When Lakeisha first learned about the Illinois Spina Bifida Association's Executive Functioning Coaching Program during a spina bifida adult clinic appointment, she had no idea how much it would change her life. Doing outreach at the clinic that day was ISBA Executive Director Matt Larsen, with whom she had worked during a high school internship at ISBA. That conversation introduced her to a program that would help her build the confidence and skills needed to pursue a dream she had nearly given up on.
After leaving college unexpectedly several years earlier, the thought of returning felt overwhelming. Lakeisha struggled with time management, prioritizing tasks, and procrastination, especially when faced with difficult or unpleasant responsibilities. Beyond those challenges, she was also wrestling with self-doubt and uncertainty about whether returning to school was the right decision.
Lakeisha
"I decided to participate because I believed it would help me get back into college and provide me with better methods to succeed this time around," Lakeisha shared.
Over the course of more than 12 executive functioning coaching sessions with Executive Functioning Coach Kara Marriott, Lakeisha focused on strengthening the planning, organization, and self-management skills needed to achieve her long-term goal of returning to college. Together, they transformed what initially felt like an overwhelming process into a series of manageable, achievable steps.
Throughout coaching, Lakeisha accomplished milestones that once seemed out of reach. She successfully resolved an academic hold from a previous college experience, applied and was accepted to college, registered for classes, connected with Student Services to secure accommodations, completed her financial aid application, and ordered her textbooks. This fall, she will begin her first three college courses; a remarkable achievement that reflects both her determination and the effectiveness of developing strong executive functioning skills.
One strategy that made a significant difference was learning to write things down and plan ahead.
"The tool that has helped me the most was writing things down, such as plotting a conversation I plan to have in a professional setting and practicing doing so," she explained.
These practical strategies have given Lakeisha confidence not only for college, but for everyday life. She now feels prepared to tackle the demands of a new semester by organizing assignments and pacing herself throughout the year.
"Now I am waiting for the school semester to begin, and when I receive my syllabi, I will use my newfound skills to plan the pace of my year to make it as manageable as I can for myself."
Perhaps most importantly, Lakeisha's growth extended far beyond returning to school. Throughout the coaching program, she demonstrated improvement across all areas of executive functioning, strengthening the essential skills needed for academic success, personal independence, and future career goals.
Reflecting on her journey, Lakeisha recognizes just how transformative the program has been.
"Before executive functioning coaching, I would have never even tried to go back to school or get a head start on finding the resources I needed to achieve academic or personal success."
Her message to others considering ISBA’s Executive Functioning Coaching program is simple and heartfelt:
"I highly recommend doing so. It has totally changed my life."
Lakeisha's story is a powerful reminder that with the right support, practical strategies, and determination, goals that once seem impossible can become reality. As she begins this exciting new chapter in college, she carries with her not only a plan for success, but the confidence and executive functioning skills to make that plan a reality.
Interested in learning more?
The Illinois Spina Bifida Association's Executive Functioning Coaching Program helps individuals with spina bifida develop essential skills such as planning, organization, time management, task initiation, self-advocacy, and problem-solving to achieve their academic, personal, and career goals. If you or someone you know could benefit from executive functioning coaching, please visit i-sba.org/coaching or reach out to the Illinois Spina Bifida Association for more information about the program.