This research study utilized the qualitative method of narrative inquiry to create and analyze the oral narrative of one African American female's struggle for success in higher education. This method allowed investigation of life experiences meaningful to the participant-narrator's success in higher education to be accomplished in collaboration with the participant-narrator; a student voice was heard and preserved. The oral narrative was then analyzed by the researcher in order to identify and examine elements (family and individual characteristics, life events, interactions, personal meanings) relevant to factors that have been identified by existing research findings as related to student development, especially African-American persistence in higher education;Traditional research in higher education is highly quantitative and Eurocentric. The contribution of this extremely focused research is found in an analysis of the personal insights and meanings that will assist practitioners and researchers whose counseling styles, teaching methods, policies, practices and theories are designed to deal with large, diverse groups, but which dramatically affect individual lives.