Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Amber Holmes.
Dr. Holmes, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey started accidentally. I always wanted to excel and be an extraordinary student. I felt like I owed it to my family and especially my mother. I grew up fairly well, and I was definitely blessed with a supportive family and a small friend circle. But in reality, the amount of resources that were provided to me and my peers were nothing compared to the resources on other parts of town or for other students who didn’t share the same skin complexion. I knew the odds weren’t fair and I also knew that I had to work extra hard for scholarships, recognition and to stand out in interviews. It’s a world where the Black Woman does not dominate and we have to fight for our place here.
So I started learning new ways and techniques to make school more efficient and even easier for me. I learned the tricks of the trade from great African American women mentors as well as peers that showed me ways to be exceptional. I knew there was a way to make it out of the stereotype. People started to look up to me, ask for advice, start wondering what I was doing behind the shadows to achieve some of my accomplishments. I didn’t think anything was special. I just knew that God had me and He placed that grit in my spirit to grind harder than most. So eventually, I started helping more students, and people began to recommend me to give advice on how to get into college, grad school, how to prep for standardized tests and in general study skills. So now I’m the bridge for my community so that they can have those resources that my peers and I didn’t have. I want to now provide the tools for those students and give back so there can be more people who look like me at the top.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, the road was never smooth. Outside of financial struggles and having depression from overworking, it felt like the struggles never stopped honestly. I mean there were smooth patches, but in reality, things got so much harder the closer to the goal I got. The closer I got to becoming a doctoral graduate, it seemed like everything was happening. I was racially profiled, doubted by peers and classmates, and even ridiculed for “trying to be better than other people”. I was just a girl from the hood trying make it out. That was my only priority. I stayed true to my roots and I never wavered. And that’s what bothered the unbelievers. No matter what, I stayed true to Amber because I knew what I came to do.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Doctor Amber is an entity where I am a student success coach. I provide study tips and tricks, resources, tools and study guides on how to become a better student and excel at any level in your education. I mostly encourage and lead by example and just stay transparent with the students so they know it’s not as hard to really reach academia goals. I’m known for working smarter and not harder and giving insider tips that most people don’t even share to help students reach another level. I’m most proud of how much I impact lives. So many people reach out and tell me that they are encouraged and tried something I shared and how it really helped them. That makes my day because it gives me a boost of confidence to know that what I’m doing really does help. I’m different in that I can relate to studying and student to success to practically anything. I can teach somebody how to study, by using music or something fun instead of the typical bookworm stuff. I have good tactics that I know will save time, energy and money when it comes to going to college. And I’m a student, reaching back to give back so that there is more representation of us in the future
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Some of my favorite childhood memories come from taking care of my little sister. Babysitting was so fun. It allowed me to be responsible and accountable for something. We always played fun games, watched great movies, and that’s how I learned to cook.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://1studentsuccesscoa.wixsite.com/iamdoctoramber
- Email: 1studentsuccesscoach@gmail.com
- Instagram: thedoctoramber
- Twitter: iamdoctoramber
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