Polk State sets former teen mom up for success in business, philanthropy

At the age of 19, Simone McFarlane-Tucker was a teenage mom with two children. Nineteen years later, she holds two Polk State College degrees, owns a business and runs a successful nonprofit.

With children at a young age, McFarlane-Tucker enrolled at Polk State at the ages of 21 and 25 but dropped out each time. Wanting to show the importance of education to her children, McFarlane-Tucker made a promise to herself – a promise she would keep.

“I always loved school as a little girl,” she reflected. “I told myself that when I was 30 years old, I was going to go back. That’s exactly what I did.”

Third time is the charm

In addition to her children, McFarlane-Tucker’s return to classes was also in honor of her mother, who juggled motherhood and college before finishing just a handful of credits shy of a degree. McFarlane-Tucker considered Polk State’s acclaimed Criminal Justice and Nursing programs but had long aspired to own a business.

McFarlane-Tucker was able to obtain scholarships through Polk State and utilize tuition reimbursement programs at her workplaces, GEICO and Progressive Insurance, to mitigate the costs. McFarlane-Tucker needed just three semesters to earn her Associate in Arts in May 2019. In less than two full years, she followed that up by earning her Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management with a concentration in Business Administration in December 2020.

“I had to be laser-focused,” McFarlane-Tucker recalled. “It was work, school and my kids – that was it.”

Taking six classes per semester across three locations – the Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses and JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales – and working full-time up to 60 hours per week as a claims adjustor, McFarlane-Tucker’s days sometimes ran from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fortunately for McFarlane-Tucker, Polk State faculty and staff members such as Reggie Webb, Senior Vice President for Student Services and Campus Operations; Keith Bonney, now Dean of Student Services; and Claudy Fenelon, Manager for Student Services, were there to provide support.

“Polk State played a huge part in my journey,” McFarlane-Tucker exclaimed. “The support I received from the people at Polk State was phenomenal. Everyone was so encouraging and gave me everything I needed to succeed.”

McFarlane-Tucker made the President’s List and Dean’s List during each of her semesters at Polk State. She was also fortunate to have support at home. Just 14 at the time, her oldest son, Trae-Quan Williams, took on a bigger role to allow his mother more time for her studies.

“He cooked dinner; he helped his younger siblings with their homework,” McFarlane-Tucker shared. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

In 2020, McFarlane-Tucker founded Glamour Tag Consultation Services. Now in business for more than six years with offices in Lake Wales and Winter Haven, her company offers background checks and notary services as well as consulting for other startups, marketing, websites and more. She leads a team of nearly 40 contracted agents who serve as life and annuity specialists, helping families build and protect their financial legacy. Her oldest daughter, Traqira “Kira” McFarlane, serves as one of those employees and has been instrumental in helping the business over the last four years.

“Over the years, I had great bosses and I had bad bosses, but I wanted to be my own boss,” she explained. “There are great weeks and there are slow weeks, but I like the freedom that comes with it and being able to set my own schedule.”

Paying it forward

As a teen mom who has gone on to become a successful businesswoman, McFarlane-Tucker now does her part to help other teenage parents become successful. In 2023, she founded her own nonprofit, Girls Leave a Mark (GLAM). The nonprofit partners with other entities such as Ridge Technical College and CareerSource Polk to provide young parents from 13 to 24 with free financial literacy workshops and courses. She’s helped more than 100 young parents, including one that was just 12 years old.

“These are services I wish I would have had when I was their age,” McFarlane-Tucker added. “I have had students come back to me who have graduated high school or had internships tell me what a difference it made. To hear stories from those who overcame their circumstances is amazing. I share my story as well – the good and the bad.

“I have a few who are in college at Polk State,” she continued. “For those who want to continue their education, I always recommend Polk State. I love Polk State. I’d love to be a professor at Polk State one day.”

Another service offered by GLAM is a boutique run out of Glamour Tag’s Winter Haven office. The boutique gives young parents access to professional office attire as well as hygiene products such as soap, diapers, toothpaste and more. All items are donated by members of the community.

“I want them to feel like they’re shopping at a real boutique and to have access to whatever they need,” McFarlane-Tucker shared. “It’s hard enough being a parent when you’re not a teenager. They have so much to deal with. Someone has to advocate for them and to help be their voice.”

McFarlane-Tucker noted that many of the young parents who go through her program often become community volunteers themselves. One, she said, now serves on GLAM’s Board of Directors. Her daughter Kira serves as the nonprofit’s president.

“So many of them end up giving back themselves. They often tell me it’s something they had never thought about years before,” McFarlane-Tucker said. “I’m passionate about my community. I love to see people win.”

McFarlane-Tucker has gone on to earn her Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University. Married to Rashawn Tucker for four years, McFarlane-Tucker is now a mother of four with two stepchildren, all ranging in age from 2 to 21. For other parents considering a return to college, she offered advice.

“Don’t give up. Lock in for however long you have to lock in for,” McFarlane-Tucker concluded. “For example, when I went back for my associate degree, I wanted to get it in 18 months, so I was laser-focused and committed for that long. It’s temporary and it’s worth it. Once you have your degree, it is all worth it.”