Travian Butler
Look at Me Now
“Success is not measured by how much money you make, but how hard you work to earn that money.” ~Author Unknown
Throughout my whole life, I never had anyone to tell me that I would not make it. I have always had positive people around who told me that I could accomplish anything I set my mind on. This has always pushed me to be the best that I can be. I never had the mindset that I could not accomplish my goals. I always woke up everyday saying that nothing is going to hold me back.
I would like to thank my mom for always being that motivator who has always been there for me to let me know that there is a future out there. I would also like to thank my grandmother for also being my supporter and always showing me the bright side to my future. She also let me know that life is full of goals, and you just have to work hard and accomplish them, but it’s not going to be easy; it takes hard work. You never know what obstacles lay ahead of you, so try to accomplish as much as you possibly can.
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Domenique Duckett
Look at Me Now
Look at me now. You told me that I would never amount to anything. Booker T. Washington said that, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” I say this to say that I cannot measure my success by the things that I have achieved in life, but instead will measure the experiences and/or barriers I have had to overcome while trying to achieve success. So, I thank you all for making yourself a part of those obstacles that I have overcome. You all instilled in me purpose and definition that can never be created or redefined to fit your standards of me. If it were not for you, would I even be having a high school graduation? I might not be going to college if it were not for you.
All of those heart-wrenching moments and tears of pain that I shed not wanting to move on, have all been worth it in the end. So, to all of those people who said I could not, would not, or should not make it in life, LOOK AT ME NOW! I am not the one who is sitting on cold steel looking through a row of bars. I am not the one that is covered in a box, lowered underground and topped with dirt. I am graduating today and attending college in the fall of 2008. Look at me now because I am still standing.
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Ebony Johnson
But Yet Still Standing
Most people doubt me – they think I won’t graduate
But yet still standing
I have my ups-and-downs, ins-and-outs
But yet still standing
I made it as a semi-finalist for the POSSE Scholarship, but not a finalist
But yet still standing
I am maturing and growing up as the years go by
But yet still standing
I have haters from left to right, they motivate me dearly
But yet still standing
I am the second to go to college in my immediate family
But yet still standing
I have been challenged my entire senior year and have overcome many obstacles
But yet still standing
I am a graduate and a senior scholar of 2008
But yet still standing
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Antonio Phillips
First in the Family
Given all of the struggles that I had in my early years, it will be a blessing for me to make it to college. As I was growing up, I did not haven enough attention at home and the additional help that I needed because my mom was a single parent, which made life’s responsibilities harder for her. The biggest struggle of them all was trying to do my work while trying to tutor my brothers at the same time. This was difficult because my brothers always wanted to get their work done as soon as possible, so that they could go outside and play with their friends. At a young age, I knew that education was very important given the number of times my mom and teachers used to express that fact to me.
Growing up without a father was a key element for me to want to go to college. My father left a negative image for the streets and the family, but he finished high school. Since he fell victim to the streets, I want to show both sides of my family the great potential that he passed on, and take it a step further to attend college. I did not know my father personally, but I was able to see all the things he left for me, such as track medals, awards and certificates. In my eyes, he left those items for me to move forward in life and follow my dreams.
Attending college will give me many opportunities in life. I will set good examples for my brothers and fellow peers. Taking it a step further, I will show them that you can overcome challenges in life and strive for what you always wanted to accomplish. In conclusion, I strongly feel that I will be the first in my family to attend college. My attendance will not only benefit me, but my brothers and others with similar backgrounds. I will show them that no matter how difficult your childhood experience, there is no excuse for not going to college.
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Evans Campus Class of 2008 Reflections