EDUCATE U MAGAZINE PRE VOLUME 1 | Page 5

EducateEmpowerSuccessKnowledge

EducateEmpowerSuccessKnowledge

DeAndrePrice-Jones

ColombiaHigh LakeCity , FL
GrowingupinasmaltowninFlorida , youmaythinkmypersonalitywouldbethatofalonely , moretomyself , orevenaquitetypeofperson , butnoneofthosepersonalitiesmatchmine . I ’ m ahardworking , friendly , funny , charismatic , laidbackperson . Beingraisedbyasinglemother , inspiredmetoworkhardatanythingIwanttodo inlife . Mymom alwaystoldmeto " striveforgreatnes , neverbeaquiter , failureisn ’ tanoptionformylife ". Asa SenioratColumbiaHighSchool , thereisn ’ tareasonthatIshouldgiveupandbecomeadropout . Mydadhasbeen inandoutofmylife , makingmerealizethatstartingsomethingandnot�nishingwhatyoustartedmakesyoua coward !. Ihaven ' tletthatbothermebecausemymom raisedmetobeastrong , inteligent , andambitiousyoung man . Ifitwasn ’ tformymom idon ’ thaveanyideawhereIwouldbeinlifeorifIwouldactthewayactnow .
Irememberonesummerwhenthingsweren ’ tlookinggoodformyfamily , beingtheyoungestinthehouseihad tobecomeayoungmanatanearlyageinordertogetajobtohelpmymom withsomebils . Workingduringthe summerIfeltthatitwasn ’ tnecesarytohangoutwithfriends , Ifeltthatgoingtowork15minsearlywasmore important . Helpingoutwiththebilsmademefeelincredible , Ilookedatmyselfasahero . Savingmyfamilymade mesitbackandthink , ithoughttomyself , IrealizedthatIam blesedforeveryoneandeverythingIhave .
GrowingupIgotalongwitheveryone , everywhereIwentitwasn ’ thardformetomakefriends . Iftherewasaperson thatlookedthattheywereinneedofafriendiwouldhaveaconversationwiththatpersonnomaterwhatthe circumstanceswas , onlybecauseIwastaughttotreatapersonthewayyouwishedtobetreatednomaterwhat race , becauseinGod ’ seyewearealequaltoeachother . EverytimeIseeapersonthatisdownifeeltheneedto enlightentheirdaywithaspecialgreeting . Caringforanotherpersonbesidesyouoryourfamilywilmakeyou changeyourpointofviewofhowyouseepeople . I ' veneverbeenthetypeofpersontogetmadatthelitlethings inlifebecausethereisalwayssomeonegoingthroughsituationsthatmayscarthem forlife . Dramaisapartof everyone ’ slife , andthatnormalbutIseem to�gureoutawayaroundthedramatokeepmyselfup . Withthisworld �ledofchaosIknowthateveryoneisn ’ talikeandthatthingsdon ’ tgoaccordinglytohowweplanthem togo , but throughthepain , alitlebitofdepresion , heartbreaksandalotofPrayer , Istilmanageto keepmyheadheldhigh andlooktowardsbiggerandbeterthingsinlife , Ijusthavetokeepmypositivevibesandneverletanyoneget undermyskin .
Mydream aspirationasanuyoungboywouldbe , tobecomeaprofesionalfootbalplayer . However , adifferentplanhas beenchosen . I ' lsayGodhasbigin�uenceinmylifeandIthinkthathe ' sseessomethingIcan ' tseerightnow . I ' veplayedtravelbasketbalforthepast3yearsandtriedoutforthebasketbalteam andmadetheVarsityteam . I ' m lookingforwardtowhatlifehastoofferaftercompletionofHSMay2017 . Ihaveplansonatendingcolege , tryingoutfor boththefootbalandbasketbalteams . WhateverliesaheadI ' m preparedtofacelifeasitishandedtome . STRONG !