Hard work and persistence earn Somerville native a UT Martin degree
Hard work and persistence earn Somerville native a UT Martin degree
MARTIN, Tenn. – The path to earning a college degree is a journey of highs and lows, and Rachel Lumpkin of Somerville experienced more than her share of both during the past 18 years. Her journey ended successfully Dec. 13, when she crossed the University of Tennessee at Martin commencement stage with other summer and fall graduates after completing her accounting degree in August.
LUMPKIN GRADUATES – Pictured is Rachel Lumpkin (1) crossing the commencement stage, (2) with her daughter and oldest child, Laila Lumpkin, a high school senior, and (3) Lumpkin (center) participating in the FBI Collegiate Academy in February.
Lumpkin attended Fayette-Ware Comprehensive High School and for a short time at Bolivar Central High School before earning her GED and enrolling in 2007 at what is now the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Whiteville. She earned an accounting assistant diploma along with certificates for general office and information processing. She also became pregnant and had her first child while earning her first credentials beyond high school but persisted to complete the initial phase of her education.
Her second child followed in 2013, and then life took an unexpected turn as she became the primary caregiver for her mother, who had suffered from polio as a child.
“She developed post-polio syndrome, and she had a particularly rough case with it,” Lumpkin said. “And she couldn’t walk or get up or anything. She had movement of one arm a little bit, and so I was her full-time caregiver up until 2020, when she passed away.”
Another challenge followed almost immediately as the COVID-19 pandemic forced Lumpkin and her family into quarantine in early 2021.
“I found myself at a crossroads. … I hadn’t really had the chance to just get out and go start my career yet,” she said. “So, I knew that I wanted … to build on the education I had.”
Lumpkin resumed her education when she entered UT Martin in May 2021 as a criminal justice major with a minor in psychology. However, a year later, she changed her major to accounting to build on her previous education and to honor her mother, who had worked in business.
Returning to school wasn’t easy, but she was soon invited to join the National Society for Leadership and Success that provided mentors who taught her time management and other practical skills. Her third and youngest child was born in 2022, but she managed her family and school responsibilities, worked to keep her grades high and ultimately earned all As in her accounting courses.
Lumpkin completed courses through the UT Martin Somerville Center and by taking online classes, which became especially challenging when she enrolled in upper-division accounting. She credits College of Business and Global Affairs faculty members for their ability to make challenging subject matter relatable to the real world through videos, simulations and other study aids. Also, Kara Tapp, UT Martin Somerville Center director, connected her with a Jackson Center student who faced similar challenges with complex coursework, and the pairing helped both students to keep moving forward with their education.
In her one trip to the main campus, other than to attend graduation, Lumpkin participated in the FBI Collegiate Academy in February 2025, an extension of her interest in criminal justice. About the same time, she was invited to join Tri-Alpha, an honor society for first-generation college students, which brought more recognition for her achievements.
Lumpkin completed her classes in August, which brought her to the commencement stage Dec. 13. Her focus now shifts to the future, as she begins her long-anticipated business career. She recently agreed to join Northwestern Mutual, which will require more education as she studies for licenses to sell health and life insurance and to work with clients in financial advising and planning. A move for her and her family is likely in early 2026 to Williamson County or Rutherford County in Middle Tennessee.
Tapp is one of Lumpkin’s biggest fans for what Rachel has accomplished in face of multiple challenges and delays. Tapp sees a degree as only the beginning for the Fayette County native.
“Driven by her passion for helping others, Rachel plans to pursue a career as a wealth management adviser,” Tapp wrote in an email. “She believes deeply in continuous learning and in equipping her children and future generations with the tools necessary to build and sustain generational wealth.
“Grateful for the support she has received throughout her journey, Rachel looks forward to giving back to her community and encouraging others who are striving to build their own legacies from the ground up.”
Lumpkin, who graduated Magna Cum Laude, remains humble in this moment of personal achievement. She’s transparent about her struggles and how they’ve made her who she is.
“I’ve had a lot of obstacles and challenges and everything, but I wouldn’t be where I’m at today and I wouldn’t be who I am today if I had not had all of those obstacles, because they made me stronger and more capable and very determined,” she said. “So, I’m thankful for them.”
She also wants people to know that she’s already thinking about her new employer as her career begins.
“I mostly want people to know that I will be actively trying to build a client base up for my job at Northwestern (Mutual),” she said confidently as she anticipates becoming an independent contractor for the company.
Before she walked across the stage, UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman opened the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony with a quote from the late actress Audrey Hepburn who said, “Nothing is impossible. Even the word itself says, ‘I’m possible.’”
The quote says what everyone should know about Rachel Lumpkin, who embraced “I’m possible” to earn an accounting degree despite the odds against her. Setbacks became setups for a future of possibilities that she could only imagine years ago when her journey began.
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