Malayna Eubanks knows nothing in life is guaranteed, especially when it comes to an education. That’s why she never takes her success for granted and never gives anything less than 100%.
“I don’t do anything halfway, I don’t know how to,” admits the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) student. “I have to throw my whole weight on it, cause if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it.”
That philosophy has kept Malayna “in the game” as she’s climbed the career and academic ladders. Today, she’s working on her master’s degree in psychology — the latest goal on a long list she’s been tackling since breaking into the health care field more than 20 years ago. Now, with her bachelor’s degree in applied behavioral science under her belt, and with her master’s degree nearly complete, Malayna is leaning on that philosophy as she branches into a new field to pursue her greatest goal yet.
Going Into Research Mode
Goals take time. Malayna is in no rush. She knows every small success will lead to her to the ultimate goal of opening a center for teenagers in her community of Charleston, West Virginia.
“There’s nothing here like that for our teens here as far as a free service,” she explains. “I’m actually in the middle of conducting a comparison analysis and I’m interviewing teens to find out what they would want in a center.”
Malayna plans to use the data she collects from her interviews, as well as community crime statistics, to develop her plan for the teen center. She wants to take that plan to the Charleston mayor’s office in hopes the city leaders will support and partner with her.
“I want to show her there’s a need in this community, and we need to address it,” she says. “She’s done a lot for Charleston ever since she came into office, so I know she will want to hear this information.”
Malayna says her research skills are just one thing she’s been applying to her career that she learned as a UAGC student. While the teen center is still a dream in progress, she’s used her academic success as a springboard to a recent promotion as Director of Outreach, Admissions, and Career Training Services for Charleston Job Corps. The organization offers free career training and education for young people, and operates more than 120 campuses nationwide.
“Now I’ll have a team of 12 that I’ll manage and I’ll be trying to get our numbers up,” she says. “This job will definitely connect me with the community and my future goals because I’m going to have to form working relationships with people so we can bring in new recruits.”
The Best for Herself and Her Family
Every step of Malayna’s journey has been influenced by the challenges she faced growing up. Raised in a single-parent household with two older brothers, she witnessed her family’s socioeconomic struggles and vowed to make a better life for herself as an adult.
Malayna says resilience was the most important trait she learned growing up, and as a single mother herself, she’s tried to instill that in her daughter. Her ability to persevere, she explains, was shaped by her own mother’s example, and Malayna has vowed to always push herself forward no matter the setbacks.
Before she could set out on her journey, however, Malayna admits she needed to put in the work to change her mindset and attitude.
“When I was younger, I was selfish,” she says. “I had to put a mirror up to face and say, ‘you need to make some changes’ and that’s what I did because I wanted to be the best for myself and my family.
Today, she says she doesn’t even recognize her former self, though getting to this point wasn’t easy.
“I’ve changed so much I can’t even relate to her. Now I’m a giver, and I’ll do anything for anybody,” she says.
Malayna’s life experience also sparked her interest in pursuing psychology. Although she has always been fascinated by human behavior and why people do the things they do, her ability to connect with people — bolstered by knowledge and skills learned in school — helped her succeed in the health care field.
“It’s a gift,” she says of her interpersonal skills. “Not everybody has that, and that was one of those things that set me on this path.”
Once Malayna started school, she says she fell in love with psychology.
“I realized it was definitely something that I want to do. Just be a support to others, and catch people before they take drastic steps.”
Keys to Success
Like many college students, Malayna’s greatest challenges don’t come from the classroom. Career anxieties, financial stress, and family responsibilities have all threatened to derail her academic dreams, but she’s never wavered.
Malayna says she credits three keys to her success.
First, she says setting small goals that eventually lead to one greater goal is paramount to her continuing to accomplish what’s she has set out to do.
“I just keep setting those goals and keep pushing myself, and I’ve reached every one of them,” she acknowledges.
Self-disciple also is critical, she explains. Time -management and organization are a result of that discipline, and they all keep her on task.
“That’s imperative when trying to balance school, family, and a career,” she says.
Her persistence and her “never give up” philosophy that she attributes to her faith, and self-belief also has helped her stay on track.
“Failure isn’t meant to discourage you: it’s meant to teach you,” she explains.
Malayna also mentions the importance of surrounding herself with the right people and being intentional about who she shares her plans with so she can avoid negative influences.
"I know who to talk to and who not to talk to," she adds.
Lastly, she credits financial literacy skills, including budgeting and saving, for keeping her on the path to success.
“That’s when I started learning to be good with money,” she says. “Now, I don’t know how not to save.”
Self-Reliance and the Joys of Cooking
Malayna credits her mother, who struggled with challenges but ultimately earned her PhD, as her role model for perseverance and independence. Her mother also instilled in her the self-reliance and the sense of personal responsibility needed to provide the guidance she wished she had during challenging times.
Malayna knows that even though she could succeed without relying on others, that’s not always the case. Her long-term goal to open a teen support center was born out of a first-hand understanding of what it’s like to struggle without support.
“I just always want people to be at their best,” she explains. “I’m not saying I can help everybody, but if it’s in my will to help somebody, I can do it, because I know what it’s like to struggle. I know what it’s like to have no one around.”
Malayna envisions the teen center as a place where kids can learn skills that aren’t part of their everyday school curriculum, such as cooking. She taught herself to cook, and says that whenever she’s at a cookout, she never has time to eat because she’s always busy with the food.
“It literally brings people together, you know, a good meal, good conversation,” she explains. “It brings joy, happiness.”
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The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science program is not designed to meet the state educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification in any state. Students seeking licensure or certification in a particular profession shall carefully research the requirements prior to enrollment and regularly review the requirements as they are subject to change. Requirements vary by state. The University of Arizona Global Campus does not guarantee that any professional organization will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any exam for the purpose of professional certification. Further, a criminal record may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in their field of study.
The Master of Arts in Psychology program is not designed to meet the state educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification in any state. Students seeking licensure or certification in a particular profession shall carefully research the requirements prior to enrollment and regularly review the requirements as they are subject to change. Requirements vary by state. The University of Arizona Global Campus does not guarantee that any professional organization will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any exam for the purpose of professional certification. Further, a criminal record may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in their field of study. This program is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed psychology professional. There is no practicum or internship associated with this degree.
Student success stories should not be interpreted as a promise or guarantee of career advancement or future earnings. The stories shared here represent the outcomes of individual students for illustrative purposes only.