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Selma native Zion Edwards has always been a shining light within the Selma community. Starting from such a young age, Edwards has always pivoted herself forward to be a helping hand, even through her high school days at Selma High School.

Edwards was Selma High’s homecoming queen in 2016, then was selected as Miss Selma High in 2017 alongside contributing her efforts as an ambassador for the city of Selma. She also was a member of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) throughout high school as well.

“I also did dance, ballet and I was on the usher board at my church,” Edwards said. “And, I did a lot of things to be active within my community including being a part of culturama that was sponsored by Zeta Eta Omega.”

Edwards said during her time within the organization, she was able to participate in the organization’s cotillion that taught her about providing outstanding community service while helping her understand what it is like to have great mentors. She also said she learned how to build a sisterhood with other young adults from different schools within the Selma community.

After graduating from Selma High School, Edwards pursued her degree in food and nutritional science with a minor in biology and pre-medicine at Tuskegee University.

“After I graduated from Tuskegee University, I worked as a dietary manager at Selma Health and Rehab Associates and soon after, I was diagnosed with lupus,” Edwards said. “I started having symptoms, and my whole body just basically shut down mentally, physically and I wasn’t able to talk. I wasn’t able to function, and I spent three months in the hospital where I wasn’t able to feed myself, and nobody knew what was wrong. So, they ended up having to have an emergency pericardial window surgery done and that procedure was to remove fluid from around my heart. Then, a biopsy was done and that’s when the doctors discovered I had systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects multiple organs. Leading it to target my mind, my heart and my lungs.”

Edwards said due to her newly discovered condition, she was unable to continue her educational pursuit of achieving her master’s degree in dietetics, majoring once again in food and nutritional science at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Even though, she just received the news that she got accepted.

“I was really passionate about going to medical school,” Edwards said. “But when I spent all that time in the hospital, it kind of drew me away from the medical world. So, that led me to want to pursue other passions and that’s when I actually started working on my self-growth, starting a journal business, selling my cosmetics, which ended up bringing the business aspect of my journey to life.”

That’s when Edwards said she decided to go to school for business as soon as she got a little better.

“So I got accepted to Walden University online, and I was working once again as a dietary manager full time and going to school full time. But, my body kind of like shut down a little to where I had to be hospitalized again,” she said.

Working full time and attending school full time caused her body a lot of stress, which caused her to put her future endeavors to the side again.

After some time, Edwards recommitted herself to her educational pursuits, and this time, she chose Faulkner University’s accelerated program, which only lasted a year, to achieve her Executive Master of Business Administration degree.

“Getting ready to graduate now is just a full circle moment,” Edwards said. “I’m just really happy and I’m actually proud of how far I have come. But, I have also grown in my faith with God, just knowing that delayed is not denied and that you can overcome. You might have different challenges but as long as you keep your faith and know that joy will come tomorrow, everything will be alright.”

Edwards said she would tell those who may have struggles or challenges that “delayed” is not “denied” for one and that no matter the challenges they face, to have the courage and faith to persevere.

“One of my favorite quotes is by Dr. Maya Angelou. ‘One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.’ And, I would like to encourage people to keep going no matter what.  Like, I literally had a disease that targeted my mental health, and it literally caused me to basically lose my job and some relationships. I went from where I was to a very dark spot. It really caused me to get to what I felt like was rock bottom, but I was able to gain access to having faith in God and believing that joy will come. I was able to get everything back and now I’m seeing my blessings come to fruition. And, it’s so beautiful to see.”

On May 2, Edwards will walk across the stage at Faulkner University, obtaining her Executive MBA degree with a 4.0 GPA.  According to Edwards, her journey is not over, but this is just the beginning of her victory.