A&S Consulting
Co-owner · In their own words
Seshsha Henderson
1. A Promise Made in a Time of Uncertainty
I nearly lost my Mom to Covid-19 and organ failure four years ago, and it has changed me in profound ways that I find difficult to explain. They say a parent should never have to bury a child, and I fully agree with that statement. However, it should also be said that a fourteen-year-old boy, nor his eight-year-old sister, should ever have to face burying their mother either. Just the thought of losing my mother before her time brings me a feeling of great pain and sadness all over again.
I prayed to God, asking Him to please save my mother’s life. I pledged that if God did, I would commit myself even further to making her and my Dad happy and proud of me. I am still in pursuit of fulfilling this promise.
2. The Fight for My Mother’s Life
It was March 2020, and Covid-19’s chaotic impact on hospital procedures in Ventura County had just begun. The very same week that patients were no longer allowed to have their loved ones accompany them, my Mom was being admitted into the Intensive Care Unit alone. She was deemed the sickest patient in the entire ICU the moment she arrived.
Two days later, she had a heart attack and was considered so far gone by medical staff that they encouraged my Dad to “let her go” should she have another complication. This notion was rejected by my Dad, and my Mom was subsequently paralyzed, placed on a ventilator, and given blood transfusions, where she ultimately remained for nine days.
This was a very dark time for me, my brothers and sisters, and my Dad. Also, while my Mom was in the ICU, my Aunt Althea, our great matriarch of the West Coast, passed away at the young age of 67. Fear and doubt began to set in, but we prayed and we prayed.
My Dad sang to my mother on FaceTime and to God all night long. He sang all night long. Day by day, small victories were occurring until finally, my Mom was successfully taken off the ventilator and breathing fine on her own.
3. The Lessons I Learned Through Adversity
I learned more about myself in those trying times than at any other point in my life. I learned that I am much stronger than I thought I was. I learned that the power of God is real and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I learned that life is precious and that family is even more precious and very important to me. I also learned that preserving hope and keeping faith in God’s power, in spite of what it looks like, is the glue that keeps a family together in the midst of trying times.
I found that I prefer an orderly environment and that when I engage in house cleaning, it is actually quite therapeutic for me. I took on more responsibilities at home during this time. In fact, I took on all the cleaning duties of our three-story home for an entire year while my Mom was in the hospital and when she returned home.
My older brother took over all the cooking duties. My middle brother prayed with and encouraged my Dad, and we all worked together for each other.
4. Developing Confidence Through Competition and Hard Work
I’m the youngest of three boys, and we have always been very competitive. My older brothers couldn’t go and work out at the soccer field or the gym with my Dad without me tagging along and participating fully in whatever drills Dad would have for us.
I’ve had many successes both on the football field and the basketball court at a very early age. I once scored four touchdowns in one game when I was in the third grade. In my first year of basketball, I was three years old. I was the only kid who could actually dribble the ball from one end of the court to the other and make a layup without traveling.
I think having success early in life has helped me develop a sense of self-confidence, along with a feeling of competency no matter the task at hand. I know that if I apply myself in any one direction, my efforts will bring forth the fruits of my labor. I think my academic success is a good example of this.
Dad says that my athletic abilities have always been extraordinary, even in comparison to himself and my older brothers.
5. Faith, Gratitude, and My Purpose in Life
I am grateful for the sparing of my mother’s life. I cherish every day that I can talk to her, love her, and be the recipient of her love.
My mission in life is to help other people in despair and to bring light where there is darkness, to bring hope where there is anguish and distress. I turned to the Word of God for comfort and solace during our turmoil, and I highly recommend this to all in pain.
I now send daily Bible verses to my parents and loved ones every day. My Dad recently reciprocated by sharing a verse with me that resonated with me very much, and I’d like to share it with you now.
2 Timothy 4:6–8
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
These words give me great assurance that my efforts will not be in vain and that doing the right thing, whether someone is watching or not, is always the right way to go. These words give me a great sense of peace as I continue my pursuit of fulfilling my promise.
6. Redefining What It Means to Be Successful
That experience also helped shape my understanding of what it truly means to be successful. Success is not simply about how much money you make, what career you pursue, or what you accomplish in life. It is also about the knowledge you acquire, the opportunities you create, the people you help, and the legacy you leave behind.
One of the things I have come to realize is that there are many essential life skills that we are never formally taught in school. We learn mathematics, history, science, and other academic subjects, but many of us graduate without understanding how credit works, how to manage debt, how to build wealth, how to use money strategically, or how to turn a business idea into something profitable.
These are lessons that can have a tremendous impact on the direction of someone’s life, yet many people are left to figure them out through trial and error.
7. The Importance of Financial Literacy
I believe financial literacy is one of the most important forms of education a person can receive. Understanding credit, learning how to manage money, establishing financial discipline, and recognizing how to use available resources can open doors that many people never knew existed.
Unfortunately, a lack of financial education can also leave individuals feeling trapped in cycles of debt, struggling to make ends meet, and believing that financial hardship is something they simply have to accept.
I want to help change that.
I believe a person should have the knowledge and opportunity to create a better financial future for themselves and their family. I want to educate people about credit, personal and business funding, entrepreneurship, and the financial principles that can help them make more informed decisions.
My goal is not simply to help someone improve their credit score, but to help them understand why their credit matters, how financial decisions affect their future, and how to use that knowledge to pursue opportunities they may have once thought were out of reach.
8. Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Creating Opportunities
I am also a firm believer that a nine-to-five job does not have to be the final destination. There is absolutely nothing wrong with working a traditional job, and I respect the discipline and responsibility that comes with earning an honest living.
However, I believe a job can also be a stepping stone toward something greater. Rather than viewing a nine-to-five as the entirety of one’s future, I encourage people to consider using the income, experience, and discipline they gain from their employment to fund a business idea, develop a skill, invest in their future, or build something of their own.
Not everyone has to become an entrepreneur, and everyone’s journey will look different. But I believe people deserve to understand their options and have the tools to make choices based on knowledge rather than limitations.
A dream becomes much more attainable when you combine faith with preparation, discipline, financial education, and consistent action.
9. Fulfilling My Promise Through Service to Others
Ultimately, this mission connects directly to the promise I made to God during one of the darkest periods of my life. When I prayed for my mother’s life to be spared, I promised that I would continue striving to make my parents happy and proud of me.
As I have grown, I have come to understand that fulfilling that promise means more than personal accomplishments. It means becoming someone who can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
If I can help a family understand credit before making a costly financial mistake, help someone recognize an opportunity to build a business, or give a person the knowledge and confidence to take control of their financial future, then I believe I am fulfilling a greater purpose.
10. Turning Adversity Into a Lasting Legacy
I know what it feels like to face uncertainty, to pray for a miracle, and to hold on to hope when circumstances seem impossible. That experience taught me that even in our darkest moments, we can find purpose in what we have endured.
I want to carry that lesson into every area of my life by helping others find hope where they see obstacles, knowledge where there is confusion, and opportunity where they once saw limitations.
My goal is not simply to achieve success for myself. It is to use what I learn, what I build, and what I overcome to help others do the same.
I want to leave people better equipped to navigate life than they were before they encountered me, because I believe true success is measured not only by what we accomplish for ourselves, but also by what we make possible for others.
