Student Spotlight: Charise Mayfield’s journey from homemaking to homework
[Summer Intern Erika Scharf contributed to this article. She attends Oberlin College]
For much of her life, 53-year-old Charise Mayfield has been focused on taking care of others. But at Seeds of Literacy, she finally has the opportunity to do something for herself.
Charise began studying at Seeds of Literacy in 2023 and has since become a Student Ambassador, sharing her story with the community. While the schoolwork isn’t her favorite part, she finds joy in the supportive and relaxing environment where she can be herself. “Even though we have to do schoolwork, that’s cool too, because it’s something different,” she said. More importantly, it’s something different she’s doing for herself.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Charise’s journey has been far from easy. As one of four children, she endured a difficult childhood, including sexual abuse between the ages of 8 and 14. This trauma made it hard for her to complete school. “I’ve gone through many years of therapy to help me with that,” she shared.
Her education has also been interrupted by the demands of her large family—she has 10 children and 9 grandchildren, whom she “keeps track of and cares for regularly.” Despite these responsibilities, Charise remains committed to her education.
“I am very proud of myself and how far I have come,” she said. “I’ve encountered many barriers in life, but I believe I’m now on the other side of them and will get something valuable out of this experience.”
WHAT SHE’S LEARNING VS WHAT SHE LIKES
When asked if she enjoys the subjects she’s studying—reading, math, science, and social studies—Charise is direct. Her true passion is homemaking, not homework.
“I don’t like any of it,” she admits, “but you need to know these things to help someone else. Just because I don’t enjoy it doesn’t mean I can’t help somebody. My favorite things are cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, and I love newborn babies. That’s what I enjoy.”
Her dream is to one day open a restaurant that serves traditional soul food. For now, though, her focus is on her education. While she doesn’t love the subjects, she appreciates the process of learning.
“I think it’s better to come and learn something, to believe in yourself, than to do nothing. I’m doing this for me, and I want to keep learning and growing.”
Charise loves being a mother and grandmother, but she loves having Seeds as her home away from home. “I’m not stuck in the house all the time. I can breathe. I feel like I have more purpose. I’m doing this for me,” she said.
STAYING MOTIVATED
Charise draws strength from the lessons she learned in church, especially when life gets difficult. “Don’t ever look down. That’s something I learned in church. Keep your head above water. That’s all we can do.”
As a Student Ambassador, Charise attends community events and shares her story to encourage other adults to explore learning at Seeds of Literacy. When asked what she hopes others will take away from her story, she responds with candid honesty: “I can’t think for nobody else. I can’t tell them how to feel or what to think. I’m still learning myself.”
After a thoughtful pause, she adds, “Just don’t give up. Believe that you can do it. It’s possible to change.”
# # #