As a young little girl, I had the opportunity of identifying
someone that I used as my role model. Anytime I was around this person, I watched
closely of the life they were living.
They attended college, married, children, continued to upgrade to
glorious beautiful houses, church, and lastly a six-figure income. As a pre-teen, I would tell myself, “I want
that!” “I am going to do that!” “I am putting myself through college to have
that!”
Born and raised until I was seven years old in North Jersey,
my life altered as we moved to North Philadelphia. It was a culture shock. I have witnessed continuous drug deals, lock
ups, and I remember one vivid drive by shooting that almost cost the lives of
my father and baby brother, who was four years old at the time.
People in this neighborhood were not deemed to succeed. No one expects children from North Philly to
make it anywhere.
However, I had a vision.
I knew what I wanted. At the age
of twelve, my parents made the best decision to move to Northeast
Philadelphia. Though, it was the same
city, the neighborhood made a difference in my life particularly the surroundings. Per my request, I persisted on the North
Philly neighborhood schools. Regardless,
my mind was already set up for success.
It was a requirement that I made for myself to attend college. In Family A, I aspired to be the first to
graduate with a college degree and in the other side of the family, Family B,
the second.
With this dream that I had foreseen, I was destined for
triumph. I used ONE role model to determine the direction I was heading
towards and I was not allowing anyone to get in my way. Anyway, long story short through trials and
tribulations, I assumed the ability to accomplish the degree requirement. Throughout this process, I have learned more
than I could have ever imagined.
I used the word USED very
loosely. I used a role model for myself and I say that because I feel that
everyone needs some type of influence in their life to give them motivation
especially with the down outpour of negativity that unfortunately we are
surrounded by. HOWEVER, as an adult, I
came to the realization that I wanted a better life than the Role Model I used.
YES! I want the career, but I
do not want the sacrifices that come along with a six-figure income yet. In due time and with the Grace of God, it
will come, but the biggest PRIORITY that changed the outcome was my children. At the end, I did not realize that QUALITY time
would have affected the decision of desiring that six-figure salary. Children are a blessing and I don’t want to
miss a beat.
Still, that does not mean to give up or not to keep persevering. Sometimes, dreams change, but in a GREAT
way! I am achieving my next degree. This time, I will be the second in Family A
to receive my Master’s and Family B, the first.
At this moment, there are new goals and new influences AND they will
never stop coming. If it weren’t for the
first one, I may not have that first SUCCESS!
In addition, I did realize the
greatest influences of my life and hard work, dedication, perseverance, AND QUALITY time originated from ROLE MODELS I
was living with the whole time,
MY PARENTS!!
