By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
If not for her perseverance and ability to overcome self-doubt, Lisa Patterson might never have reached her goal of earning a college degree.
“I had a rough upbringing,” said Patterson, now an office manager at USF Health. “Four months before my high school graduation, I had to leave my home in Tampa and move to Virginia with my mother. So, I dropped out.”
That occurred in 1999.
Lisa Patterson (second to left) and her family [Photo courtesy of Lisa Patterson]
“For a long time after that, I thought college was just a dream I would never obtain,” she said.
But this spring, the Tampa resident graduates from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor's of Science in Health Sciences, Health Care Administration degree.
“You live, you learn, you grow,” she said. “You never give up. You stay determined.”
It wasn’t easy.
“I realized pretty quickly that I needed a GED to at least have a stable job,” she said. “I earned it in 2001, but by that time, I also had my first son, so I held off on college.”
Patterson waited another 20 years to return to school.
First, she began her career at USF Health in 2010 as a patient service representative “and just kept climbing the ladder,” Patterson said. “I then realized that my continued growth depended on obtaining that college degree.”
So, in 2021, she enrolled at Hillsborough Community College.
“It was hard to go back to school after years away,” Patterson said. “I had to overcome dark thoughts. I was so scared I wouldn’t make it. I kept it quiet for two years. Only my close family knew I was back in school.”
After earning her associate degree, Patterson transferred to USF, again keeping her continuing education largely a secret.
Lisa Patterson and her son [Photo courtesy of Lisa Patterson]
“Other than my family, the only people who knew at first were my coworkers,” Patterson said. “I was in my head, letting the negative thoughts about being away from school for too long get to me. But I have exceeded my expectations.”
Her accolades include induction into the National Society of Leadership and Success, Golden Key International Honour Society and the Beta Phi Chapter of Tau Sigma, a national honor society for transfer students.
And she has done that while raising four children, including a son she adopted in December 2023.
“My journey is one of resilience, love and purpose,” she said. “Balancing motherhood and personal growth have pushed me to overachieve in the best ways, not for accolades, but for the legacy I'm building for my children. Every challenge I've faced has only deepened my capacity to lead with heart, strength and unwavering determination.”
She has more aspirations to pursue.
Patterson was accepted into the Muma College of Business Master of Business Administration program as she pursues her new career goal of becoming a hospital administrator.
She hopes that her story inspires others.
“I’ve learned that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams,” Patterson said. “It’s never too late to live, learn and grow.”