Senior Spotlight

Life hasn’t been altogether easy for Charles B. Simpson II, ’21. When he was 14, he got a job at Zaxby’s to help his mother pay for the medications she was taking to combat her breast cancer. At one point when he was 16, he simultaneously held two jobs while attending high school in order to help pay the family’s bills. Later that year, his mother lost her fight.

“It was very saddening. To cope, I told myself I would do whatever I could that would’ve made my mother happy,” Simpson said.

His mother was a hard worker who valued education and opportunity. So, Simpson worked hard in school and filled several club roles – president of the Diversity Club, president of the school bank, vice president of the Marketing Club, DECA and Treasurer for FBLA – all while working an average of 25 hours a week as a host at the local restaurant.

After graduation, Simpson attended the University of Kentucky, but he transferred to Cumberlands when he heard about its online undergraduate program. This May, he will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

He has kept a consistent work history with Amazon and companies in the transportation industry, as well as other organizations where he landed internships. His most recent position was as a supply chain management intern with Walmart. Simpson’s mother worked at Walmart for 15 years prior to her illness.

“I strive to make my mother proud by hopefully becoming a C-suite executive (COO) at Walmart one day. Taking 15 credit hours while working a full-time internship hasn’t been a walk in the park. But I must say, it’s rewarding to see the end results.”

Simpson knows what it’s like to lose someone. He knows what it’s like to be challenged, day in and day out. But more so, he knows how to rise above circumstances and do whatever it takes to help himself and those around him.

“Life has many challenges,” he said. “Strive for a positive outcome, persevere through the tough times, and make yourself and your loved ones proud by achieving your dreams. Help others when you can, and not only financially, but be a physical presence in their lives. Many students need guidance; be a mentor for those who need some direction. Helping one person is all it takes. Then that person will want to help someone else, and that pattern will make the world a better place.”