’s - did you say your grandma's agency that works with? Do you feel like a connection there because of that?

Makayla Jones: Of course, yes. That's why I think I'm their favorite because we all connect. They love working with me, and I Iove working with them. But, yes, I do because it takes a lot in, I feel like some people, not everybody, but if you don't have it, it's hard for you to understand it. Like you get frustrated quicker and stuff because that's what took my mom time to understand, like when I was growing up. Like learning, and my reading wasn't always on the same level as my (inaudible), but now that I got older, and she (I was the first child) and you learn when you have your first kid, but now my mom has an understanding of it and explain things better instead of getting frustrated. I've been at Wilberforce, so my teachers understand at first; I can say some of them are able, but now they ask me, "Do you need extra time? Do you need the notes?" Then they have me stay after class and say, "Do you understand what I was saying? Is there anything that I can explain better?" so…

Kim Jump: Yeah, great, it helps when others understand where you're coming from and be able to support you that way, that's great. Long-term, what's your dream? What do you hope to be doing? 

Makayla Jones:  Well, it's a lot so, but long-term, I just want to be an entrepreneur with seven streams of passive income. It kind of runs in our family, so I'm not saying that - what they say? What is it called? What is the word I'm trying to use? Like the bar is high – not high, but by they're doing it, so their expectations is kind of there for me.  So, I'm always on my toes trying to make sure I'm doing the right thing, because everybody is in my family is doing something. So, it's like the expectation is kind of there for me, so I just can't sit around or take days off because I gotta work hard and get done what needs to get done.

Kim Jump: Yeah, you know when you say an entrepreneur, is there a certain kind of business that you envision?

Makayla Jones: Well, I was just talking with Ms. Jones, and I do want to get my CDLs that came up into mind this year, and it hasn't always been like a dream, but that came up this year. I do have my own clothing brand called Passion Gear. Like passion, I feel like you got to be passionate about what you're doing in life. Then, I do have a vending machine business. Me and my mom been doing that, but we haven't fully done that because I've been at school. So, like our vending machines, are kind of like my daycare, and one of her beautician shops, but once I graduate, I'm going to get more into expanding it because it is hard to keep going back and forth to the vending machines because you know you have to have some somebody to pick them up, make sure everything's working.   And like you said, my mom has her own business full-time, so she just told me, once I graduate, I get into that so, I don't know like you said that's already clothing brand, vending machine, CDLs and I do also want to help my mom with her business and stuff because I do like the kid's entertainment. Because will always be around, so I feel like that's essential. Kids ain't going nowhere everybody, just making all these kids, so they always going to need birthday parties and stuff.

Kim Jump: Yeah, right. That sounds like it's pretty doable. I mean, you're already kind of getting your feet wet, and you're out there doing it all. Anything else that's been particularly helpful that you would want me to know about?

Makayla Jones:  I see the same people, I'm just doing basketball in school and I check-in with Ms. Jones and I haven't really talked to Mr. Ford; I only talked to him when he helped me with my accommodations, because you know it's COVID now, so I don't really be on campus and see a lot of people. So, I really just be at practice and in my room, and if I need help with anything, then I'll send out my text or email. But, we still since we are a small school, and our basketball coach, don't really want us out because we have to have a negative test, so we do COVID testing every week, and stuff. So, I'm just at school or in my room; that's where the balance comes in. I don't get too sad or anything. I do my meditation, my yoga, with still working and making sure my grades and stuff are good since I'm virtual, so that's kind of different.

Taleisa Jones: What about your last grades?

Makayla Jones: My last grades, I got all A's. I got six A's. I forgot what they said it was; it wasn't the Dean's list.

Taleisa Jones: You are on the Dean's list.

Makayla Jones: Yeah, I forgot the word they used.

Kim Jump: Good for you.

Taleisa Jones: It's beyond the Dean's list.

Kim Jump: You should be so proud.

Makayla Jones: The A-list!

Taleisa Jones: It's called the A-list!

Kim Jump:  The A-list! Your approach of being in balance and taking care of those different aspects seems like it's really working for you. 

Makayla Jones: You got to! I have no choice.

Kim Jump: Yeah. This has been great. I'm so glad to have this chance to meet you and be able to get to talk with you. Your future is really bright.

Makayla Jones: Thank you!