Passionette Jacobs while serving the National Guard
By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
It takes more than two hours for Passionette Jacobs to commute to the University of South Florida鈥檚 Tampa campus.
Yes, it鈥檚 a long drive 鈥� but it pales in comparison to the journey she鈥檚 taken to achieve her goal of becoming a college graduate.
A mother at 15, Jacobs left high school to support her son. But she earned her GED, served in the U.S. Army鈥檚 New York and Florida National Guards, learned multiple trades and even wrote a children鈥檚 book before enrolling at USF.
This month, the 36-year-old mother of two 鈥� including a school-aged child 鈥� will earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to feel amazing to walk across that stage and be handed my diploma,鈥� Jacobs said. 鈥淚t goes to show that I can accomplish everything I put my mind to.鈥�
It took relentless dedication just to make it to class each day.
Jacobs rose before the sun to tackle her morning parenting routine.
鈥淛uggling backpacks and school drop-offs before I even start thinking about heading to USF,鈥� she said.
After classes, Jacobs headed home, picked up her 10-year-old daughter, prepared dinner, helped with homework and then clocked in at her administrative job in the medical field.
Between it all, she found time to FaceTime her oldest, who, at 20, is currently stationed overseas with the U.S. Navy.
Passionette Jacobs with her children
鈥淛ust hearing his voice and seeing him reminds me why I鈥檓 pushing so hard,鈥� Jacobs said. 鈥淚 was a big inspiration for him when it came to joining the military, and I hope I can lead him the same way when it comes to pursuing a degree.鈥�
At 15, Jacobs was terrified to learn she was pregnant, but her fear quickly turned into determination to provide for a baby boy.
So, the then-New Yorker enlisted in the Job Corps 鈥� a federal program that provides education and hands-on job training to help young people build successful careers.
She earned a GED and a certification in medical office technology through the program.
That led to positions at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center and Brooklyn Health-Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center.
At 20, Jacobs enlisted in the National Guard, where she served 12 years as a welder and machinist.
But college always remained a priority.
鈥淏oth of my parents went to college,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll five of sisters and one of my brothers went to college. College was always the plan. I鈥檓 a determined person 鈥� I鈥檝e never let anything get in the way of my dreams.鈥�
Jacobs earned an associate degree in criminal justice from LaGuardia Community College. A few years later, she become a plumber apprentice.
Then, in 2017, she relocated to Florida
鈥淚 was just tired of New York and ready for a change,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I didn鈥檛 really have a plan.鈥�
Passionette Jacobs's book, 鈥淔un Times with Serenity鈥�
She soon made one.
Jacobs became a certified insurance and coding specialist, which is a credential that demonstrates her expertise in managing medical billing, insurance claims and health care coding with precision and compliance.
She then authored a published children鈥檚 book. Inspired by her children鈥檚 love of YouTube, 鈥淔un Times with Serenity鈥� follows a family who learns to create their own online show.
鈥淚t was just something on my list of things I wanted to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted to be an author, so I just went out and did it.鈥�
But a bachelor鈥檚 degree remained at the top of that list.
So, in 2023, despite knowing the challenges of doing so as a working mother, Jacobs enrolled at USF. She finished her final semester as an intern, creating YouTube content for University Communications and Marketing.
鈥淭ime waits for nobody,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ot everything in life is going to be easy, but if you want it, go out and get it. If you procrastinate, it鈥檚 not going to happen. Only you can make the life you want. No one else can.鈥�