“I was an entrepreneur before I knew what an entrepreneur was,” Allen said. “In elementary school, I would fold up paper and sell origami – probably not very good origami. In high school I would bake brownies and sell snacks to the students. When COVID hit, I offered homework assistance to other students for an additional stream of income. I didn’t realize that was an entrepreneur mindset, but it was something I really enjoyed.”

As a Central High School student, Allen was selected for the  with the . The program offers high school students the chance to earn college credits and a direct path to admission to the school.

The stress of adding college coursework to two jobs, high school and navigating COVID restrictions nearly derailed the opportunity. She messaged the instructor that she wanted to quit the course.

“I was in distress. I just wanted to drop this class,” Allen recalled. “I had so much going on. I was a manager at Arby’s and that was all I knew.”

A conversation with Raymond Green, the then-principal at Central and current senior director of undergraduate programs in the College of Business, changed her attitude toward work and education.

“I didn’t know a story of going to college and finding a career. For the first time in my life, someone told me, ‘You have your whole life to work at fast food. This is an opportunity that you wouldn’t want to miss,’” Allen said. “So, I continued on with the course.”

After graduating from high school in 2021, Allen enrolled at UofL and took part in an internship with UofL Campus Dining, which she held for two years.��

“It didn’t feel like working,” Allen said. “I liked putting together events for students. Going from thinking of the promotions or activities and how to decorate and fast forward to being at the event and seeing everyone enjoying it was fulfilling.”

Allen also took advantage of Alternative Service Breaks, travelling to Puerto Rico and Chicago. Most recently, she took a trip to the Black Elk Wilderness and Mount Rushmore through the  and Campus Recreation.

Challenges and support

While Allen enjoyed her classwork and the college experience, mental health challenges threatened her success. Allen experienced several bouts of serious depression, resulting in failing grades and the loss of financial aid. She felt like her life was crumbling around her. Her instructors worked with her and encouraged her to get help at the . She would find solutions only to experience another setback.

“There were a lot of moments where I didn’t know what the end looked like for me. It got so bad where I genuinely felt like it would be better to not be here anymore,” Allen said. “At one point, I attempted suicide.”

But her support network rallied to help.��

“I had so much support around me. I had support through the school, my friends and my family showed up for me. I have a community through church,” Allen said. “I told myself I would no longer be a victim. I just wanted to take control of my life.”

With help from her UofL instructors and staff and support through her employer, Allen’s financial aid was restored and she got back on track academically.��

This month, Allen graduated from UofL’s College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, a minor in entrepreneurship and a certificate in sales. She encourages anyone struggling with depression to get help and push through.��

“If I could talk to someone who is in that position I would tell them, ‘Don’t give up. Keep pushing. Keep trying. It’s OK to cry, wipe your tears and get back up. Just don’t give up.’”

A bright future

For her next step, Allen has secured a full-time position at Republic Bank, where she originally worked as an intern.

Kat Roberts, Allen’s director at Republic Bank, praised her growth since joining the bank.

“LaRoya Allen joined Republic Bank as a contact center intern and has since grown into a client experience representative who truly embodies our commitment to exceptional service,” said Roberts, VP and director of contact center client experience for Republic Bank. “She brings a rare combination of professionalism, warmth and genuine care to every interaction. I’ve had the privilege of watching her evolve from supporting behind-the-scenes initiatives to becoming a standout representative. LaRoya’s positive energy and dedication make her not only a valued team member, but a true ambassador of our client experience.”

Allen’s long-range plans include engaging her entrepreneurial spirit through additional education and creating a youth program.

“I do plan on going back to school after a few years of working. I want to focus on building my own business and climbing a ladder in the field that I choose

I want to make sure to recognize and appreciate the heroic actions of those in our community who responded quickly, bravely and professionally in the early moments of the horrific attack and throughout the day.��

I know you all join me in offering our tremendous gratitude to the courageous officers of Louisville Metro Police Department who rushed into the Old National Bank Building, saving lives while putting themselves at great risk.

Within minutes, officers from our own UofL Police Department arrived to support LMPD. These brave members of our community worked quickly with LMPD to secure the scene itself as well as throughout the hospital district. I cannot say it often enough how greatly I appreciate our colleagues – the officers of ULPD – as each day they work tirelessly to keep our community safe.

We all recognize with deep gratitude the efforts of our colleagues at UofL Health – UofL Hospital – the trauma doctors, nurses and staff – who provided outstanding emergency medical care to those injured in the attack and continue to care for them. In our darkest moments, these heroes, as well as other first responders, exhibited true bravery and professionalism in serving their fellow citizens. I feel, as I know we all do, humbled by their actions and grateful to all of them.��

I want to remind everyone that asking for help, especially in times of trauma and stress, is a most important part of recovery. Help is available for those needing additional support. Students can call our  at 502-852-6585 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or access  other options at . Counseling for our faculty and staff is available through our Employee Assistance Program provider, Anthem EAP. Call 800-865-1044 or go to  > Select “Member Log In” > Type “University of Louisville.”  

As we all work to find a path forward in the midst of this tragedy, although I have only been a part of UofL for less than three months, I have great faith in our Cardinal and Louisville communities. I have quickly learned that Cardinals stick together, especially when they need each other most. Please take an extra moment to care for yourself, your classmates and your colleagues, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the university for support.

Sincerely,

Kim Schatzel, Ph.D.
President

The magazine interviewed Uqdah for a piece titled “Self-Care on Campus” that spotlights the most current challenges to student mental health and the work she has done to expand services at UofL. It also includes a list of wellness tips for students, starting with “Cut back on screen time.” 

To read more, .

Find more about the Counseling Center .��

The percentage of adults ages 18 to 25 who have had serious thoughts of suicide in Kentucky is 7.45%. Further, 46% of college students have a diagnosable mental health issue, half of which are untreated.��

These numbers indicate a crisis and, as we mark Suicide Prevention Month in September, UofL is focused on ensuring our students are aware of the resources available on campus to help them better manage their mental health.��

The University of Louisville Counseling Center, for example, provides short-term individual, group, and couples counseling, crisis intervention and psychological testing. The Dean of Students Office, Residence Life and UofL Department of Public Safety are also equipped with suicide prevention resources and help.��

Then, , part of Student Affairs. The program was created specifically to provide training and awareness campaigns for students, faculty and staff. To mark Suicide Prevention Month, the group will host tabling events Sept. 19 and 23 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the SAC across from Chick-fil-A. The group will also host a “100 reasons to live” tree showcasing students’ artwork drawn on leaves.��

Also in September, the University of Louisville’s Dean of Students and Counseling Center encourages students to complete the online, interactive Kognito training, which allows users to learn how to help a friend or fellow student who is struggling.��Topics include techniques to talk to a friend you are concerned about, how to recognize signs of distress and what support services are available on campus. For the college-aged cohort specifically, such interactive training is critical, according to Geri Morgan, student care manager in the Dean of Students’ office.��

“Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among traditionally-aged college students,” Morgan said. “We know from UofL’s well-being survey that students are more likely to go to a friend with their thoughts of suicide rather than to a family member, adviser, or instructor. Helping students learn and practice the skills to help their friends is important in getting students under such stress to professional help and potentially saving someone’s life.”

UofL is also focused on educating the community about suicide risk and ways to support loved ones. From Sept. 26-28, will lead a training, hosted by UofL’s Kent School, called “Navigate: Helping Families Navigate Suicide Risk.” The training will be held in Burhans Hall on the Shelby Campus.��

The first day will cover an overview of suicide risk and assessment, including managing ongoing suicide risk and determining appropriate response based on risk levels. The other days focus on understanding family factors, including communication, response, dynamics and youth and adult development; and guidelines for moving forward, including family safety planning, tough conversations and family-based treatment. ����ֱ�� credit is available and a student rate is available as well.��

For those who need help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-TALK. A full list of resources available at UofL is .��

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