In 2018, Latonya Young was driving for Uber in Atlanta, doing her best to keep life moving forward. At 43, the single mother of three was juggling bills, work, and family — all while carrying a $693 debt that stood like a locked door between her and her dream of finishing college.
One evening, after picking up a passenger named Kevin Esch from an Atlanta United soccer game, her life took a turn she never saw coming.
Early Struggles and Determination
Latonya’s road had never been smooth. She became a mom at 16, forcing her to leave high school. But she didn’t give up on her education — she later earned her GED and even started taking classes at Georgia State University in 2010.
Money, however, was a constant challenge. After just a year, she had to put her college plans on hold. “Every time I got ready to pay the money, my kids needed something. I said, ‘OK. I’ll just wait,’” she recalled, per ABC 7.
A car accident in 2015 made things harder. Between working as a hairstylist during the day and driving for Uber at night, she still couldn’t clear her unpaid tuition. That debt meant she couldn’t re-enroll.
The Ride That Changed Everything
The night she met Kevin Esch, their conversation quickly went deeper than the usual small talk. Esch, still coping with a divorce, listened as Latonya shared her own struggles — the halted college dreams, the stubborn tuition bill.
By the end of the ride, Esch handed her a $150 tip and his phone number. A few days later, Latonya got the surprise of her life: Esch had paid off her $693 debt.
“I didn’t want that to be a roadblock, because it was something that I could change,” he said.
Latonya was stunned. “I was in shock,” she admitted. “This person barely knew me, and yet he wanted to help me.” When she offered to pay him back, Esch refused. “Pay me back by graduating. It wasn’t about the money to me… what would change her more, as opposed to putting her in debt, would be to graduate.”
Keeping the Promise
With the debt gone, Latonya re-enrolled. She was determined to keep her word. In December 2019, she earned her associate’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia State’s Perimeter College. That moment was extra special — she had also just moved into her own apartment, leaving public housing behind.
Esch was in the crowd at her graduation, cheering her on.
But Latonya wasn’t finished. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in May 2021. Esch was there for that milestone too. “I gained a dear friend through all of this,” Latonya said.
Their story made national headlines. Esch joined the board of the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, helping other low-income women get scholarships. “Honestly, I’m not trying to be a White savior,” he explained. “I grew up in a tiny town where neighbors help neighbors. That’s what you do. That’s what we should do as humans.”
According to Fox 10, Latonya also wrote a book, From Broken to Blessed, sharing her journey and the lesson she hopes others will take away — that even in the toughest times, dreams are worth chasing.
Sometimes, a simple act of kindness can unlock a door someone’s been knocking on for years. For Latonya Young, that door led straight to a graduation stage — twice.
