Picture Yourself Here: Sondra Lewis

Sondra Lewis first started college right after high school in 1979, but wasn't serious about her studies, especially after she made friends with older students. She has changed a lot since then and is now relishing her time in class. "I wanted to come back to finish what I started," she said. "I came back on purpose this time. I came back to Valley and its' been life changing."

She's taking Adobe and Script Writing class at the Center for New Media to enhance the video and documentary making skills she has already acquired while working in the field. "My daughter was my inspiration for coming back," Lewis said. Her daughter Imani is a Kalamazoo Valley graduate who now works for the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency. Imani Lewis, age, 22, is the youngest of five children.

Sondra Lewis currently hosts a Public Media Network show called Voice of Hope. She shot a video about homelessness in Kalamazoo in 2022 and it was particularly moving because she was practically homeless and was newly divorced at the time. "I started taking myself back," she said. "Doing that work was therapeutic."

She also hosts an inspirational YouTube channel and website called "Life After the Comma" and she wrote a book, "Dare to L.E.A.P.: Living Enlightened, Audacious and on Purpose" and created a journal series called Hopebook Journals, all available on Amazon.

Her endeavors all came about after a 30-year marriage ended in divorce. She explained, "I didn't know what my future would look like, but I knew that there were others in that age bracket going through similar circumstances, and in May of 2023, I decided to document my journey by encouraging and inspiring others that there is life after every comma we encounter. Having experienced a disruption later in life, it has been my goal to share my authentic journey with transparency and grace."

Kalamazoo Valley has been a part of her growth, Lewis said. "I'm seeing myself evolve," she said. "I'm seeing the work pay off. I'm seeing what I can do." Her goal is to become a transformational speaker with a goal of helping women realize their potential. "I enjoy seeing people do things they never thought they could do," she said. "So many people I've known over the years are doing things they never thought they could do."

At the age of 63, she tries to remain authentic and looks for ways to be encouraging to others in the same way that her Kalamazoo Valley instructors have encouraged her. "Everybody has a different path," she said. "We owe it to each other to be our own best selves. I'll do anything I can to help other people and motivate people," she said. "As long as you have breath, you are not too old."

When a situation seems overwhelming, Lewis said she remembers to be kind to herself and to set small, realistic goals. "What we say to ourselves about ourselves matters so much," she said. "You really have to change the way you see yourself. Do whatever you can do at the time. We all have the capability of doing so much more than we do."

Because she is so busy and so focused on both her studies and helping others, Lewis said time management is a challenge. "Now that I'm in school, my biggest challenge is time management," she said. "I believe God prepares us all with gifts and talents that are released at the right time. I'm looking at how I can make more of an impact with my time."