Promise Scholar- Zjanice Carter
Author: Giselle Martinez
Zjanice Carter is a remarkable University of Michigan student majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management who is making waves as a young entrepreneur and mother.
In the fall of 2018, she started her post-secondary education at Calvin College, now known as Calvin University. Her first plan was to study neuroscience with a minor in psychology. However, she became a mother shortly after enrolling, which prompted her to take a semester off to focus on her child. Her experience at the hospital during childbirth made her reconsider her career path. Though she no longer wanted to pursue neuroscience, she tried to enter the medical field. As a result, she decided to pursue a paramedic license. Unfortunately, as she began her clinicals, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the program to shut down.
Amid the pandemic, Carter ventured into the drywall business with her father and discovered a newfound passion for entrepreneurship. This experience inspired her to transfer from Calvin University to Kalamazoo Valley Community College and shift her career path. However, she met some academic difficulties. With a friend's help, she contacted The Kalamazoo Promise for assistance and eventually became part of the ELEVATE program. The support she received from the program enabled her to overcome her academic challenges and pursue her entrepreneurial dreams.
Carter focused on her academic pursuits and on launching her own business. In 2021, she successfully launched her drywall company, Carter Contracting Company. Carter gives credit to The Kalamazoo Promise for her academic and professional success. The resources provided by The Kalamazoo Promise, such as access to a space where she can take online classes and care for her child, have been invaluable to her. While continuing her education, Carter had the constant support of her family to help her build her business, creating a legacy for her family.
Zjanice, ELEVATE Scholar 2022-23, 2023-24
In 2022, Carter graduated with an associate degree in Business Administration, and in 2023, she received her second associate degree in Business Management from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Although she initially planned to transfer to Davenport University to continue her education, her advisor, Coty Dunten, suggested applying to the University of Michigan, Carter's dream school. This led to her acceptance into the University of Michigan.
Carter is set to graduate in the spring of 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. She plans to participate in Higher Promise, a program hosted by The Kalamazoo Promise that helps scholars secure summer internships. She aims to impart her trade knowledge to the next generation of young entrepreneurs. Carter's journey is a testament to her resilience and adaptability.
Know a scholar whose story should be shared? Contact gmartinez@kalamazoopromise.com for more information.