July 1, 2024 • 36 mins
Jasmine McGowan - Paralegal Specialist at United States Attorneys' Offices J.D. Candidate at NKU Salmon P. Chase College Law
Meet Jasmine McGowan, a Cincinnati State alumna whose inspiring journey led her to become a paralegal specialist. Her story is one of resilience and determination.
Jasmine shares how vision boards, supportive connections, and balancing motherhood with law school ambitions have shaped her path. Currently pursuing her law degree at NKU Chase College of Law, she has shown academic perseverance, even handling nine classes while pregnant.
Tune in to hear her compelling career journey, candid reflections, and the motivational tools that kept her focused. This episode of FutureProof offers valuable insights and light-hearted moments.
Credits
- Jayne Dressing…..Host
- Eimee Donbar…….Host
- Jasmine McGowan…….Guest
- Jamal Lundy…….Intro/Outro Voice Over
- Nozina Eshkobilova….Student Producer/ Production Assistant
- Nathan Bell….Student Engineer
- Brittany King……..Digital Marketing
- Jacqueline Norton…….Marketing and Advertising
- Joey Hickey…….Graphic Design
Special Thanks to:
- Michael Tekulve……..AVP Studio Director
- David Killen…….AVP Program Chair
- Geoffery Woolf…..Dean Humanities and Sciences
- Amy Waldbillig…….VP Workforce Development Department
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jamal Lundy (00:07):
What is it that makes us resilient?
What is it that makes somepeople pursue their goals and
chase their dreams in spite ofthe roadblocks and challenges?
What if all we needed was anopportunity?
Imagine if we trusted ourtalents, our abilities and our
strengths, then took a chance onourselves.
Future Proof is a CincinnatiState faculty and
(00:30):
student-created podcast wherestudents, alumni and employers
share adventures and learningoutside of the classroom.
Come with us as we share ourstudents' stories of resiliency
and overcoming the odds.
See what happens when wefinally stop saying no and stop
(00:51):
saying yes.
Jayne Dressing (00:51):
Hello and welcome to Future Proof.
I am Jane Martin Dressing andI'm Amy Donbar.
We're coming at you from Studio459 on the Cincinnati State
campus, and Future Proof, if youhaven't listened, is a podcast
where we highlight alumniexperiences from Cincinnati
(01:12):
State and share what their timewas like in community college
and what's happened since theyleft us.
Today we have a very specialguest who is near and dear to my
heart.
She is a former student fromthe Associate of Arts degree,
one of my students in class andone of my co-ops, and also
(01:40):
highly successful in her fieldand a future lawyer we have Ms.
Jasmine McGowan with us heretoday.
Welcome, Jasmine.
Thank you for having me.
Eimee Donbar (01:52):
Welcome.
Thanks for coming to Studio 459.
Jayne Dressing (01:55):
Is that even the right number?
It is, I promise.
Okay, it is Because I kind ofmade that up, did you?
Eimee Donbar (02:01):
Yeah, I was just Somebody run outside and look at
the studio number.
Jayne Dressing (02:04):
I thought we needed to call it a name the
place, the name of the placethat we are.
Eimee Donbar (02:10):
Okay so.
Jayne Dressing (02:11):
Okay, okay.
I just want listeners to knowthat I'm operating on one cup of
coffee, which is three down forme.
Eimee Donbar (02:20):
So I'm on one and a half.
Jayne Dressing (02:24):
I have I've listened to some previous
podcasts and you thought it wasyou needed to get the unleaded
go down a little bit.
Eimee Donbar (02:33):
I needed to shift down, shift down.
Jayne Dressing (02:37):
So, jasmine, you are a graduate from Cincinnati
State to I think we figured outit was 2018.
Graduate from Cincinnati Stateto I think we figured out it was
2018.
And you went on to theUniversity of Cincinnati to get
your degree and this is a greatstory.
I love when this happensbecause this is started to
(02:58):
happen.
I've been here 15 years, so itstarted to happen that my
students who graduated are nowemployers.
They're now people who arehiring students.
And I walk into our job fair afew years ago and there's
Jasmine with Hamilton Countyprobation probation and I was
(03:29):
like what, oh, jade?
And I thought I am going togive it to her now because she
put me through it a little bit.
I can't wait.
Oh, I can't wait to get intothis.
I'm sending her all the wildcards.
That's what I thought.
Eimee Donbar (03:37):
Well, let's get into this, let's get so.
So, jasmine, how did you get toCincinnati State?
Can you tell us a little bitabout your background and how
you got to us?
Jasmine Patterson (03:46):
Completely honest, transparent moment.
So I initially was at UC andthen after UC, I came here.
It was just one of thosemoments where I wasn't doing
well right out of high school.
I wasn't doing well right outof high school, I wasn't
disciplined enough, so I neededto, you know, shift down.
Jamal Lundy (04:09):
Shift down.
Jayne Dressing (04:10):
We've never heard this before.
No, that's not coming up.
We've never heard this story.
Jasmine Patterson (04:14):
But, then I just had to like focus a little
bit and then I felt likeCincinnati State was better for
me.
I think I took a tour and Iseen the class sizes and met a
few professors and I was justlike this is a good way to not
only save money but to be ableto actually build meaningful
(04:36):
connections and just learninghow to appreciate taking smaller
steps to, you know, get thingsdone.
Eimee Donbar (04:44):
And your story is not unlike a lot of students'
story where they started outsomewhere else.
I worked in advising for a longtime.
They started out somewhere elseand said, oh, that didn't work.
Let me reevaluate my path.
This is the right path.
So they didn't come here first,but came here to us and found
some success.
Jayne Dressing (05:03):
So they didn't come here first, but came here
to us and found some success.
So what do you think was like ameaningful moment or a
beneficial moment at CincinnatiState that really helped you
kind of decide.
Here's what's next for me.
This is, I'm going to keepgoing on to a four year degree.
Did you know that coming in, orwere you like, let me just see
what happens.
Jasmine Patterson (05:24):
I did know that, coming in, that I wanted
to get the whole four yeardegree.
Did you know that coming in, orwere you like let me just see
what happens?
I did know that, coming in,that I wanted to get the whole
four year degree.
It was always my, my idea ofwhat I wanted to do.
It was always a goal of mine,but also my mom's goal of mine
too.
Jayne Dressing (05:38):
Oh, yes, I remember many conversations
about your mom.
Sorry, mom, we love you mom,but I do remember.
Jasmine Patterson (05:44):
And so I did know I wanted to finish where I
wanted to go.
I didn't know, I didn't reallywant to stay in Cincinnati.
But you know, once I was hereand I kind of established the
connections I needed, I was likejust go to UC, and so it just
happened that way.
Jayne Dressing (05:59):
These were some conversations sometimes we'd
have in my office where Jasminewas like I'm just leaving.
Jasmine Patterson (06:04):
I'm done.
Jamal Lundy (06:05):
I'm out.
Jayne Dressing (06:06):
I'm done, I was like where are you going?
So come on, Get your resumedone.
Eimee Donbar (06:13):
Turn it in.
So how did you meet JaneDressing and how did you come to
work with Jane?
Jayne Dressing (06:22):
Did I take the class first?
It was the 9 am class thatstarted at 9.20 for.
Jasmine.
I was late too, all the timeAlternative start times.
She was late, but she hadbreakfast, so she could have
been on time.
Oh my gosh, that was right.
Jasmine Patterson (06:34):
The bakery was right outside.
Eimee Donbar (06:35):
Oh yeah, shout out to Bakery Hill.
Yeah, all right.
Yeah, Right there.
Jasmine Patterson (06:40):
And so I think I had your class first and
then from there something justtold me.
You know, I should probablyjust stay around her, because
she knows what she's talkingabout.
Eimee Donbar (06:49):
That's how I feel.
That's what I've done.
I met her and I was like Iain't going anywhere.
Jayne Dressing (06:53):
I hitched my car to Jane.
I'm like let's go She'd see mein the hall and try to run the
other way.
Eimee Donbar (07:06):
And I was like you can run, but you can't hide, I
will find you we call that.
Jane talks about herselfsometimes in third person and we
call that the jane stir.
Jasmine Patterson (07:11):
So you, that's her alternate personality
the jane stir like no, no, no,yeah, all right, but yeah, so
after I had took her class, um,were you my I think you were my
advisor as well.
(07:39):
Co-op coordinator, you were myadvisor, so I kind of turned you
into my advisor as well, okay,and who it was?
Another office next to you.
Um, it was another lady next toyou.
I can't remember who that was,but yeah, it's probably Jen Jen
Martin yes she's the programchair okay between?
Jayne Dressing (07:55):
the two of us.
We were like we're getting thisgirl out of here and we were
launching her.
She is getting launched you didit.
Jamal Lundy (08:01):
You did it on your own you did it on your own, you
did it on your own, and thenokay.
Jayne Dressing (08:06):
So then you, you got a job at the.
Jasmine Patterson (08:09):
Boys and Girls Club.
I did.
I was at the Boys and GirlsClub, um, and then I picked up
shelter house.
Through you, through here,through you, you helped me get
that too, um, and then which Iwas working crazy hours and
coming to school, I think thatwas like the, my last um little
stretch of school when I wasworking crazy hours and coming
to school.
I think that was like my lastlittle stretch of school when I
was working both those jobs andcoming to school.
(08:30):
I wasn't sleeping, I wasn'tsleeping at all.
Jayne Dressing (09:10):
I love that they hired her at boys and girls
club after hooters, I mean Iwould have liked to see that
resume.
Eimee Donbar (09:16):
Development on your part, friend, she did
amazing she I know, trust me, Iknow okay so, so so were you
working at two sites during yourexperiential learning.
Jasmine Patterson (09:30):
I was.
Okay, I was.
I had the thought that I wasgonna stop.
I eventually I did stop workingat Boys and Girls Club because
it became really hard.
Jayne Dressing (09:38):
Um, it was just too they loved her, the kids
loved her.
Yeah, I mean, that was a real,it was a huge shift for you
work-wise.
And I think you know what youwanted to do.
You were realizing was— Irealized a lot while I was at.
Jasmine Patterson (09:49):
Boys and Girls Club.
I realized that—because atfirst I wanted to be a
probation—a juvenile probationofficer and then I realized that
I didn't want to be in theposition where I had to place
consequences on a child thatreally didn't have—it wasn't his
fault why he was in theenvironment that he was in.
So I didn't want to be put inthat position.
And then I was like, okay, Ithink it's easier for me to work
(10:11):
with adults.
That way I can feel betterholding them accountable for
their actions.
It was just easier on my likemental.
So, yeah, that's why I hadswitched over, or I was already
at Shelter House and it was.
That was an experience like Iwas my first time being within
that population and really, likeyou know, just engaging Shelter
(10:37):
House listeners is a homelessshelter for men and women.
Jayne Dressing (10:43):
Homeless shelter for men and women.
They have two sides and theyare sort of a full-service
organization that's providingfood, shelter, treatment,
medical support, case management, job support, all kinds of
things.
So it's really kind of aone-stop service Supp kind of a
(11:07):
one-stop um, um supposed to be.
One stop supposed to be yeah,yes, and so that was kind of
working with adults, workingwith people all backgrounds.
I mean, you really do see it,my uh, career started out
working, um, with a homelesspopulation and it is like every
element of you know know,there's poverty, there's mental
(11:28):
health, there's domesticviolence, there's substance,
there's you know, criminalbackground, there's all the
things, and you're really like,all right, which one of these
things can I focus on and begood at?
One of these things am I can Ifocus on and be be good at?
(11:51):
You know, um?
Eimee Donbar (11:51):
so, after shelter, house, you get over to the big
school, you go back to UC.
I go back to UC up the hill.
Jayne Dressing (11:53):
What was your confidence like heading back to
UC?
Did it?
Jasmine Patterson (11:56):
feel different it did feel different.
I felt better.
I felt more accomplished, Ifelt more equipped, I felt I was
ready, more disciplined.
It was just.
I felt better.
I felt more accomplished, Ifelt more equipped, I felt I was
ready, more disciplined.
It was just.
I felt better.
That I was like OK, now it'stime, it's time to knock this
out.
I seen that I can knock thisout, cincinnati State out.
It's time to knock this out thepark and keep going, and so I
(12:18):
built the connections there.
I didn't meet Sue Birkin tillmy last year, though, but I
built the connections, took myclasses, and I was no longer
working at Shelter House.
Jayne Dressing (12:30):
I went back to Hooters okay, we're going to
edit that.
Cut that out.
Eimee Donbar (12:36):
Jason, cut it out it doesn't fit our story,
jasmine.
Jasmine Patterson (12:42):
I'm only joking.
Faculty involvement it doesn'tfit our story, Jasmine?
Jayne Dressing (12:44):
Okay, that's fine, I'm only joking.
I'm only joking.
Faculty involvement no but yeahso you.
Jasmine Patterson (12:49):
It was a schedule conflict.
I couldn't.
They needed me to work certainhours and.
I couldn't, and you know,waitressing was just.
Eimee Donbar (12:57):
It's a lot of money.
Jasmine Patterson (12:58):
It is Waitressing, I put myself
through school waiting tables,yeah and it was easier because
they worked with my schoolschedule and it was just way
easier at the time.
It got me through school, youknow.
I eventually, you know,switched over to Belterra, still
waitressing.
But it was just easier with theschool schedule, honestly.
And you did criminal justice,yes, criminal justice and
(13:21):
psychology.
And then where did I do myco-op at?
I believe that's when I did mylast year or the summer before
my last year.
That's when I got with SueBurke and she's faculty at UC
Tremendous Was she program chair.
Eimee Donbar (13:40):
Ahead of the program there.
I can't and we had a.
Jasmine and I and a?
Uh jasmine and I and sue.
Both jasmine and I and janeboth know sue.
I worked with sue uh burke, uh,oh gosh, 21 years ago.
I was an academic advisor forthe criminal justice program at
UC and I advised them and so Imet all the faculty there and
(14:03):
then she became your connection.
But it sounds like one of thekeys to your success that you
were talking about before wasthat you, you need to find your
people.
You need to find your support,so you found Jane and Jen Martin
and said hey, we're going toget through this together.
And then at UC you found SueBurke, faculty member, and she
helped you get through that.
(14:23):
What else has helped you onyour path to success?
Jasmine Patterson (14:28):
Staying focused, motivated.
I was one of those who wouldliterally write.
I went to the dollar store andI got postcards like not
postcards, but it was likelittle postcards, like poster
board, and I wrote downmotivating words and I posted it
(14:48):
around my room.
So when I woke up or if I wassat, down Like a vision board
yeah you ever seen the Secret?
Jayne Dressing (14:55):
No, is it a movie?
Jasmine Patterson (14:56):
It's like a movie, it's a secret, and it was
one of those like if you see itevery day, manifestation things
like that, and it just reallyhelped me.
Okay, I'm going to look it upand so yes, just staying
motivated, believing in myselfand just staying focused.
I just knew I didn't want towork at Hooters for the rest of
my life.
Jamal Lundy (15:16):
I didn't want to work at Hooters for the rest of
my life.
Jasmine Patterson (15:19):
Yes, so you know.
You see a bigger future foryourself.
Jayne Dressing (15:24):
So you're just like.
You just had to put yourself inthat.
Eimee Donbar (15:25):
Do you think Hooters would maybe be a sponsor
?
We're going to ask them.
Okay, all right, we're going tokeep moving on.
We're going to leave it inthere.
Leave it in there, jason, nevermind.
Jasmine Patterson (15:45):
So you get this faculty an internship as
you're graduating yes, parole.
So I interned with parole,loved it and honestly I loved it
so much it felt like a lightbulb in my head and I loved it
and they wanted me back.
They told me after you graduateapply.
Okay, I did that.
Yeah, and at this time I wasworking at pre-trial.
I had got the job at pre-trial,maybe the semester before I
graduated, and I graduated,applied for parole and I got
(16:09):
through to the last, last stepand they told me no.
They told me no because theysaid that my driving record was
I was a liability and I'm justyou know, I had all those
tickets.
Eimee Donbar (16:21):
You know it was because of Cincinnati State.
Honestly, oh, oh.
Jayne Dressing (16:26):
No, I think she was driving too fast to get to
Hooters on time.
Jasmine Patterson (16:33):
It wasn't to get to your class, I mean
because you came with breakfast20 minutes late.
Jayne Dressing (16:39):
She was driving so fast to get to my class,
Jasmine.
Jasmine Patterson (16:43):
we heard all the things you cannot Miss,
dressy literally, I think youclosed the door at like 9.08.
You were like don't come inhere, be in here at a certain
time, 9.08, it started at 9.
Eimee Donbar (16:53):
Yeah, probably Did you say that's unfair.
I was there contending that 908isn't fair.
Jasmine Patterson (16:59):
I was there at 9.07 and 57 seconds with my
muffin.
Jayne Dressing (17:04):
And I probably got there at 9.05.
Eimee Donbar (17:06):
No true story.
But the Jane-ster.
You can't mess with theJane-ster.
Okay, so you had all theseparking.
Jayne Dressing (17:13):
You had speeding .
It was the carless pack whenyou get it together.
Jasmine Patterson (17:16):
I had a few speeding, quite a few speeding.
It was the parking.
Call us back when you get ittogether.
I had a few speeding, quite afew speeding.
Eimee Donbar (17:19):
And you're blaming Cincinnati State for that.
A few it was the parking.
Jasmine Patterson (17:22):
It was the parking.
You had parking tickets fromCincinnati State.
Yes, I don't think CincinnatiState.
Jayne Dressing (17:26):
I think it could have been no no, no, she would
park on the street, on thestreet I parked on.
Jasmine Patterson (17:31):
Yeah, they got me every time with that fire
hydrant.
Eimee Donbar (17:36):
Every single time.
I can't, I can't.
Jayne Dressing (17:39):
If they were.
Eimee Donbar (17:39):
Cincinnati parking tickets.
Jayne Dressing (17:41):
They're like we're not sure with the criminal
justice, because if you don'tknow that, you're not supposed
to park by the fire hydrant.
Eimee Donbar (17:51):
No, I thought that one, I thought that one.
Oh, okay, I thought that one.
She got her measuring stick outand took a photo of the
measurement of it.
I was going to try to take,like your experience with
speeding and parking tickets,and add that to your
experiential learning process.
Jamal Lundy (18:08):
But you're not helping me with that.
Jasmine Patterson (18:10):
I'm sorry, I just got to be truthful.
It was bad, it was bad.
Eimee Donbar (18:14):
It was bad, okay, so you didn't get the job with
Pearl because of your Not rightaway.
Not right away.
Jasmine Patterson (18:19):
Yeah, because of the liability and my driving
record it was terrible,honestly this is why I didn't
have a car in college Because itwas bad yeah.
So then from there, so I stayedat pre-trial and maybe two
months in.
The crazy thing is I justemailed my supervisor.
I had a really goodrelationship with my supervisor
(18:40):
at pretrial and I was like youknow, I want to go to probation.
I think I told them this likemaybe before I even graduated.
Jayne Dressing (18:47):
They were going to put her on probation.
This is where I wanted to go.
Eimee Donbar (18:52):
What are you doing at pretrial, can you tell?
Our listeners a little bitabout what that is.
Jasmine Patterson (18:56):
Yes, so pretrial, what I did was
everybody that got arrested Idid their paperwork.
So incoming clients, defendants, people who came in who got
arrested I would ask them aseries of questions like their
background, and then ultimatelycall whoever they wanted me to
call to let them know they werein there and you could call back
(19:17):
at a certain time to know theirbond to get out, and then or
that was like if I worked secondshift or third shift Now first
shift.
You deal with a lot of the court.
Where they go to court, theyfigure out what their bond is,
what they're going to do, what'sgoing on, and then you just
sign them out and their you know, or bond figure that out from
(19:40):
there.
But yeah, that's pretty muchwhat pretrial is.
Eimee Donbar (19:43):
So okay, so you're , you're telling folks hey, I
want to get to probation inpretrial, I want to go to
probation.
Jasmine Patterson (19:49):
Yeah, he knew that, like my, supervisor and I
was like, yeah, I want to go toprobation.
I was very vocal about where Iwanted to go.
I was honest, um you know goodfor you yeah.
So whenever, whenever I gotthere, I just you know you build
those connections I was very Iwas trying to build my.
I'm forever building my networkand trying to meet new people.
Uh, so after pre-trial, uh, orprobation, wait, sorry, kind of
(20:12):
lost my train of thought.
So I went to.
I eventually got probationswitched over to there.
Good, my supervisor.
Oh you know what.
I skipped over a whole part,that's okay.
I interned at probation as well.
Okay.
So they knew my face over theretoo I know they did so.
They knew my face over there too, so I did that too.
(20:34):
I interned at probation andparole and then when I graduated
, it was just easier for me toslip over there because they
knew who I was Right.
I did really good at myinternships because I knew I was
either going to land atprobation or parole.
Of course you did so.
I got to probation and I lovedit.
I honestly thought that wasgoing to be the last step.
(20:54):
That was my career.
Let's go.
I'm here.
You were building it.
Jayne Dressing (20:58):
I was building it.
You're building your career.
Jasmine Patterson (21:00):
So I stayed in.
When I first went intoprobation I was in the general
unit, which is kind of just likeeverybody or whatever in the
felony division and commonpolice, and I realized I didn't
want to stay there.
I wanted to build a little bitmore rapport with my clients, I
wanted to help people, you know,and so I transferred over to
(21:25):
drug court, which was dealingwith addiction.
It was under Judge Sanders andafter that I went to parole and
then I was only at parole forthree months because I had an
interview with the Department ofJustice in May of last year, oh
jay.
(21:45):
And then they called me backeight months later and was just
like hey, you got the job, thankyou, it took it.
Jayne Dressing (21:52):
I just listeners .
It took eight months to for theuh parking tickets to get
cleared up.
Jasmine Patterson (21:58):
The parking tickets are already like gone by
then I was just like why, didit take them eight months to
call and then they were justlike.
It just takes that long and Iwas like okay, yeah, this is
serious.
Eimee Donbar (22:09):
The Department of Justice has to do extensive
background checks.
It takes a long time when it'sthe federal government.
Jasmine Patterson (22:20):
But when I went into it, into the, the
interview, honestly I as much asI was, so I was just so happy
and blessed that I even got myname in that room and I was just
like, if I don't get it, I'mjust happy.
My name reached the room and soI didn't go into it.
Just I didn't go into it likehey, I just gotta you know
uptight, or anything like that.
I was just like Jasmine,breathe, be honest, be real, be
yourself, and like just do it.
(22:42):
So I left out of there, likethey made me feel like I didn't
get the job and I was just likeat least I got there, you know,
at least I had the interview andthen they called me back and I
was like you actually liked me.
So, um yeah, I didn't think Iwas going to get the job.
I didn't think I was gonna getthe job.
I didn't think I got the job.
It was eight months later, sowhen they called me I was in the
car after, like parole bootcamp and honestly, and I was
(23:07):
just like after a day.
Jayne Dressing (23:08):
Can I ask if there was ever a law and order
influence?
Do you?
Jasmine Patterson (23:15):
know absolutely, was this absolutely
growing?
Jayne Dressing (23:18):
up yes, yes because I feel like I wanted to
be a detective and everything Iloved it okay, I sometimes.
I sometimes try to shoot downthat dream with students.
Jasmine Patterson (23:30):
Like listen, it's not like it is like tv show
, it is oh, okay okay, I wishyou could see this girl's face
on the county side.
Jamal Lundy (23:39):
No, on the federal side, absolutely.
Jasmine Patterson (23:42):
Just like the shows.
Jayne Dressing (23:44):
It is All right.
Ok, she can't, she's sworn, asecrecy, she can't tell anymore.
We always ask about first daysand any kind of awkward
situation that happened on thefirst day or first day stories
(24:04):
and you kind of have a funnyfirst day story at the
Department of Justice, which isa big job.
This is a big deal.
Jasmine Patterson (24:11):
So the US attorney I had a few
conversations with him.
He's a very nice guy down toearth.
Just his energy is a littleintimidating.
Eimee Donbar (24:22):
He just tall, that's what it is, but and he's
a district attorney right,you're not gonna sing Martin
Short in that role, right likeyou've got yeah.
Jasmine Patterson (24:30):
I was just like so the first.
It was like the first week andyou know it's my first week in
this really um important.
Jayne Dressing (24:40):
I felt role.
Jasmine Patterson (24:42):
And I'm just like don't mess up, don't smile
too much, just do your job,jasmine.
So I was in one of mysupervisors at the time.
She's been promoted since Istarted and I was in her office,
you know, just asking herquestions and things like that
Getting onboarded.
Jayne Dressing (25:01):
You're onboarding, yeah.
Jasmine Patterson (25:02):
From what I knew, he wasn't even in the
office.
You know he wasn't there.
And so another guy, anotherattorney, came in, was talking,
and I'm just kind of justobserving and I just feel like a
presence like at the door.
I didn't even want to turnaround because I was kind of
scared.
I was just like what?
And so I see the other attorney, the AUSA.
(25:23):
He turns around, he's like ohhey, you know, or whatever you
know, automatically, I'm justsuper nervous.
I'm like sweating, my hands aresweating.
I'm just like Jasmine, benormal, Say hi, no.
So the AUSA in front of me,like he knows him, he's been
working with him.
So he fist pumps the USattorney and you know this is
probably what they've been doing.
(25:43):
They know each other, this ishis boss.
So I've met this man maybetwice prior to this and had very
little conversation, and so asI'm walking out, I go ahead and
fist pump him, like what's up?
And so he fist pumps me and Iswear in my peripheral I just
see him like.
Jayne Dressing (26:05):
No, she didn't.
Who is she?
And so he fist pumps me and Iswear like in my peripheral.
Eimee Donbar (26:08):
I just see him like no, she didn't.
Jayne Dressing (26:10):
Who was she Like okay.
Eimee Donbar (26:12):
Are we at this level?
Dissipated quickly, you sawthat yes.
Jasmine Patterson (26:15):
I was just like, okay, you are weird,
jasson, why would you just dothat?
This is the US attorney youfist pump.
You are not cool like that.
Did that go on to the usattorney?
You fist pump it, you are notcool like that.
Jayne Dressing (26:23):
Did that go on to the vision board?
Think before you fist pump,like that was.
Jasmine Patterson (26:27):
That was on the poster board the next day
bad because I didn't want him tothink I just like didn't
respect him.
I was overthinking it.
I was truly overthinking it,yeah, and like I have, he walked
past one day.
I was like I am so sorry forfist pumping you I did not.
I, I respect not, I respect you.
He was like you are fine, likeit's not that.
I was just like okay, jasmine,turn around and stop
(26:48):
overthinking.
He was, he's so nice.
Like there's no reason for meto just like I was about to pass
out.
There's no reason for me tofeel that way.
Like it is a very important.
You know, it's a law firm, soit's a very important space.
Everybody's doing their job orwhatever, but it's, it wasn't.
It's not like what you think orwhat I thought.
(27:09):
Now that I'm starting to get toknow people and things like
that, people are human.
Eimee Donbar (27:13):
Yeah, and you and you had, you made a connection
with him Like I know that youdidn't want to fist bump but you
connected with him and he'slike you're good, I'm going to
start covering that in careerexploration.
Jayne Dressing (27:26):
I know I think I'm going to.
It's going to be a new.
It's part of your 30 secondelevators pitch.
Jasmine Patterson (27:32):
No honestly, because I couldn't believe I did
that and my mom.
I called my mom.
Jayne Dressing (27:37):
My name is Jasmine.
Jasmine Patterson (27:39):
I was like mom, I just fist pumped, but she
was like you are getting toocomfortable.
Go to your desk and do yourwork.
I love mama.
Eimee Donbar (27:47):
So I was just like yeah.
Jasmine Patterson (27:49):
But it was.
I love it.
It is like super familyoriented there.
They're so nice, there's noreason for me to be as uptight,
but it's like Law Order.
Jayne Dressing (27:56):
I love this.
Okay, she's now at Law Order.
Jasmine Patterson (28:06):
But this is also the best.
I love this job.
This is one of the best jobsI've had.
Like I'm, I love it, I love it,love it, love it like I get to
read tea all day.
Jayne Dressing (28:12):
Oh, she gets to read tea, and we are not talking
about lipton listeners likeit's so juicy, it's great like I
love it.
Eimee Donbar (28:21):
Can we get the sponsor by hooters and lipt?
Jayne Dressing (28:23):
Yes, the tea, because we're spilling the tea
here.
We are spilling it every week.
I love my job.
Jasmine Patterson (28:28):
I love it.
I love the people I work with.
It's so like everybody is intheir own bubble, but
everybody's doing their own work, and then when they can come
out their offices and talk, theydo.
But it it's like you do yourwork and then it's playtime.
But okay, at the same time Iget to read tea all day all
right.
Eimee Donbar (28:49):
So what are you?
Jasmine Patterson (28:49):
doing now you're working yeah, I'm still
there.
Eimee Donbar (28:53):
I'm a paralegal specialist what do you do as a
paralegal specialist?
Jayne Dressing (28:57):
uh, reads tea all day.
Jasmine Patterson (28:58):
I know I read all day, but to be specific, um
I send out subpoenas, warrantsor write up the subpoenas and
the warrants for the attorneys,motions, plea agreements, and
just tighten up everything andyeah, just filing and things
like that.
Eimee Donbar (29:17):
You're also in law school right now.
Jasmine Patterson (29:20):
I start NKU.
Chase in August.
Eimee Donbar (29:24):
Okay.
Jayne Dressing (29:25):
Yes, so last oh, spring, June, maybe June, I'm
getting my car repaired andnobody loses my number.
You know, everybody stays intouch with me.
So I get this phone call and Iand it's jasmine, and she was
like I got into law school and Iwas like no way no way, because
(29:51):
listen, if, if you would haveseen this girl walk across the
cincinnati state really stage,come on now six inch heels and
fired.
Eimee Donbar (30:03):
I think she fist bumped everybody going across
the stage yes, and it was loud,and you know the audience goes
loud and they yell yeah and, uh,I love it.
Jayne Dressing (30:15):
And then she calls and says, hey, I'm in, I'm
going to law school, and I waslike, yeah, you are yeah, I feel
like I just had to alwayscircle back to tell Ms Dre like
I did it.
Jasmine Patterson (30:24):
I did it.
Eimee Donbar (30:26):
Yeah, we tell people, jane and I do.
Jayne Dressing (30:28):
And it surprised me one bit.
Eimee Donbar (30:30):
No, hold on to your people.
Students listening out theretrying to get from point A to
point B, except for Carly andJason in the control room.
Except for you two.
No, hold on to your people, andyou did, and you found these
people and you hang on to themand they're your people.
So excellent job and I lovethat you got to get that call
(30:53):
Jane.
Jayne Dressing (30:54):
Yeah, it was great, I love it and shout out
to Sue Burke too, so you got tolet her know about this journey.
Jasmine Patterson (31:02):
She did her thing Like I had gotten pregnant
.
I you got to let her know aboutthis journey.
She did her thing Like I hadgot pregnant.
I got pregnant the summerbefore my last year Of
undergraduate.
I feel like I had so manyclasses and I was just like I
knew that I just didn't want totake.
I wanted to graduate before Ihad Nova, which is my daughter,
and I was like I can't take anyclasses after I have her Because
(31:23):
I just know I'm not going to befocused.
It's going to be hard to be anew mom it's a life changing
yeah and so she, she even it wasto the point sometimes we had
to call Cincinnati State, makesome connections, because there
were certain classes I took herethat, because they were named
something different, we had tolike kind of finesse it Like,
yeah, this technically, thisclass counts towards this class
(31:47):
over here.
And she really helped me out tothe point where I put a lot of
stress on myself.
But the last semester I tooknine classes.
Eimee Donbar (31:58):
I did, I worked nine classes yes, you took 27
credit hours.
Nine classes yes, you took 27credit hours, nine classes.
Jasmine Patterson (32:05):
Yes, most of them were online but three of
them were probably on campusGirl.
Nine classes Worked and my90-hour internship I had to
complete while I was eight, ninemonths pregnant.
Wow, so I was walking across,but I was so determined I was
like I'm graduating.
Jayne Dressing (32:24):
I am not taking any more classes.
Yeah, and I was walking across.
Jasmine Patterson (32:27):
But I was so determined I was like I'm
graduating, I am not taking anymore classes and I graduated
with a 3.2.
Jayne Dressing (32:33):
Oh my gosh, yeah , fist bump.
All right, we fist bumplisteners.
Jamal Lundy (32:36):
These are the stories that we hear.
Jayne Dressing (32:42):
That resiliency, not giving up, persistent.
Jasmine Patterson (32:44):
I love this.
I had to because I was nottaking any classes with a
newborn.
I was not doing it.
Eimee Donbar (32:48):
No clearly not.
Jasmine Patterson (32:50):
Took two full-time schedules.
Jayne Dressing (32:51):
I was tired, I was tired and you graduate and
it's kind of in the heart ofCOVID right.
Jasmine Patterson (32:58):
It was.
It was the heart of COVID.
Jayne Dressing (32:59):
Yeah, and you did it and you got through it,
and then I know you came backand walked across that stage.
Oh yeah, I was going to walkacross that stage.
Jasmine Patterson (33:06):
I was going to walk across that stage.
Jamal Lundy (33:08):
I wanted to walk across with my baby.
Jasmine Patterson (33:10):
but of course I was like Jasmine, don't do
that, just let her see you.
Of course, when I look over asI'm walking over, guess what
she's doing?
Sleep.
You're supposed to see thismoment Nova.
Eimee Donbar (33:19):
Welcome to motherhood.
Yes, Like are you looking?
Jasmine Patterson (33:23):
No, no, she was knocked out.
I was like this is for you.
Jayne Dressing (33:26):
Yeah, but no it was good.
Yeah Well, you're changinglives every day your own life,
your daughter's life?
Hopefully there's some studentslistening out there who are at
Cincinnati State dreaming ofgoing to law school, dreaming of
a career, and what advice wouldyou give?
(33:48):
What would you say to yourselfas a 19-year-old?
Knowing what you know now,because I love how you talk to
yourself in the third person.
Jasmine Patterson (33:58):
I love that.
It's going to sound so cliche,but I see why so many people say
it, and it's.
You have to actually believe inyourself.
You have to write it down andyou have to like, make a plan
and you have to like, you haveto study your plan.
You can't have it.
You're going to have a milliondistractions, but ultimately
(34:22):
it's about you, it's for you.
Get it done.
It's your plan, your goals.
Don't ignore the distractions,because they're there for a
reason to prevent you fromgetting to your next milestone.
So, of course, take it day byday, step by step, but it's
better when you have it writtendown, have a plan and have a
plan.
Jayne Dressing (34:41):
Yeah, that's a great.
That's great advice, becauseplans can change.
But if you have no plan, lifewill give you one, absolutely,
and you have to write it down.
Jasmine Patterson (34:51):
It's nothing with having something written
down and hey, if a plan doesn'twork, there have a plan B and
get back to the original plan.
But believe in yourself.
It's so cliche, but it's sotrue.
You have to believe that youcan do it, because if no one
else believes in you, that'syour power.
Jayne Dressing (35:11):
That's your power.
Believe in yourself, Jasmine.
Thank you so much for joiningus here at Future Proof.
We cannot wait to share yoursuccess and your updates with
our listeners.
Eimee Donbar (35:24):
We're going to be needing a lawyer soon to
represent us in the Hooters andthe Lipton T lawsuit Just
kidding, you know in.
Jayne Dressing (35:32):
August, when you're at Chase, we are your
first clients.
Eimee Donbar (35:35):
Thank you.
Thank you so much for beinghere today.
Thanks for being here.
Pleasure hearing your story,Jasmine.
Jamal Lundy (35:45):
Thanks for joining us on the Future Proof Podcast.
The Future Proof Podcast isbrought to you by Studio 459 up
on the hill at CincinnatiState's main campus in Clifton.
This podcast is produced inconjunction with the Cincinnati
State Audio Video ProductionProgram, its students and
faculty Student producers areJason Warner and Carly Baker.
(36:09):
If you like what you heard here, please hit the subscribe
button.
If you're an employer orpotential student interested in
the programs Cincinnati Statehas to offer, please visit
cincinnatistateedu.
What is it that makes us resilient?
What is it that makes somepeople pursue their goals and
chase their dreams in spite ofthe roadblocks and challenges?
What if all we needed was anopportunity?
Imagine if we trusted ourtalents, our abilities and our
strengths, then took a chance onourselves.
Future Proof is a CincinnatiState faculty and
(00:30):
student-created podcast wherestudents, alumni and employers
share adventures and learningoutside of the classroom.
Come with us as we share ourstudents' stories of resiliency
and overcoming the odds.
See what happens when wefinally stop saying no and stop
(00:51):
saying yes.
Jayne Dressing (00:51):
Hello and welcome to Future Proof.
I am Jane Martin Dressing andI'm Amy Donbar.
We're coming at you from Studio459 on the Cincinnati State
campus, and Future Proof, if youhaven't listened, is a podcast
where we highlight alumniexperiences from Cincinnati
(01:12):
State and share what their timewas like in community college
and what's happened since theyleft us.
Today we have a very specialguest who is near and dear to my
heart.
She is a former student fromthe Associate of Arts degree,
one of my students in class andone of my co-ops, and also
(01:40):
highly successful in her fieldand a future lawyer we have Ms.
Jasmine McGowan with us heretoday.
Welcome, Jasmine.
Thank you for having me.
Eimee Donbar (01:52):
Welcome.
Thanks for coming to Studio 459.
Jayne Dressing (01:55):
Is that even the right number?
It is, I promise.
Okay, it is Because I kind ofmade that up, did you?
Eimee Donbar (02:01):
Yeah, I was just Somebody run outside and look at
the studio number.
Jayne Dressing (02:04):
I thought we needed to call it a name the
place, the name of the placethat we are.
Eimee Donbar (02:10):
Okay so.
Jayne Dressing (02:11):
Okay, okay.
I just want listeners to knowthat I'm operating on one cup of
coffee, which is three down forme.
Eimee Donbar (02:20):
So I'm on one and a half.
Jayne Dressing (02:24):
I have I've listened to some previous
podcasts and you thought it wasyou needed to get the unleaded
go down a little bit.
Eimee Donbar (02:33):
I needed to shift down, shift down.
Jayne Dressing (02:37):
So, jasmine, you are a graduate from Cincinnati
State to I think we figured outit was 2018.
Graduate from Cincinnati Stateto I think we figured out it was
2018.
And you went on to theUniversity of Cincinnati to get
your degree and this is a greatstory.
I love when this happensbecause this is started to
(02:58):
happen.
I've been here 15 years, so itstarted to happen that my
students who graduated are nowemployers.
They're now people who arehiring students.
And I walk into our job fair afew years ago and there's
Jasmine with Hamilton Countyprobation probation and I was
(03:29):
like what, oh, jade?
And I thought I am going togive it to her now because she
put me through it a little bit.
I can't wait.
Oh, I can't wait to get intothis.
I'm sending her all the wildcards.
That's what I thought.
Eimee Donbar (03:37):
Well, let's get into this, let's get so.
So, jasmine, how did you get toCincinnati State?
Can you tell us a little bitabout your background and how
you got to us?
Jasmine Patterson (03:46):
Completely honest, transparent moment.
So I initially was at UC andthen after UC, I came here.
It was just one of thosemoments where I wasn't doing
well right out of high school.
I wasn't doing well right outof high school, I wasn't
disciplined enough, so I neededto, you know, shift down.
Jamal Lundy (04:09):
Shift down.
Jayne Dressing (04:10):
We've never heard this before.
No, that's not coming up.
We've never heard this story.
Jasmine Patterson (04:14):
But, then I just had to like focus a little
bit and then I felt likeCincinnati State was better for
me.
I think I took a tour and Iseen the class sizes and met a
few professors and I was justlike this is a good way to not
only save money but to be ableto actually build meaningful
(04:36):
connections and just learninghow to appreciate taking smaller
steps to, you know, get thingsdone.
Eimee Donbar (04:44):
And your story is not unlike a lot of students'
story where they started outsomewhere else.
I worked in advising for a longtime.
They started out somewhere elseand said, oh, that didn't work.
Let me reevaluate my path.
This is the right path.
So they didn't come here first,but came here to us and found
some success.
Jayne Dressing (05:03):
So they didn't come here first, but came here
to us and found some success.
So what do you think was like ameaningful moment or a
beneficial moment at CincinnatiState that really helped you
kind of decide.
Here's what's next for me.
This is, I'm going to keepgoing on to a four year degree.
Did you know that coming in, orwere you like, let me just see
what happens.
Jasmine Patterson (05:24):
I did know that, coming in, that I wanted
to get the whole four yeardegree.
Did you know that coming in, orwere you like let me just see
what happens?
I did know that, coming in,that I wanted to get the whole
four year degree.
It was always my, my idea ofwhat I wanted to do.
It was always a goal of mine,but also my mom's goal of mine
too.
Jayne Dressing (05:38):
Oh, yes, I remember many conversations
about your mom.
Sorry, mom, we love you mom,but I do remember.
Jasmine Patterson (05:44):
And so I did know I wanted to finish where I
wanted to go.
I didn't know, I didn't reallywant to stay in Cincinnati.
But you know, once I was hereand I kind of established the
connections I needed, I was likejust go to UC, and so it just
happened that way.
Jayne Dressing (05:59):
These were some conversations sometimes we'd
have in my office where Jasminewas like I'm just leaving.
Jasmine Patterson (06:04):
I'm done.
Jamal Lundy (06:05):
I'm out.
Jayne Dressing (06:06):
I'm done, I was like where are you going?
So come on, Get your resumedone.
Eimee Donbar (06:13):
Turn it in.
So how did you meet JaneDressing and how did you come to
work with Jane?
Jayne Dressing (06:22):
Did I take the class first?
It was the 9 am class thatstarted at 9.20 for.
Jasmine.
I was late too, all the timeAlternative start times.
She was late, but she hadbreakfast, so she could have
been on time.
Oh my gosh, that was right.
Jasmine Patterson (06:34):
The bakery was right outside.
Eimee Donbar (06:35):
Oh yeah, shout out to Bakery Hill.
Yeah, all right.
Yeah, Right there.
Jasmine Patterson (06:40):
And so I think I had your class first and
then from there something justtold me.
You know, I should probablyjust stay around her, because
she knows what she's talkingabout.
Eimee Donbar (06:49):
That's how I feel.
That's what I've done.
I met her and I was like Iain't going anywhere.
Jayne Dressing (06:53):
I hitched my car to Jane.
I'm like let's go She'd see mein the hall and try to run the
other way.
Eimee Donbar (07:06):
And I was like you can run, but you can't hide, I
will find you we call that.
Jane talks about herselfsometimes in third person and we
call that the jane stir.
Jasmine Patterson (07:11):
So you, that's her alternate personality
the jane stir like no, no, no,yeah, all right, but yeah, so
after I had took her class, um,were you my I think you were my
advisor as well.
(07:39):
Co-op coordinator, you were myadvisor, so I kind of turned you
into my advisor as well, okay,and who it was?
Another office next to you.
Um, it was another lady next toyou.
I can't remember who that was,but yeah, it's probably Jen Jen
Martin yes she's the programchair okay between?
Jayne Dressing (07:55):
the two of us.
We were like we're getting thisgirl out of here and we were
launching her.
She is getting launched you didit.
Jamal Lundy (08:01):
You did it on your own you did it on your own, you
did it on your own, and thenokay.
Jayne Dressing (08:06):
So then you, you got a job at the.
Jasmine Patterson (08:09):
Boys and Girls Club.
I did.
I was at the Boys and GirlsClub, um, and then I picked up
shelter house.
Through you, through here,through you, you helped me get
that too, um, and then which Iwas working crazy hours and
coming to school, I think thatwas like the, my last um little
stretch of school when I wasworking crazy hours and coming
to school.
I think that was like my lastlittle stretch of school when I
was working both those jobs andcoming to school.
(08:30):
I wasn't sleeping, I wasn'tsleeping at all.
Jayne Dressing (09:10):
I love that they hired her at boys and girls
club after hooters, I mean Iwould have liked to see that
resume.
Eimee Donbar (09:16):
Development on your part, friend, she did
amazing she I know, trust me, Iknow okay so, so so were you
working at two sites during yourexperiential learning.
Jasmine Patterson (09:30):
I was.
Okay, I was.
I had the thought that I wasgonna stop.
I eventually I did stop workingat Boys and Girls Club because
it became really hard.
Jayne Dressing (09:38):
Um, it was just too they loved her, the kids
loved her.
Yeah, I mean, that was a real,it was a huge shift for you
work-wise.
And I think you know what youwanted to do.
You were realizing was— Irealized a lot while I was at.
Jasmine Patterson (09:49):
Boys and Girls Club.
I realized that—because atfirst I wanted to be a
probation—a juvenile probationofficer and then I realized that
I didn't want to be in theposition where I had to place
consequences on a child thatreally didn't have—it wasn't his
fault why he was in theenvironment that he was in.
So I didn't want to be put inthat position.
And then I was like, okay, Ithink it's easier for me to work
(10:11):
with adults.
That way I can feel betterholding them accountable for
their actions.
It was just easier on my likemental.
So, yeah, that's why I hadswitched over, or I was already
at Shelter House and it was.
That was an experience like Iwas my first time being within
that population and really, likeyou know, just engaging Shelter
(10:37):
House listeners is a homelessshelter for men and women.
Jayne Dressing (10:43):
Homeless shelter for men and women.
They have two sides and theyare sort of a full-service
organization that's providingfood, shelter, treatment,
medical support, case management, job support, all kinds of
things.
So it's really kind of aone-stop service Supp kind of a
(11:07):
one-stop um, um supposed to be.
One stop supposed to be yeah,yes, and so that was kind of
working with adults, workingwith people all backgrounds.
I mean, you really do see it,my uh, career started out
working, um, with a homelesspopulation and it is like every
element of you know know,there's poverty, there's mental
(11:28):
health, there's domesticviolence, there's substance,
there's you know, criminalbackground, there's all the
things, and you're really like,all right, which one of these
things can I focus on and begood at?
One of these things am I can Ifocus on and be be good at?
(11:51):
You know, um?
Eimee Donbar (11:51):
so, after shelter, house, you get over to the big
school, you go back to UC.
I go back to UC up the hill.
Jayne Dressing (11:53):
What was your confidence like heading back to
UC?
Did it?
Jasmine Patterson (11:56):
feel different it did feel different.
I felt better.
I felt more accomplished, Ifelt more equipped, I felt I was
ready, more disciplined.
It was just.
I felt better.
I felt more accomplished, Ifelt more equipped, I felt I was
ready, more disciplined.
It was just.
I felt better.
That I was like OK, now it'stime, it's time to knock this
out.
I seen that I can knock thisout, cincinnati State out.
It's time to knock this out thepark and keep going, and so I
(12:18):
built the connections there.
I didn't meet Sue Birkin tillmy last year, though, but I
built the connections, took myclasses, and I was no longer
working at Shelter House.
Jayne Dressing (12:30):
I went back to Hooters okay, we're going to
edit that.
Cut that out.
Eimee Donbar (12:36):
Jason, cut it out it doesn't fit our story,
jasmine.
Jasmine Patterson (12:42):
I'm only joking.
Faculty involvement it doesn'tfit our story, Jasmine?
Jayne Dressing (12:44):
Okay, that's fine, I'm only joking.
I'm only joking.
Faculty involvement no but yeahso you.
Jasmine Patterson (12:49):
It was a schedule conflict.
I couldn't.
They needed me to work certainhours and.
I couldn't, and you know,waitressing was just.
Eimee Donbar (12:57):
It's a lot of money.
Jasmine Patterson (12:58):
It is Waitressing, I put myself
through school waiting tables,yeah and it was easier because
they worked with my schoolschedule and it was just way
easier at the time.
It got me through school, youknow.
I eventually, you know,switched over to Belterra, still
waitressing.
But it was just easier with theschool schedule, honestly.
And you did criminal justice,yes, criminal justice and
(13:21):
psychology.
And then where did I do myco-op at?
I believe that's when I did mylast year or the summer before
my last year.
That's when I got with SueBurke and she's faculty at UC
Tremendous Was she program chair.
Eimee Donbar (13:40):
Ahead of the program there.
I can't and we had a.
Jasmine and I and a?
Uh jasmine and I and sue.
Both jasmine and I and janeboth know sue.
I worked with sue uh burke, uh,oh gosh, 21 years ago.
I was an academic advisor forthe criminal justice program at
UC and I advised them and so Imet all the faculty there and
(14:03):
then she became your connection.
But it sounds like one of thekeys to your success that you
were talking about before wasthat you, you need to find your
people.
You need to find your support,so you found Jane and Jen Martin
and said hey, we're going toget through this together.
And then at UC you found SueBurke, faculty member, and she
helped you get through that.
(14:23):
What else has helped you onyour path to success?
Jasmine Patterson (14:28):
Staying focused, motivated.
I was one of those who wouldliterally write.
I went to the dollar store andI got postcards like not
postcards, but it was likelittle postcards, like poster
board, and I wrote downmotivating words and I posted it
(14:48):
around my room.
So when I woke up or if I wassat, down Like a vision board
yeah you ever seen the Secret?
Jayne Dressing (14:55):
No, is it a movie?
Jasmine Patterson (14:56):
It's like a movie, it's a secret, and it was
one of those like if you see itevery day, manifestation things
like that, and it just reallyhelped me.
Okay, I'm going to look it upand so yes, just staying
motivated, believing in myselfand just staying focused.
I just knew I didn't want towork at Hooters for the rest of
my life.
Jamal Lundy (15:16):
I didn't want to work at Hooters for the rest of
my life.
Jasmine Patterson (15:19):
Yes, so you know.
You see a bigger future foryourself.
Jayne Dressing (15:24):
So you're just like.
You just had to put yourself inthat.
Eimee Donbar (15:25):
Do you think Hooters would maybe be a sponsor
?
We're going to ask them.
Okay, all right, we're going tokeep moving on.
We're going to leave it inthere.
Leave it in there, jason, nevermind.
Jasmine Patterson (15:45):
So you get this faculty an internship as
you're graduating yes, parole.
So I interned with parole,loved it and honestly I loved it
so much it felt like a lightbulb in my head and I loved it
and they wanted me back.
They told me after you graduateapply.
Okay, I did that.
Yeah, and at this time I wasworking at pre-trial.
I had got the job at pre-trial,maybe the semester before I
graduated, and I graduated,applied for parole and I got
(16:09):
through to the last, last stepand they told me no.
They told me no because theysaid that my driving record was
I was a liability and I'm justyou know, I had all those
tickets.
Eimee Donbar (16:21):
You know it was because of Cincinnati State.
Honestly, oh, oh.
Jayne Dressing (16:26):
No, I think she was driving too fast to get to
Hooters on time.
Jasmine Patterson (16:33):
It wasn't to get to your class, I mean
because you came with breakfast20 minutes late.
Jayne Dressing (16:39):
She was driving so fast to get to my class,
Jasmine.
Jasmine Patterson (16:43):
we heard all the things you cannot Miss,
dressy literally, I think youclosed the door at like 9.08.
You were like don't come inhere, be in here at a certain
time, 9.08, it started at 9.
Eimee Donbar (16:53):
Yeah, probably Did you say that's unfair.
I was there contending that 908isn't fair.
Jasmine Patterson (16:59):
I was there at 9.07 and 57 seconds with my
muffin.
Jayne Dressing (17:04):
And I probably got there at 9.05.
Eimee Donbar (17:06):
No true story.
But the Jane-ster.
You can't mess with theJane-ster.
Okay, so you had all theseparking.
Jayne Dressing (17:13):
You had speeding .
It was the carless pack whenyou get it together.
Jasmine Patterson (17:16):
I had a few speeding, quite a few speeding.
It was the parking.
Call us back when you get ittogether.
I had a few speeding, quite afew speeding.
Eimee Donbar (17:19):
And you're blaming Cincinnati State for that.
A few it was the parking.
Jasmine Patterson (17:22):
It was the parking.
You had parking tickets fromCincinnati State.
Yes, I don't think CincinnatiState.
Jayne Dressing (17:26):
I think it could have been no no, no, she would
park on the street, on thestreet I parked on.
Jasmine Patterson (17:31):
Yeah, they got me every time with that fire
hydrant.
Eimee Donbar (17:36):
Every single time.
I can't, I can't.
Jayne Dressing (17:39):
If they were.
Eimee Donbar (17:39):
Cincinnati parking tickets.
Jayne Dressing (17:41):
They're like we're not sure with the criminal
justice, because if you don'tknow that, you're not supposed
to park by the fire hydrant.
Eimee Donbar (17:51):
No, I thought that one, I thought that one.
Oh, okay, I thought that one.
She got her measuring stick outand took a photo of the
measurement of it.
I was going to try to take,like your experience with
speeding and parking tickets,and add that to your
experiential learning process.
Jamal Lundy (18:08):
But you're not helping me with that.
Jasmine Patterson (18:10):
I'm sorry, I just got to be truthful.
It was bad, it was bad.
Eimee Donbar (18:14):
It was bad, okay, so you didn't get the job with
Pearl because of your Not rightaway.
Not right away.
Jasmine Patterson (18:19):
Yeah, because of the liability and my driving
record it was terrible,honestly this is why I didn't
have a car in college Because itwas bad yeah.
So then from there, so I stayedat pre-trial and maybe two
months in.
The crazy thing is I justemailed my supervisor.
I had a really goodrelationship with my supervisor
(18:40):
at pretrial and I was like youknow, I want to go to probation.
I think I told them this likemaybe before I even graduated.
Jayne Dressing (18:47):
They were going to put her on probation.
This is where I wanted to go.
Eimee Donbar (18:52):
What are you doing at pretrial, can you tell?
Our listeners a little bitabout what that is.
Jasmine Patterson (18:56):
Yes, so pretrial, what I did was
everybody that got arrested Idid their paperwork.
So incoming clients, defendants, people who came in who got
arrested I would ask them aseries of questions like their
background, and then ultimatelycall whoever they wanted me to
call to let them know they werein there and you could call back
(19:17):
at a certain time to know theirbond to get out, and then or
that was like if I worked secondshift or third shift Now first
shift.
You deal with a lot of the court.
Where they go to court, theyfigure out what their bond is,
what they're going to do, what'sgoing on, and then you just
sign them out and their you know, or bond figure that out from
(19:40):
there.
But yeah, that's pretty muchwhat pretrial is.
Eimee Donbar (19:43):
So okay, so you're , you're telling folks hey, I
want to get to probation inpretrial, I want to go to
probation.
Jasmine Patterson (19:49):
Yeah, he knew that, like my, supervisor and I
was like, yeah, I want to go toprobation.
I was very vocal about where Iwanted to go.
I was honest, um you know goodfor you yeah.
So whenever, whenever I gotthere, I just you know you build
those connections I was very Iwas trying to build my.
I'm forever building my networkand trying to meet new people.
Uh, so after pre-trial, uh, orprobation, wait, sorry, kind of
(20:12):
lost my train of thought.
So I went to.
I eventually got probationswitched over to there.
Good, my supervisor.
Oh you know what.
I skipped over a whole part,that's okay.
I interned at probation as well.
Okay.
So they knew my face over theretoo I know they did so.
They knew my face over there too, so I did that too.
(20:34):
I interned at probation andparole and then when I graduated
, it was just easier for me toslip over there because they
knew who I was Right.
I did really good at myinternships because I knew I was
either going to land atprobation or parole.
Of course you did so.
I got to probation and I lovedit.
I honestly thought that wasgoing to be the last step.
(20:54):
That was my career.
Let's go.
I'm here.
You were building it.
Jayne Dressing (20:58):
I was building it.
You're building your career.
Jasmine Patterson (21:00):
So I stayed in.
When I first went intoprobation I was in the general
unit, which is kind of just likeeverybody or whatever in the
felony division and commonpolice, and I realized I didn't
want to stay there.
I wanted to build a little bitmore rapport with my clients, I
wanted to help people, you know,and so I transferred over to
(21:25):
drug court, which was dealingwith addiction.
It was under Judge Sanders andafter that I went to parole and
then I was only at parole forthree months because I had an
interview with the Department ofJustice in May of last year, oh
jay.
(21:45):
And then they called me backeight months later and was just
like hey, you got the job, thankyou, it took it.
Jayne Dressing (21:52):
I just listeners .
It took eight months to for theuh parking tickets to get
cleared up.
Jasmine Patterson (21:58):
The parking tickets are already like gone by
then I was just like why, didit take them eight months to
call and then they were justlike.
It just takes that long and Iwas like okay, yeah, this is
serious.
Eimee Donbar (22:09):
The Department of Justice has to do extensive
background checks.
It takes a long time when it'sthe federal government.
Jasmine Patterson (22:20):
But when I went into it, into the, the
interview, honestly I as much asI was, so I was just so happy
and blessed that I even got myname in that room and I was just
like, if I don't get it, I'mjust happy.
My name reached the room and soI didn't go into it.
Just I didn't go into it likehey, I just gotta you know
uptight, or anything like that.
I was just like Jasmine,breathe, be honest, be real, be
yourself, and like just do it.
(22:42):
So I left out of there, likethey made me feel like I didn't
get the job and I was just likeat least I got there, you know,
at least I had the interview andthen they called me back and I
was like you actually liked me.
So, um yeah, I didn't think Iwas going to get the job.
I didn't think I was gonna getthe job.
I didn't think I got the job.
It was eight months later, sowhen they called me I was in the
car after, like parole bootcamp and honestly, and I was
(23:07):
just like after a day.
Jayne Dressing (23:08):
Can I ask if there was ever a law and order
influence?
Do you?
Jasmine Patterson (23:15):
know absolutely, was this absolutely
growing?
Jayne Dressing (23:18):
up yes, yes because I feel like I wanted to
be a detective and everything Iloved it okay, I sometimes.
I sometimes try to shoot downthat dream with students.
Jasmine Patterson (23:30):
Like listen, it's not like it is like tv show
, it is oh, okay okay, I wishyou could see this girl's face
on the county side.
Jamal Lundy (23:39):
No, on the federal side, absolutely.
Jasmine Patterson (23:42):
Just like the shows.
Jayne Dressing (23:44):
It is All right.
Ok, she can't, she's sworn, asecrecy, she can't tell anymore.
We always ask about first daysand any kind of awkward
situation that happened on thefirst day or first day stories
(24:04):
and you kind of have a funnyfirst day story at the
Department of Justice, which isa big job.
This is a big deal.
Jasmine Patterson (24:11):
So the US attorney I had a few
conversations with him.
He's a very nice guy down toearth.
Just his energy is a littleintimidating.
Eimee Donbar (24:22):
He just tall, that's what it is, but and he's
a district attorney right,you're not gonna sing Martin
Short in that role, right likeyou've got yeah.
Jasmine Patterson (24:30):
I was just like so the first.
It was like the first week andyou know it's my first week in
this really um important.
Jayne Dressing (24:40):
I felt role.
Jasmine Patterson (24:42):
And I'm just like don't mess up, don't smile
too much, just do your job,jasmine.
So I was in one of mysupervisors at the time.
She's been promoted since Istarted and I was in her office,
you know, just asking herquestions and things like that
Getting onboarded.
Jayne Dressing (25:01):
You're onboarding, yeah.
Jasmine Patterson (25:02):
From what I knew, he wasn't even in the
office.
You know he wasn't there.
And so another guy, anotherattorney, came in, was talking,
and I'm just kind of justobserving and I just feel like a
presence like at the door.
I didn't even want to turnaround because I was kind of
scared.
I was just like what?
And so I see the other attorney, the AUSA.
(25:23):
He turns around, he's like ohhey, you know, or whatever you
know, automatically, I'm justsuper nervous.
I'm like sweating, my hands aresweating.
I'm just like Jasmine, benormal, Say hi, no.
So the AUSA in front of me,like he knows him, he's been
working with him.
So he fist pumps the USattorney and you know this is
probably what they've been doing.
(25:43):
They know each other, this ishis boss.
So I've met this man maybetwice prior to this and had very
little conversation, and so asI'm walking out, I go ahead and
fist pump him, like what's up?
And so he fist pumps me and Iswear in my peripheral I just
see him like.
Jayne Dressing (26:05):
No, she didn't.
Who is she?
And so he fist pumps me and Iswear like in my peripheral.
Eimee Donbar (26:08):
I just see him like no, she didn't.
Jayne Dressing (26:10):
Who was she Like okay.
Eimee Donbar (26:12):
Are we at this level?
Dissipated quickly, you sawthat yes.
Jasmine Patterson (26:15):
I was just like, okay, you are weird,
jasson, why would you just dothat?
This is the US attorney youfist pump.
You are not cool like that.
Did that go on to the usattorney?
You fist pump it, you are notcool like that.
Jayne Dressing (26:23):
Did that go on to the vision board?
Think before you fist pump,like that was.
Jasmine Patterson (26:27):
That was on the poster board the next day
bad because I didn't want him tothink I just like didn't
respect him.
I was overthinking it.
I was truly overthinking it,yeah, and like I have, he walked
past one day.
I was like I am so sorry forfist pumping you I did not.
I, I respect not, I respect you.
He was like you are fine, likeit's not that.
I was just like okay, jasmine,turn around and stop
(26:48):
overthinking.
He was, he's so nice.
Like there's no reason for meto just like I was about to pass
out.
There's no reason for me tofeel that way.
Like it is a very important.
You know, it's a law firm, soit's a very important space.
Everybody's doing their job orwhatever, but it's, it wasn't.
It's not like what you think orwhat I thought.
(27:09):
Now that I'm starting to get toknow people and things like
that, people are human.
Eimee Donbar (27:13):
Yeah, and you and you had, you made a connection
with him Like I know that youdidn't want to fist bump but you
connected with him and he'slike you're good, I'm going to
start covering that in careerexploration.
Jayne Dressing (27:26):
I know I think I'm going to.
It's going to be a new.
It's part of your 30 secondelevators pitch.
Jasmine Patterson (27:32):
No honestly, because I couldn't believe I did
that and my mom.
I called my mom.
Jayne Dressing (27:37):
My name is Jasmine.
Jasmine Patterson (27:39):
I was like mom, I just fist pumped, but she
was like you are getting toocomfortable.
Go to your desk and do yourwork.
I love mama.
Eimee Donbar (27:47):
So I was just like yeah.
Jasmine Patterson (27:49):
But it was.
I love it.
It is like super familyoriented there.
They're so nice, there's noreason for me to be as uptight,
but it's like Law Order.
Jayne Dressing (27:56):
I love this.
Okay, she's now at Law Order.
Jasmine Patterson (28:06):
But this is also the best.
I love this job.
This is one of the best jobsI've had.
Like I'm, I love it, I love it,love it, love it like I get to
read tea all day.
Jayne Dressing (28:12):
Oh, she gets to read tea, and we are not talking
about lipton listeners likeit's so juicy, it's great like I
love it.
Eimee Donbar (28:21):
Can we get the sponsor by hooters and lipt?
Jayne Dressing (28:23):
Yes, the tea, because we're spilling the tea
here.
We are spilling it every week.
I love my job.
Jasmine Patterson (28:28):
I love it.
I love the people I work with.
It's so like everybody is intheir own bubble, but
everybody's doing their own work, and then when they can come
out their offices and talk, theydo.
But it it's like you do yourwork and then it's playtime.
But okay, at the same time Iget to read tea all day all
right.
Eimee Donbar (28:49):
So what are you?
Jasmine Patterson (28:49):
doing now you're working yeah, I'm still
there.
Eimee Donbar (28:53):
I'm a paralegal specialist what do you do as a
paralegal specialist?
Jayne Dressing (28:57):
uh, reads tea all day.
Jasmine Patterson (28:58):
I know I read all day, but to be specific, um
I send out subpoenas, warrantsor write up the subpoenas and
the warrants for the attorneys,motions, plea agreements, and
just tighten up everything andyeah, just filing and things
like that.
Eimee Donbar (29:17):
You're also in law school right now.
Jasmine Patterson (29:20):
I start NKU.
Chase in August.
Eimee Donbar (29:24):
Okay.
Jayne Dressing (29:25):
Yes, so last oh, spring, June, maybe June, I'm
getting my car repaired andnobody loses my number.
You know, everybody stays intouch with me.
So I get this phone call and Iand it's jasmine, and she was
like I got into law school and Iwas like no way no way, because
(29:51):
listen, if, if you would haveseen this girl walk across the
cincinnati state really stage,come on now six inch heels and
fired.
Eimee Donbar (30:03):
I think she fist bumped everybody going across
the stage yes, and it was loud,and you know the audience goes
loud and they yell yeah and, uh,I love it.
Jayne Dressing (30:15):
And then she calls and says, hey, I'm in, I'm
going to law school, and I waslike, yeah, you are yeah, I feel
like I just had to alwayscircle back to tell Ms Dre like
I did it.
Jasmine Patterson (30:24):
I did it.
Eimee Donbar (30:26):
Yeah, we tell people, jane and I do.
Jayne Dressing (30:28):
And it surprised me one bit.
Eimee Donbar (30:30):
No, hold on to your people.
Students listening out theretrying to get from point A to
point B, except for Carly andJason in the control room.
Except for you two.
No, hold on to your people, andyou did, and you found these
people and you hang on to themand they're your people.
So excellent job and I lovethat you got to get that call
(30:53):
Jane.
Jayne Dressing (30:54):
Yeah, it was great, I love it and shout out
to Sue Burke too, so you got tolet her know about this journey.
Jasmine Patterson (31:02):
She did her thing Like I had gotten pregnant
.
I you got to let her know aboutthis journey.
She did her thing Like I hadgot pregnant.
I got pregnant the summerbefore my last year Of
undergraduate.
I feel like I had so manyclasses and I was just like I
knew that I just didn't want totake.
I wanted to graduate before Ihad Nova, which is my daughter,
and I was like I can't take anyclasses after I have her Because
(31:23):
I just know I'm not going to befocused.
It's going to be hard to be anew mom it's a life changing
yeah and so she, she even it wasto the point sometimes we had
to call Cincinnati State, makesome connections, because there
were certain classes I took herethat, because they were named
something different, we had tolike kind of finesse it Like,
yeah, this technically, thisclass counts towards this class
(31:47):
over here.
And she really helped me out tothe point where I put a lot of
stress on myself.
But the last semester I tooknine classes.
Eimee Donbar (31:58):
I did, I worked nine classes yes, you took 27
credit hours.
Nine classes yes, you took 27credit hours, nine classes.
Jasmine Patterson (32:05):
Yes, most of them were online but three of
them were probably on campusGirl.
Nine classes Worked and my90-hour internship I had to
complete while I was eight, ninemonths pregnant.
Wow, so I was walking across,but I was so determined I was
like I'm graduating.
Jayne Dressing (32:24):
I am not taking any more classes.
Yeah, and I was walking across.
Jasmine Patterson (32:27):
But I was so determined I was like I'm
graduating, I am not taking anymore classes and I graduated
with a 3.2.
Jayne Dressing (32:33):
Oh my gosh, yeah , fist bump.
All right, we fist bumplisteners.
Jamal Lundy (32:36):
These are the stories that we hear.
Jayne Dressing (32:42):
That resiliency, not giving up, persistent.
Jasmine Patterson (32:44):
I love this.
I had to because I was nottaking any classes with a
newborn.
I was not doing it.
Eimee Donbar (32:48):
No clearly not.
Jasmine Patterson (32:50):
Took two full-time schedules.
Jayne Dressing (32:51):
I was tired, I was tired and you graduate and
it's kind of in the heart ofCOVID right.
Jasmine Patterson (32:58):
It was.
It was the heart of COVID.
Jayne Dressing (32:59):
Yeah, and you did it and you got through it,
and then I know you came backand walked across that stage.
Oh yeah, I was going to walkacross that stage.
Jasmine Patterson (33:06):
I was going to walk across that stage.
Jamal Lundy (33:08):
I wanted to walk across with my baby.
Jasmine Patterson (33:10):
but of course I was like Jasmine, don't do
that, just let her see you.
Of course, when I look over asI'm walking over, guess what
she's doing?
Sleep.
You're supposed to see thismoment Nova.
Eimee Donbar (33:19):
Welcome to motherhood.
Yes, Like are you looking?
Jasmine Patterson (33:23):
No, no, she was knocked out.
I was like this is for you.
Jayne Dressing (33:26):
Yeah, but no it was good.
Yeah Well, you're changinglives every day your own life,
your daughter's life?
Hopefully there's some studentslistening out there who are at
Cincinnati State dreaming ofgoing to law school, dreaming of
a career, and what advice wouldyou give?
(33:48):
What would you say to yourselfas a 19-year-old?
Knowing what you know now,because I love how you talk to
yourself in the third person.
Jasmine Patterson (33:58):
I love that.
It's going to sound so cliche,but I see why so many people say
it, and it's.
You have to actually believe inyourself.
You have to write it down andyou have to like, make a plan
and you have to like, you haveto study your plan.
You can't have it.
You're going to have a milliondistractions, but ultimately
(34:22):
it's about you, it's for you.
Get it done.
It's your plan, your goals.
Don't ignore the distractions,because they're there for a
reason to prevent you fromgetting to your next milestone.
So, of course, take it day byday, step by step, but it's
better when you have it writtendown, have a plan and have a
plan.
Jayne Dressing (34:41):
Yeah, that's a great.
That's great advice, becauseplans can change.
But if you have no plan, lifewill give you one, absolutely,
and you have to write it down.
Jasmine Patterson (34:51):
It's nothing with having something written
down and hey, if a plan doesn'twork, there have a plan B and
get back to the original plan.
But believe in yourself.
It's so cliche, but it's sotrue.
You have to believe that youcan do it, because if no one
else believes in you, that'syour power.
Jayne Dressing (35:11):
That's your power.
Believe in yourself, Jasmine.
Thank you so much for joiningus here at Future Proof.
We cannot wait to share yoursuccess and your updates with
our listeners.
Eimee Donbar (35:24):
We're going to be needing a lawyer soon to
represent us in the Hooters andthe Lipton T lawsuit Just
kidding, you know in.
Jayne Dressing (35:32):
August, when you're at Chase, we are your
first clients.
Eimee Donbar (35:35):
Thank you.
Thank you so much for beinghere today.
Thanks for being here.
Pleasure hearing your story,Jasmine.
Jamal Lundy (35:45):
Thanks for joining us on the Future Proof Podcast.
The Future Proof Podcast isbrought to you by Studio 459 up
on the hill at CincinnatiState's main campus in Clifton.
This podcast is produced inconjunction with the Cincinnati
State Audio Video ProductionProgram, its students and
faculty Student producers areJason Warner and Carly Baker.
(36:09):
If you like what you heard here, please hit the subscribe
button.
If you're an employer orpotential student interested in
the programs Cincinnati Statehas to offer, please visit
cincinnatistateedu.
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Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!