Rockford Career College gave Keiland Lumpkins Sr. the support and confidence to turn one diploma into an educational journey—and a calling to help others.
When Keiland Lumpkins Sr. came to Rockford Career College, he wasn’t sure where his future would lead. But he knew he needed to find direction, and a new perspective.
“My biggest fear was not being good enough,” Keiland says. “I was afraid of failing again and letting everybody down.”
He had recently turned 30 and was working jobs that did not offer the stability or income he wanted. Previous attempts at college had not worked out, and he wondered whether he was capable of ever succeeding in school.
Still, deep down, he knew, with the right tools and the right classroom, he could succeed. And when he found RCC, he knew he had found an educational home, even if he wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted his next step to be. Simply enrolling launched an educational journey that would take him from a career diploma to working full-time in his field while pursuing his masters and raising his children.
“I Found My Purpose”
Keiland had grown up immersed in service. His father pastored in Rockford for approximately 40 years, and Keiland spent years helping distribute food, walking through underserved neighborhoods, and supporting people in his community.
Still, he initially enrolled in RCC’s HVAC program because he was good with his hands and believed learning a trade could help him build a better future. Although the program was not ultimately the right fit for him, one of his instructors, the late Mr. Lamb, helped him begin enjoying school again.
Keiland then met with Danielle Harriott, who was then serving as the Dean of Students. During their conversations, Keiland began exploring programs that might align more closely with his strengths and experiences. He thought back to the times with his father, and realized many of those experiences had prepared him for a future centered on counseling and advocacy.
He switched to the Online Addiction Counseling and Social Advocacy diploma program, and something clicked.
“I found my purpose,” he says. “Once I switched over, it seemed like everything fell in line.”
“All I know is helping people,” he says. “I tried to run from this calling, but I realized I couldn’t run too far. When your purpose and passion are in you, they will always come out.”
Feeling Heard at RCC
Discovering the right program did not mean every class was easy.
After failing one course, Keiland went to Danielle’s office devastated and nearly ready to give up. Instead of allowing one setback to define him, she helped him see that struggling did not mean his journey was over.
Keiland carried that lesson forward: Shake off the disappointment, get back up, and try again.
He says the support he received at RCC was unlike anything he had experienced at his previous schools.
“Rockford Career College was the first college, or group of individuals, where I felt like they heard me just for talking,” he says. “They saw me as a student who needed something.”
Danielle became a trusted source of guidance. The two also connected through their shared experiences as parents of children with special needs.
“I needed that support,” Keiland says. “She helped walk me through everything and didn’t judge me. She gave me the words I needed to keep going.”
“Going Through School While Parenting was Difficult, But Not Impossible”
Keiland was also raising his daughter, Kelana, while attending school. Kelana has Down syndrome and has faced significant medical challenges, including open-heart surgery as an infant.
Watching his daughter persevere became one of Keiland’s greatest sources of motivation.
“If she can do it, I can do it,” he says. “No matter what my baby goes through, she figures out how to do life in the way that works for her.”
His experiences as a special-needs parent also deepened his interest in mental health and advocacy. He understands the stress families can carry when the people around them do not fully understand their challenges.
Today, Keiland is also the father of a young son, Keiland Jr., known as KD. He hopes his children will see that their father faced uncertainty, fear, and setbacks but continued moving forward.
“Going through school while parenting was difficult,” he says, “but not impossible.”
“Being Able to Help Someone Brings Me Joy”
Keiland earned his Addiction Counseling and Social Advocacy diploma from Rockford Career College in 2022. He continued at Stautzenberger College, earning his associate degree in Addiction Counseling and Social Advocacy in 2023, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern New Hampshire University. He is pursuing a master’s degree in psychology, while working as a caseworker supporting children and families connected to child welfare services.
His education has been crucial in every aspect of his work, from listening to clients, analyzing complex situations, and learning how to help families navigate challenging situations.
“What I love about counseling is that we get to hear people’s stories,” he says. “Being able to help someone through the struggles that affected my own family brings me joy.”
“Discover Your Purpose While You’re In It”
Keiland’s advice for someone who feels uncertain about returning to school is direct: Start.
“You may not know what you want to do,” he says. “Sometimes you have to discover your purpose while you’re in it. How will you know what fits unless you try?”
Five+ years into his educational journey, Keiland acknowledges that it is still challenging, but RCC gave him the confidence to continue.
“Sometimes you have to start from the bottom to get where you need to go,” he says. “My whole life, I’ve had to fight. Keep fighting.”
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