When Imani returned home to Tulsa, her heaviest hurdles were not just physical—they were internal. She came home carrying intense anxiety about navigating public spaces and building relationships with family members who now saw her in a different light. Beneath it all was a persistent doubt about whether she was even capable of functioning in society.
When she tried to secure employment, the system only reinforced those anxieties. Imani possessed a strong resume and great interview skills, yet background checks kept her trapped in a loop. She would apply for 100 jobs at a time. Even when companies advertised themselves as background-friendly, they would routinely backtrack once they saw her record, leaving her feeling less than.
"You can have the best resume, but they still see your background and make you feel small," Imani says. "I was going in circles, terrified to apply for better roles because the rejection kept me stagnant."
The barrier extended far beyond employment. When Imani tried to enroll in college out the gate to pursue her dream of entering the medical field, her past record blocked her path. Despite securing letters of recommendation from her judge, the college explicitly denied her admission. She was left devastated and depressed, feeling as though she was constantly working backward.
The Center for Employment Opportunities in Tulsa became her last resort. When they offered her an orientation date, it was the very first "yes" she had received. Imani capitalized on the opportunity, eventually joining the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), a 16-week paid internship that provides on-the-job training and mentorship. The structured support directly targeted her imposter syndrome and anxiety.
Then came the unexpected breakthrough. A week after receiving her college denial, the admissions coordinator called Imani out of the blue to ask how many classes she wanted to take. Surprised but ready, Imani answered, and the coordinator bypassed the initial rejection by sending her file straight to the board. She was approved that same week. Today, Imani is a college student pursuing a degree in social work to help women with children. While her personal triumph is inspiring, it highlights the heavy, unnecessary obstacles embedded in Oklahoma’s higher education system, where people attempting to advance themselves are stopped from rebuilding their lives by systemic unfairness.
