We were lucky to catch up with Sandria Rush recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sandria , really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?
I was let go from a job not once, but twice! And for an unjust cause at that. As devastating as it was, instead of harboring my feelings about being fired, I used that as an opportunity to start building my brand. I believe that we sometimes are put into positions of discomfort to walk out our dreams that we normally wouldn’t have the confidence to do if everything was going “well”. In the beginning, I cried, I was worried and concerned about how I was going to pay my bills. One of the jobs I was let go from also was trying to prevent me from receiving my unemployment. I prayed and had to continue to put my faith and trust in God.
During my pursuit of finding employment again, all I kept hearing was “No” after “No”, or “We decided to go with another candidate”. I became defeated and started to feel unqualified and unworthy of what I thought I deserved. After a while, I just stopped applying for positions because I didn’t want to be rejected again. I was in school at the time working on my Master’s degree from Walsh College while also going through bankruptcy and a divorce with a five-year-old son who was recently diagnosed as High Functioning Autistic. My mom would tell me when I was younger, “Daughter, when it rains it pours”, and it felt nonstop for a long time. It was truly one thing after another. Through my relationship with God, and the support of my loving friends, family, and mentors, I was able to keep pushing. My support circle motivated me to start establishing what I wanted to do with my own business. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur. It was embedded in me from my parents at a very young age.
It took me three and half months before I was able to find another job, but the foundation of my company Elite Accounting and Advising had been established. Even though I didn’t like the road that I was on in my journey, I am truly grateful for it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am the Founder and CEO of Elite Accounting and Advising, the Co-Director of Higher Praise Dance Academy, and the Treasurer of a nonprofit organization, M & T Grants Management and Compliance.
Elite Accounting and Advising (EA2 ) was founded in 2019. My love for accounting was inspired by my late grandfather, Jesse Hawthorne; who was an Accountant and Entrepreneur until he was 80 years old. Elite A2 was created to honor my grandfather’s legacy. I am a third-generation accountant as well. It was my grandfather, now my aunt, and myself. I’m committed to educating black and brown communities, most importantly youth on financial literacy. It’s such a pivotal part of everyday life and the community lacks teaching.
Elite A2’s mission is to help individuals and businesses grow in financial prosperity; by providing them with accurate data to see their financial position within their business or personal wealth, while advising them with the best accounting principles most advantageous to their overall growth and sustainability.
.Even though I enjoy accounting. my true love is dancing. I’ve been dancing since the age of 6 under the tutelage of my mother, Susan Alexander, as well as receiving a minor in dance from Bowling Green State University. I choreographed my first dance routine at the age of 10 and started teaching praise dance for outside churches independent of my mother at the age of 12. Since then, I have also assisted in starting dance ministries at other churches, leading workshops, and working on other performing arts productions.
Higher Praise Dance Academy is a 501© 3, non-profit educational and praise dance training center that has been operating and serving the Metro Detroit area since January 1997. Our mission is to provide training for youth and adults through various dance styles for personal and spiritual enrichment as well as self-development opportunities, community service, and outreach experience.
So let’s be fit and financially wealthy at the same time.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I had to really think about this question. My initial thought was the cliche statement, “Never Give Up”! which is true in every aspect of your life, but there are different layers to this. Answers can range from honesty, reliability, and being trustworthy. As well as to ensure that you network and always educate yourself in the industry that you are in.
Nonetheless, I would like to provide you with some helpful tips to encourage and navigate you through your journey, and they are as follows:
1. Learn to step away for a moment and take a deep breath.
2. When you go to a higher level in your life, you are going to hurdle over larger obstacles.
3. Don’t shortchange yourself by putting yourself in a box that fits. Place yourself in a larger box so that there is room for you to grow.
4. Doors are going to close on you for a reason, that way you are pushed to run through the doors that are destined for you.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Having a supportive circle that doesn’t just say “yes” to you, but holds you accountable, lets you know when you are wrong, tells you to do better in a loving way, and shows up for you when you need it the most is truly something invaluable. I am truly grateful. This is not an all-inclusive list, but these are some of the ones that have helped me overcome challenges and develop essential skills to be successful.
My family especially my parents and grandparents
My basketball coaches, Jonathan Wynne and Ralph Cole
The President’s Leadership Academy
My mentor- Debora Matthews
My therapist– I affectionately call her “Straight Shooter, with No Chaser”
I have been blessed to have friends who are like my family–a special shoutout to the F.A.C.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elitea2.com https://www.higherpraisedanceacademy.com/index.html
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eliteaccountingandadvising, https://www.facebook.com/higherpraisedanceacademy/
Image Credits
Shawn Rochelle Reginald Johnson
