Guest Post By: Jackae Yarborough
Hello! My name is Jackae Yarbrough; I am twenty-two years old and I am a current UCR student. My immediate family lives in Idaho and I have been living on my own in Riverside for over two years. I was asked to share my story (testimony) by Myracle because I had told her how my faith in God was active throughout this journey of trying to navigate this new chapter of life that I had entered.
I moved out of my parents after buying my first car and having less than a thousand dollars in my bank account. I know.. I know, it doesn’t sound smart. But if it’s in God’s will he makes a way no matter the circumstances. I wasn’t scared or worried about if I would be able to live on my own. I was excited.. mainly because I did not know all that was going to be required of me to make this move. I guess you could say that I was comforted because I knew it was a part of God’s plan for me.
AMBITION
I always knew I was ambitious, but you could have never told me I would have done what I did to allow this to come to fruition.
Over two years later I can say without a doubt it was a purposed step that God wanted me to take and God has shown that to me in various ways. Very early on in my college career, I realized how unappealing debt is. I never expected my parents to pay for my college and I knew all the debt that I accumulated I would have to pay off. It never entered into my mind about trying to graduate debt-free until my Pastor Mark had prayed over me asking God that when I graduate I have no student debt. Ever since that day, I said, “okay God, how is this going to happen because I’m looking at the numbers, the money I make and the math is not lining up.” I always knew I was ambitious, but you could have never told me I would have done what I did to allow this to come to for wishing. By the time I graduate, I will have worked two jobs at once while in school on three separate occasions and worked three jobs at once while in school on one occasion. I have worked forty hours on a weekend and still worked during the week while in school and never for a moment asked myself if it was worth it. Once God placed it on my heart I was willing to do any amount of work that was required. I was receiving job offers and getting every job that I applied for. Before an interview, I always told God to let me get this job if it’s in your will for me to be there. I don’t want to work anywhere that is going to cause me to stumble or knock me off the path you want me on. I meant it when I prayed it and God knew that which is why every job I’ve worked has served a purpose and help me in more than supplying financial gain.
The most important decision for me in this chapter was when I transferred from community college to university. I have an exceptional GPA and knew that the colleges I applied to I would more than likely get into. So I asked God to make it so clear which university he wanted me to transfer to. Needless to say, I chose UCR and by the time I graduate, I will have gotten paid over twelve thousand dollars to attend UCR. Not only did the money I received make it easier on me to live on my own, but it has made it possible for me to graduate debt-free in June of 2020 having paid of approximately twenty-five thousand dollars in debt.
BE CONSISTENT
However; being consistent in my tithing and managing my money I am on track to graduate with my bachelor’s degree from UCR debt free.
Of course, learning how to manage my money and trust God with my finances even when it didn’t look like I was going to be able to obtain that goal was a challenge. Fighting between wanting to be a good steward of my money and wanting to be in my twenty’s living my best life was/is a constant battle. However, being consistent in my tithing and managing my money I am on track to graduate with my bachelor’s degree from UCR DEBT FREE.
Now I can’t share this story without giving acknowledges where they are due. First I have to thank my parents, I wouldn’t be who or where I am without them. All of my amazing siblings who have taught me more than they probably realize. My church family has made being so far away from my immediate family not as hard and Pastor Mark and Michelle who have been more than a pastor and the first lady to me. Last but not least, the Ginwrights. I want to thank you guys for treating me like family and welcoming me in. When things had gotten hard and I wanted to slow down you guys were all there to help push me.