Dreaming...

Frankfort, Kentucky is home to Kentucky State University - a predominantly African-American school, the majority of who's students come from very large cities out of state. It is not unusual for these young adults to feel very out of place in a "small town" like Frankfort. This is a feeling that is not helped by the fact that Frankfort tends to ignore the university that has been a part of it's community since 1887.

I went to college at Campbellsville University where the tiny town of Campbellsville, KY revolved around the rapidly growing campus. The churches in the area offered college age Sunday School classes and worship services and several of the restaurants as well as the movie theater offered student discounts.

Frankfort is anything but a college town. Most churches in the area would be shocked and unprepared if the students of KSU came for a visit and there isn't a single restaurant in town that I know of that offers them a discount. In many ways KSU's campus is treated like a leper colony by many of Frankfort's natives. We give it a wide berth and we don't intermingle. Jokes are made and we move on.

I want to change this! It has been put on my heart to reach out to the students of KSU. Regardless of who you are or where you come from, college is a stressful time, full of lifestyle changes and new people. The transition is made easier when there are comfortable place to relax, hang out with friends and meet new people. I have a dream to open a coffee shop close to campus that offers student discounts and caters to the college crowd with free wi-fi and comfy couches and tables for studying. I'd also like to have live entertainment, including open mic nights, from time to time.

There are just a few problems with my plan. I know nothing about owning my own business, I know nothing about coffee, other than that I like it, and I have no money. Starting a business is expensive, not to mention however much it costs to go to barista school to learn how to make the coffee I'd be selling.

Obviously this is a dream that has a reality very far into the future, but I keep praying that if this is part of God's plan for me, that he will make a way for it to happen.



My friend, Elisabeth. KSU's first white homecoming queen!