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thatsKandice™ Spelman Alumnae
How Attending Spelman Changed My Life
“Spelman polished me” is a phrase I often say because it’s the truest shortcut to what that experience did for my life.
Spelman’s pride and dignity embody the truth of “we are somebody”—not as a slogan, but as a standard you’re trained to live up to. Before Spelman, I was already proud to be me: smart, well-spoken, and determined. But the pride I gained while earning my degree was deeper and more intense. It wasn’t just personal confidence—it was the weight and honor of accomplishing something rigorous, historic, and rare. Spelman didn’t simply affirm who I was; it refined who I could become.
Inside those classrooms, I was exposed to historical truths and global realities that many public school systems never teach—truths that changed how I saw power, opportunity, and the stories we’re told about what’s “normal.” Spelman trained me to ask better questions, to search past the surface, and to recognize that “hidden truths” often have real, tangible evidence behind them—if you’re disciplined enough to do the work.
Every course, every lesson, every moment at Spelman polished my shine—and prepared me for the global stage.
Spelman Girls Go Global
A turning point for me was studying abroad in South America. That experience expanded my world in a way I’ll never be able to fully put into words. I learned Spanish fluently, but more importantly, I learned what it looks like to live alongside people who are socially, economically, and physically impacted by the remnants of slavery—just like me, in a different location, under a different flag.
That global exposure reshaped my perspective and made something clear to me early on: many of the world’s biggest problems have solutions—yet remain unsolved because the systems and priorities behind them haven’t changed. Spelman didn’t just teach me about the world; it taught me how to study it, question it, and engage it with both compassion and strategy.
Spelman sharpened my research skills, strengthened my voice, and made my vision bigger than my circumstances. It laid the foundation for the work I feel called to do—telling the truth, building platforms that reach people everywhere, and pursuing impact that goes beyond borders.
My “Why” Made the Impossible Possible
The biggest reason I finished Spelman—and graduated with honors—is my son. I became a mother during my freshman year, and in a space where “Spelman Girls” are often expected to look pure, pristine, and untouchable, that reality felt like a taboo I had to carry quietly while still showing up strong. But I’m sharing it because it’s proof: your challenges don’t have to stop you—they can fuel you. I was a scholar, yes, but I also learned through the school of hard knocks, and I had to build a life that included full-time classes, living off campus, working, commuting, and raising a child. What made it possible was my refusal to quit and my willingness to find support anywhere I could—because winners win big when they don’t win alone. I found resources, community, and people who stepped in when I needed help. Anything real is possible—and I’m the proof. My son is my WHY, and he’s the reason I couldn’t give up.
How Spelman Shaped the Work I Do Today
Spelman didn’t just give me a degree—it gave me a lens. It taught me how to connect the dots between history, policy, culture, and the everyday realities people live with across the world. My major in International Studies trained me to think beyond what’s in front of me and ask deeper questions: Who benefits? Who is left behind? What systems are at play? That mindset is the foundation of the work I do today—building platforms, businesses, and resources that help people move from surviving to thriving.
My senior thesis is where it all clicked. It wasn’t just an academic requirement; it was a blueprint for real change. I learned that global problems aren’t “too big”—they’re often under-addressed, under-funded, and misunderstood. Spelman sharpened my ability to research, tell the truth with evidence, and turn information into impact. That’s why everything I build now—my brand, my media goals, my advocacy vision—centers on human rights, access, and solutions.
This is also where my Be MORE 4ALL™ framework comes in. Spelman taught me that “more” isn’t just ambition—it’s responsibility: more awareness, more education, more access, more dignity, more opportunity. The work I do today is rooted in that Spelman standard: be excellent, be intentional, and make your success mean something beyond you. My mission is to create content and community that travels—because impact shouldn’t be limited by zip code, income, or background.
Welcome to ThatsKandice
Spelman Taught Me to Lead With Excellence
Spelman Taught Me to Lead With Excellence
Spelman Taught Me to Lead With Excellence
Spelman didn’t just teach me what to think—it taught me how to think, how to speak with conviction, and how to lead with integrity. Excellence wasn’t optional; it was the standard. That expectation still guides me today in how I build, create, and serve.
The Sisterhood That Still Supports Me
Spelman Taught Me to Lead With Excellence
Spelman Taught Me to Lead With Excellence
Spelman sisterhood is more than a bond—it’s a network, a safety net, and a legacy. The relationships, mentorship, and community I experienced showed me the power of women building alongside each other. It’s a living example of why I believe: winners win big when they don’t win alone.
From Classroom to Calling
Spelman Taught Me to Lead With Excellence
From Classroom to Calling
Spelman helped me see that my purpose isn’t random—it’s researched, refined, and rooted. My education gave language to my lived experience and helped shape the calling I’m walking in now: building platforms that educate, empower, and expand access—locally and globally.
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Spelman helped me see that my purpose isn’t random—it’s researched, refined, and rooted. My education gave language to my lived experience and helped shape the calling I’m walking in now: building platforms that educate, empower, and expand access—locally and globally.
If you want, I can also format these into your exact website style (short intro sentence + 2–3 short paragraphs + a bold “Key Takeaway” line at the end of each section).
More Spelman to Come
Why I Recommend Spelman College
Why I Recommend Spelman College
Why I Recommend Spelman College
Spelman is a hidden gem on purpose. Beyond the beauty and the legacy, it’s a place packed with information that changes you—the kind you don’t always find in standard textbooks or mainstream conversations. You gain access to professors who challenge your thinking, a community that raises your standards, and support systems that teach you how to navigate life with excellence. Spelman isn’t just “school”—it’s training for leadership. You leave with receipts: research skills, global awareness, confidence in your voice, and a sisterhood that can open doors for the rest of your life.
And yes—attending Spelman places you in an elite class. Not because of status for status’ sake, but because the institution requires a level of discipline, dignity, and drive that reshapes how you carry yourself in every room after. Spelman elevates your expectations of what’s possible, and it surrounds you with women who are building futures bigger than their circumstances. If you’re looking for a place that will sharpen your mind, strengthen your identity, and expand your network—Spelman is it.
My Commencement Speaker Dream
Why I Recommend Spelman College
Why I Recommend Spelman College
One of the biggest moments of my entire life was hearing Oprah Winfrey speak at Spelman’s commencement. The energy was unreal—like we were all superstars, like greatness was contagious. In that moment, it felt like the world cracked open and said, “Go be who you’re destined to be.” I’m grateful to Oprah for that charge, because it planted something in me that never left.
That’s why my desire to return to Spelman as a commencement speaker has lit a fire under me. I want to rise so BIG that I can pour that same level of excitement, possibility, and purpose into the next generation. I want to stand in front of Spelman graduates and remind them that their brilliance isn’t just for applause—it’s for impact. I want to tell them: your voice matters, your work matters, and you have everything you need to change the world. The dream isn’t about the stage—it’s about passing forward the spark that Spelman (and Oprah) gave me.