Akilah prides itself on developing strong, skilled women leaders. But behind every great leader is a great teacher. In our “Staff Spotlight” series, we ask instructors and staff what inspires them about the work they do.

Samiah Millycent is an English instructor, mentor, and mother. She works hard to set an example for Akilah students. Her experience shows them that women can be professionals and devoted parents too.

At Akilah, being an instructor goes beyond delivering a curriculum. We are mentors, we develop relationships with the students. We don’t just offer education. We go out of our way to make sure they’re ready for the job market and society that awaits them once they’re done studying.

Empowering women also comes with a lot of responsibilities and expectations from society. Our job is to make sure the students are not overwhelmed by the expectations of society. That they’re ready to face it.

As a professional woman, I am very aware that I am also a role model to our students. I’m a mother — and so are some of our students. I want them to look at me and see they can do the same. I make sure to always meet my deadlines at work. I want to show them that it’s a tough job balancing motherhood and a career, but it can be done. As women who fought a lot to be where we are today, society should not look at us and say we are taking on more than we can handle. I want to prove my worth, that I’m capable. If they see me doing it, they’ll see they can do it too.

I am part of the team working with our students on their Social Change Projects. As soon as they come to Akilah, we tell them to create solutions to problems they see in society. I just point them in the right direction. They do everything else in the process.

It’s amazing to see how they identify challenges and come up with solutions. They’re responsible in every capacity. It makes them see that you don’t have to be a big politician to make a change. Just by being part of society, you’re part of its solutions. It has to start with you.

From the small projects they do, they are always surprised to see their impact. It gives them a platform, a chance to leave a community in a better state than how they found it.

Working with these young women is what makes me wake up in the morning. The minute I walk into the classroom and see the look on their faces, I’m on. You see so much anticipation and commitment in their eyes. And growth. This makes me feel like I’m doing something positive. I’m not just working to put bread on the table. I am part of a change. I see it every day.