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Three years ago, sophomore Ivory Kendrick had no intentions of attending college. However, after Kendrick suffered a major loss, his whole perspective on life changed and college attendance became imperative.

“College was not something that I was thinking about for a long time,” Kendrick said. “And then three years ago my dad passed. Life is too short. I need to do something to leave a mark and honestly make him proud. I am going to be the best person I can possibly be.”

Kendrick was without an anchor after his father’s death in his junior year of high school. He spoke with Kent State Today about how he survived after his dad’s death.

When Kendrick graduated from high school, the Ravenna native chose to enroll at Kent State because he was always fascinated by the cool activities in the city and on campus. Now, he is a public health major at Kent State’s College of Public Health and happens to be a first-generation college student.

“So technically, I’ve been homeless,” Kendrick said. “I’ve been living on campus, but even through all of that I still strive to do as much as I can and try to do what I can. There is no room for being negative. Being negative never solved anything.”

Kendrick is passionate about public health issues, particularly health insurance and health policy regarding people on fixed incomes. He said his dad “lived paycheck to paycheck” and did not have the proper healthcare or advocacy to help him with his smoking habit. For that reason, Kendrick is planning to attend graduate school and study health policy and management.

Kendrick said the administrators, instructors and friends in the College of Public Health and at Kent State have been like a second family to him. He works as a student administrative assistant at the college.

“They have helped me out so much by looking out for me and trying to help me find resources and people who can help me,” he said. “So far, I haven’t taken out any loans.”

Karen Baker, graduate programs assistant coordinator in the College of Public Health, was so impressed by Kenrick’s confidence and resilience that she referred him for a scholarship.

“Ivory has the most positive attitude of anyone I know,” Baker said. “He demonstrates confidence, once he sets his mind on a path, his chances for success are great.”

Photo credit: Banner photo by Sydney Weber
Other photos College of Public Health