Class of 2024 alumna, Eleyceia Gilliam, knows exactly where she is going. She wants to be a pediatrician, not for the prestige, not for the career path, but because children are where her heart is. That kind of clarity does not happen by accident. It is built, year by year, inside walls that believe in you before you fully believe in yourself.
For Eleyceia, those walls belonged to Freedom Preparatory Academy. Her journey at Freedom Prep began in middle school at the MillBranch campus and continued through four years of high school at Brownlee. Today, she is wrapping up her sophomore year at the University of Memphis, majoring in pre-med biology, earning a spot on the Dean’s List, and moving steadily toward the pediatrics career she has always envisioned.
Ask Eleyceia why pediatrics, and she does not hesitate. “Kids, I love kids,” she says. “That is where my heart is at.” She is not chasing a healthcare title. She is following something deeper, a genuine love for children and a desire to serve them. Freedom Prep gave her the discipline to pursue it and the belief that she could. The school’s influence runs through everything she credits for who she is today. “They taught me persistence, discipline, and perseverance,” she says. “Without those three things, I would not be who I am.”
Every Freedom Prep student can point to the people who made a difference. For Eleyceia, one name rises above the rest: Head of School Roderick Barber. She does not describe him as an administrator. She calls him a dad. A coach. Whoever he needed to be on any given day. “He knew me like a book. Even when I didn’t want to be bothered, he checked on me. I never felt alone. Even to this day, that’s my pops.” Every morning, Head of School Barber led what Eleyceia calls “Barber Talks”, motivational moments that sent students into their day grounded and ready. She carried those words into college. On hard days, she hears his voice. Sometimes she calls back to the school just to catch one of his morning sessions live.
“No matter how old you are, you need that in life,” shared Eleyceia.
The Leap to University of Memphis
College did not catch Eleyceia off guard. The lessons from Freedom Prep followed her. At the top of the list: time management.
In high school, she learned that missed assignments were not always recoverable. Teachers held the line. Deadlines were real. That same standard exists at the University of Memphis, an 11:59 pm cutoff with no exceptions. She had already been prepared for it. The result? In the middle of everything college life demands, Eleyceia made the Dean’s List. “I never let it get ahold of me, and I’m so proud of myself.”
A Village That Never Left
During her junior year, Eleyceia joined Beautiful Spirited Women (BSW), a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving back and developing young leaders. What started in the summer of 11th grade grew into a relationship that carried her through graduation and into college.
“Whenever I need them, I can call on them for anything,” she says. “As a young lady, we need women who can mentor and lead us in the right way.” BSW became part of her village, alongside Freedom Prep, alongside Head of School Barber, proof that the right community, built at the right time, does not disappear after graduation.
What Comes Next
In the upcoming years, Eleyceia sees herself completing her degree and doing clinical work. She sees herself succeeding. The road to pediatrics is long, and she is walking it with intention.
Her advice to current Freedom Prep students is both practical and personal. “Listen to your teachers, because they are right. I know teachers can be a little on the other side sometimes, but they only want the best. You are somewhere that is designed for your greatness.”
Eleyceia closes her story with something simple and true: “It’s impressive how a school can impact a child’s life so much. With so many things going on, a child needs a safe place. To me, Freedom Prep is home.” Preparation met purpose. Discipline met a dream. And a Freedom Prep student is walking forward into a future she has worked hard to claim. Thank you, Eleyceia, for sharing your journey with us. Keep making our FPA community proud!
