Thanks to a chance encounter 3 years ago with one of her Uber passengers, Atlanta's Latonya Young, a 44-year-old single mother of three, received her bachelor’s degree last week.
When Kevin Esch got into her car, he opened up about his recent divorce, and Young — whose marriage ended in 2011 — offered advice. Then he learned that Young had been an Uber driver for three years, and was working late that night to earn the money for a utility bill. Although she started taking classes at Georgia State, she had to dropped out a year later because she couldn’t pay the tuition.
Once they arrived at his home, Esch, an estate manager, tipped Young $150 — enough to cover the utility bill — and gave her his phone number making her promise that she would go back to school.
But Georgia State financial officials told her she wasn’t permitted to register until her balance from eight years earlier, $693, was paid in full. When she told Esch about it, he immediately went to the university, without Young’s knowledge, and paid off her debt. “I was in a place to be able to do it, and it was the right thing to do.”
“I was in shock,” Young said. “This person barely knew me, and yet he wanted to help me.” She vowed to pay him back, but his response was: “Pay me back by graduating.”
In December 2019, Young received her associate’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia State’s Perimeter College. Esch was there on graduation day, cheering her on in the stands. But she still wanted to get her bachelor's degree.
By this point, their story had made national news and Ellen DeGenere sbooked them on her show in January 2020. (see below)
Young continued with her studies while working part time as a substitute teacher, as well as a hairstylist. She also received support from the Jeanette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund, which offers financial aid to low-income women older than 35 pursuing postsecondary education.
Earlier this month Young graduated with her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia State’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Esch was in the stands once again, alongside her family.
She called it a “double graduation,” since she recently secured a new apartment for her family and left public housing after 12 years.
“I don’t know what situation I would be in if I hadn’t met Kevin,” Young said. “I hope his kindness inspires other people to help someone.”
No matter how her future unfolds, she said, “I gained a dear friend through all of this.”