{"id":60260,"date":"2024-08-26T07:45:08","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T11:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=60260"},"modified":"2024-09-05T08:50:32","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T12:50:32","slug":"perseverance-personified-how-rakiesha-lewis-has-juggled-motherhood-work-and-her-educational-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/perseverance-personified-how-rakiesha-lewis-has-juggled-motherhood-work-and-her-educational-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Perseverance personified: How Rakiesha Lewis has juggled motherhood, work and her educational journey\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rakiesha

Rakiesha Lewis (left) and her daughter, Taylor, at the UTC Library.\u00a0Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Not only was Rakiesha Lewis a full-time criminal justice student completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2020, but she was also a full-time mom of three.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Four years later, she is a full-time employee coming back to UTC to pursue a Master of Science in Criminal Justice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis works as a <\/span>probation officer<\/span>\u00a0in Chattanooga,\u00a0<\/span>specifically working with a clinical treatment team and correctional staff to help address the needs of offenders attending an intensive outpatient program, focusing on their recovery and reducing recidivism.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my main duties is to enhance public safety,\u201d said Lewis, a Chattanooga native. \u201cIf there\u2019s something they don\u2019t have, I work with the staff and the clinical team to provide them that resource.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Working in criminal justice wasn\u2019t just a career goal, she said; it was a calling.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in a crime-infested area. I\u2019ve seen people who struggle with drug abuse issues,\u201d Lewis explained, \u201cand I also had an incarcerated father.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOverall, I believe in second chances and that sometimes people just need additional support.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis graduated from The Howard School in 2007 and received her associate degree from Chattanooga State Community College in 2013. She began her bachelor\u2019s degree program at UTC that fall but had to take a break to focus on raising her children.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes things happen,\u201d she said. \u201cI had to withdraw, go to work, take care of my kids. I went at my own pace.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis reenrolled at UTC in 2018, something she described as anything but easy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a challenge,\u201d she recalled, \u201cbut with the challenges, I\u2019m glad that my kids get to see it firsthand. I want them to see how important education is and that even when life gets hard, just push through and keep going. I want them to see me.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople don\u2019t like when I use the word fail, but I want them to see me when I make mistakes so they can be motivated to keep going.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only did Lewis want to advance her career in the field she\u2019s passionate about, but she also wanted to have more time to be a mom.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to have a career that worked around my kids\u2019 schedules,\u201d she said. \u201cThe type of mom that I am, I like to be involved with my kids as far as academics, athletics, doctor\u2019s appointments and things like that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

While working and going to school to support her children, Lewis found support in UC Foundation Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Rick Dierenfeldt\u2014a former Missouri law enforcement officer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis recalled one of her first interactions with Dierenfeldt, which happened after she left his class and was waiting in Fletcher Hall for her next class.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had a lot of homework to do. I was thinking about bills, but I was like, \u2018I can\u2019t go to school full time and work full time and take care of my kids,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cLife just wasn\u2019t giving me a break.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She looked up to see Dierenfeldt walk into the building and made eye contact with him.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he saw the expression on my face,\u201d she remembered. \u201cI don\u2019t know what it was, but he sat next to me and he just told me that I was doing a good job. I just started crying and he gave me a hug\u2014because in that moment, that\u2019s what I needed.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis said it was Dierenfeldt\u2019s kindness that pushed her to stay at UTC.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was packing my stuff up to get ready to leave and walk out the building to go find a job,\u201d she continued. \u201cBut with him doing that, it gave me the motivation to keep going.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dierenfeldt remembered the day he saw Lewis in the hallway. At the time, he didn\u2019t realize the impact it had on her.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote a recommendation letter for her when she graduated from UTC, and she got the job,\u201d Dierenfeldt said. \u201cThen she came back last semester and was in full uniform. She said, \u2018You probably don\u2019t remember me,\u2019 but of course I did.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dierenfeldt\u2014who also became a dad before starting his undergraduate degree\u2014said he can understand what it\u2019s like to have priorities outside of school.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have different struggles than traditional students,\u201d he said. \u201cWe know why we\u2019re there and we know why we have to finish. Those choices get a little bit easier when you realize that it\u2019s no longer a choice.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis was hired as a <\/span>probation officer<\/span> one month after receiving her bachelor\u2019s degree in 2020. She will begin the master\u2019s program this fall.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDeciding to get my master\u2019s is a part of my self-care and personal growth,\u201d she said. \u201cWorking with offenders made me realize the importance of investing in my own development and becoming the best version of myself for those that I support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter experiencing <\/span>work-related depression and anxiety<\/span>, I felt inspired to deepen my understanding of the field in criminal justice, community corrections and mental health because many people don\u2019t speak of that side.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis said she initially enrolled in Middle Tennessee State University\u2019s criminal justice graduate program but decided to transfer to UTC.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to write a thesis and I have a relationship with Dr. D (Dierenfeldt),\u201d she said, \u201cso it\u2019s best for me to transfer back to UTC where I have local resources such as the writing center and the library.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis is excited about walking the stage come graduation day\u2014something she didn\u2019t get to do in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, she is looking forward to first coming back to campus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just focused on getting all the experience that I can,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dierenfeldt shared his excitement about Lewis\u2019 return to UTC.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s had an opportunity to get into the field, spend some time there and apply what she\u2019s learned,\u201d Dierenfeldt said. \u201cNow she\u2019s also got the background experience to identify problems, problems that she wants to research, problems that she wants to be able to fix.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the struggles of her undergraduate experience, Dierenfeldt said she was always prepared, actively engaged, and always sat in the front row of his class.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got an incredible amount of respect for Rakiesha,\u201d he said. \u201cShe\u2019s obviously an outstanding student, but\u2014I think more importantly\u2014she\u2019s an incredible person.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt<\/p><\/div>\n

Learn More<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Criminal Justice at UTC<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Master of Science in Criminal Justice.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Not only was Rakiesha Lewis a full-time criminal justice student completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2020, but she was also a full-time mom of three.\u00a0Four years later, she is a full-time employee coming back to UTC to pursue a Master of Science in Criminal Justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2000,"featured_media":60265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[661,70,123864,15,61,50311,7712,52,64,72949],"tags":[123827,124452,123828,123829],"class_list":{"0":"post-60260","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-advancement-and-alumni","9":"category-campus","10":"category-college-of-arts-sciences","11":"category-criminal-justice","12":"category-faculty-and-staff","13":"category-graduate-school","14":"category-news","15":"category-social-cultural-and-justice-studies","16":"category-students","17":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","18":"tag-dr-rick-dierenfeldt","19":"tag-leveraging-our-special-place-as-chattanoogas-university","20":"tag-operating-with-excellence","21":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nPerseverance personified: How Rakiesha Lewis has juggled motherhood, work and her educational journey\u00a0 | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - 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