Elevate: Tikima Simpkins

Timothy Webb (00:13): Thank you all for joining us today here on Elevate. Broadcasting from the Razorback Camper Sales Studio. This National Park College podcast highlights a different Nighthawk with each episode. We'll talk about their journey, challenges, key moments of success, their moments of elevation, leveling up, and overcoming. (00:33): I'm Timothy Webb, your host, and I'd like to welcome to the program Tikima Simpkins. Thanks for joining us today, Tikima. Tikima Simpkins (00:39): I'm happy to be here, Tim. Timothy Webb (00:40): All right. All right. So you are the admissions specialist here? Tikima Simpkins (00:45): Yes, I am. Timothy Webb (00:46): How long have you been at National Park? Tikima Simpkins (00:48): In this position I've been in it just a little bit over a year. I've been at National Park since 2019, the fall semester as a student. I started here as a student. Timothy Webb (00:58): Oh, awesome. So you did two years here as a student? Tikima Simpkins (01:01): Mm-hmm. Timothy Webb (01:02): Okay. So as the admission specialist, what all does your position entail? Tikima Simpkins (01:07): So, Tim, I'm responsible for the intake of all the necessary documents for enrollment. So students, I'm their point of contact whenever they need to submit documents to get put into their classes. So that's me. I also facilitate campus tours. So I have two offices. One's a golf cart. I'll say that. Timothy Webb (01:29): Well, that's not too bad of an office on a nice day. Tikima Simpkins (01:32): On a nice day, yes. Timothy Webb (01:34): So what are some of the challenges that you face as the admission specialist? Tikima Simpkins (01:38): In the beginning, it was a learning curve. I've never worked in a position like this before, so learning all of the things that were expected of me was a big challenge. But I think I got a pretty good hold on it now. Timothy Webb (01:51): Good. Good, good. How did you get to where you are today and what are some of the obstacles you had to overcome? Tikima Simpkins (01:56): Okay, So my biggest obstacle was myself. So I had to overcome myself. The thing I love to say is, delayed not denied. So my progress was delayed. I did a lot of things in the wrong form or fashion. I had children. I'm not saying that's the wrong thing, but I didn't put my education first. So I had to stop being my own obstacle to get where I am today. Timothy Webb (02:23): Oh, okay. So can you tell us how it felt when you finally decided to overcome and stop putting things in the wrong order, per se? Tikima Simpkins (02:30): Let's just say that I have been the most happy the last five years because I made that decision. I haven't had as many stumbles and falls. I mean, we all have those days, but I've been on top of the world for the last five years. Timothy Webb (02:46): Yeah. Yeah. That's great. That's great. So we do see you running around campus on your golf cart, giving those great tours. Tikima Simpkins (02:52): Yes, sir. Timothy Webb (02:53): Is that one of the more rewarding things about your position? Tikima Simpkins (02:57): The most rewarding thing about my position is seeing students, especially non-traditional. I have a heart for non-traditional students because delayed not denied. We delayed our progress. But seeing them come in on that first day, scared, not knowing which way to go, and then getting to see them cross that stage at graduation, it's a good reward seeing that, being a part of that process. Timothy Webb (03:24): What are some of the lessons that your position has taught you? Tikima Simpkins (03:27): Let me see. Never judge a person by their circumstances. They may be in a circumstance today, and you could also be in that same circumstance that they're in, but give them some time to work through the circumstance that they're in. Don't automatically label them a lazy student because they feel an assignment is too big. Don't automatically label a person by their circumstance, that part. Timothy Webb (03:54): Yeah, I like that. Yeah. What are some of the achievements that you're proud of? Tikima Simpkins (03:59): Oh my. Well, let's just say my two children, my boys. They're my greatest achievement because we're growing and we're learning together as a family. You know what I mean? So them. I graduated with my associates this year, so walking across that stage was amazing. I'm a first generation college student, so when I got that cord, I gave it to my mom. So breaking chains in our family. So yes, my journey here as a student and as an employee is one of my greatest achievements. Timothy Webb (04:31): That's awesome. Yeah. So you got two boys. How old are they? Tikima Simpkins (04:34): I have a 10 year old. His name is Kingston. And I have a six year old, and his name is DJ, well Donnell, but we call him DJ. Timothy Webb (04:41): You got your hands pulled at home, huh? Tikima Simpkins (04:42): They are something. Timothy Webb (04:46): So Tikima, where did you grow up? Where was your childhood home? Tikima Simpkins (04:50): I grew up in North Little Rock, Arkansas, so not too far from here. So I stayed there until I was 23, and then I moved here. So North Little Rock, Arkansas, around that area. I went to Jacksonville High School, so yeah, that whole Pulaski County area, that's my home. Timothy Webb (05:08): Was it a big school? Tikima Simpkins (05:09): Jacksonville High School? Timothy Webb (05:10): Yeah. Tikima Simpkins (05:11): When I went there, it was pretty big. We were sophomores in the same school as seniors, so it was pretty big to me. But it's changed. But that's my alma mater. Timothy Webb (05:22): All right. Is there someone that's been a big influence on your life? One person that's had a real big impact on your life? Tikima Simpkins (05:29): I know a lot of people say their parents, and which my parents have been very vital in my journey. I'm just going to have to give it all to God, because God knows about circumstances that my parents don't, and he's helped me through things that a lot of people don't know about me. So God. Timothy Webb (05:46): Okay. All right. Any favorite childhood memories you'd like to share? Tikima Simpkins (05:54): I just remember, I mean, I was friends with everyone, so I really didn't get into a lot of trouble. But I do remember starting a club my senior year in Jacksonville High School. It was called The Ladies and Gentlemen's Club, where once a week we dressed up to show that we can do the business attire and things like that. So I started a club. Timothy Webb (06:16): You did that? Tikima Simpkins (06:17): Yes. Timothy Webb (06:18): Wow. That's pretty cool. That's pretty cool. Tikima Simpkins (06:20): I'll never forget that. I'll never forget that. Timothy Webb (06:22): I always liked dressing up too as a teenager. So that'd be a pretty fun club to be a part of. Tikima Simpkins (06:27): It was. It was. Timothy Webb (06:29): Yeah. So if you could tell your younger self anything, any one piece of advice, do you have one that you would want to tell yourself? Tikima Simpkins (06:37): You got this. You got this. Even when it doesn't seem like it, everything's going out of control, you got it. And just hold on because it's going to get greater. It's going to get greater later. Timothy Webb (06:47): Going to get greater later. Yeah. That's pretty good. So how did you get to NPC? What brought you here? Tikima Simpkins (06:55): I moved here from North Little Rock. I moved down here with a relative. A lot of stuff took place. Me and my children were homeless for a little bit. So when I finally got on my feet and I got an apartment and I got a vehicle, it was time to go back to school. Timothy Webb (07:13): Wow. So you were homeless for a little bit? Tikima Simpkins (07:15): Yes. Timothy Webb (07:15): Wow. And we do see those people around the city, and it just makes you wonder sometimes- Tikima Simpkins (07:22): You just never know. Timothy Webb (07:22): ... what led them there. Tikima Simpkins (07:23): Exactly. Timothy Webb (07:23): Yeah, it could be anybody. Tikima Simpkins (07:24): It could be anything. Timothy Webb (07:25): Yeah. Tikima Simpkins (07:26): Yeah. That's why I was saying you don't judge a person by their circumstance. Timothy Webb (07:29): Yeah. Tikima Simpkins (07:29): It was just people, you know what I mean? It wasn't drugs, it wasn't domestic violence. It was simply just a miscommunication between family members and me and my children wound up homeless. Timothy Webb (07:43): Wow. Tikima Simpkins (07:43): Sorry, I didn't mean to- Timothy Webb (07:44): No, no, no. Tikima Simpkins (07:45): ... Bring the mood down. Timothy Webb (07:46): That's what it's about. We're trying to get your journey. Now, this is about how you've elevated. Tikima Simpkins (07:51): Yes. Timothy Webb (07:52): That's what this is. This is Elevate, and you have definitely elevated. I mean, you came from that point in time when you were homeless. And you were a good student in school, like you were saying, and you started clubs, and just the circumstances happened to have led you to that situation. In your own words, you had a miscommunication and led you there. But look at you now. Tikima Simpkins (08:13): God is good. Timothy Webb (08:13): Yeah. I'm telling you. I'm telling you. So other than NPC, what interests you? What are your hobbies, Tikima? Tikima Simpkins (08:21): Okay. So I love to watch TV. Timothy Webb (08:23): Okay. Tikima Simpkins (08:28): I don't give a show a good week to be on TV before binging all of it. So I do, I like to watch TV. I like to play with my boys. Kingston loves to play basketball, so I'll go out and shoot basketball. But just being with my family. Timothy Webb (08:43): Any shows you'd like to recommend to our listeners? Tikima Simpkins (08:47): I love a good Manifest. It's about the plane that disappeared for five years. It's really good. I love ID, the ID channel. True crime. Anything like that. Timothy Webb (08:58): Okay. What is it about watching television or television shows that draws you to it? Tikima Simpkins (09:05): I guess it's just a break. Timothy Webb (09:07): Just a break. Tikima Simpkins (09:08): Yeah. I don't have any drama in my life, so just to know I can watch it on TV and turn it off at any time is perfect. Timothy Webb (09:15): Yeah, that is true. You can turn it off. That's good. So, Tikima, what are your future plans? Tikima Simpkins (09:22): I'm going for my bachelor's. I'm starting in the spring of '23. I'll be at Fort Smith online. I plan to finish my bachelor's, and I'm not sure where God wants me to go, but I do plan to listen to him now. I'm going to listen to him and whatever he takes me. I want my masters, but we'll wait. Timothy Webb (09:43): One step at a time. Tikima Simpkins (09:44): One step at a time. Timothy Webb (09:46): One step at a time. Yeah. Okay. So if you could talk to anyone in history, who would it be and why? Tikima Simpkins (09:52): It would be probably a round table meeting with all of my grandparents. Two of them I never got to meet because they died when my mom was really young. But just a round table talk with all the grandparents. Thank them for their prayers, because their prayers are covering us to this day. So yeah, all of them. Timothy Webb (10:13): What would you ask them? Was there any questions you'd have to ask him? Tikima Simpkins (10:16): Why is your daughter? Timothy Webb (10:17): Ask them about mama, huh? Tikima Simpkins (10:23): No, but I just want to ask them, do they have any advice for me today? Is there something that I could do to make my mom happy, or things that they knew about my mom and my dad that I don't know that they haven't shared, or just things like that, just to know. Timothy Webb (10:40): I see. Yeah. Yeah. We always want dirt on our parents. Tikima Simpkins (10:43): We do. Timothy Webb (10:46): Okay. Do you have any advice for our listeners, any quotes or mottoes you'd like to leave them with that sort of guides you? Tikima Simpkins (10:53): What I live by, delayed not denied. Just because your progress is delayed does not mean that your success is denied. Timothy Webb (11:00): Right. Tikima Simpkins (11:01): It can happen and it will happen if you stay positive. Timothy Webb (11:04): Right. So any of you non-traditional students out there listening, just know that if you just keep going, take it one step at a time you can still get there. Tikima Simpkins (11:12): Yep. Timothy Webb (11:13): Well, Tikima, it has been great sitting down with you today. Tikima Simpkins (11:16): I had fun. Timothy Webb (11:17): Thank you for being a guest on Elevate. Tikima Simpkins (11:19): No problem. Timothy Webb (11:19): We wish you well, and we know we'll see you around the campus. Tikima Simpkins (11:22): Most definitely. Timothy Webb (11:23): Right. Thank you. (11:25): Thanks to all of you for listening to Elevate today from the Razorback Camper Sales Studio. New episodes are released each Thursday. Special thanks to National Park College and the Sentinel-Record for making this podcast possible. Until next time, this is Timothy Webb reminding you that every day is a chance to elevate.