Frantz Barron Scholarship

I had to relocate to a rural town in the midst of my middle school tenure and say goodbye to people I had grown up with and known for around a decade. The decision to move wasn't out of the blue. We moved to ensure my ill grandmother could spend her final days surrounded by her loved ones. Adjusting to a new environment, away from the support systems and friendships I had developed, proved to be an immense challenge. However, I recognized the importance of family and embraced the opportunity to make a difference during a difficult time. Due to being in a single-parent household, we often faced financial constraints. My mother had to juggle work and parenting responsibilities, which limited my family's financial resources. Growing up in such circumstances helped us learn how to budget, make sacrifices, and be mindful of expenses. These experiences shaped my perspective on money and gave me values that I use more and more every day like resourcefulness and financial discipline even when it comes to little things. Witnessing my mother's strength, determination, and perseverance in the face of challenges and adversity made me realize that I couldn't be reliant on her for everything. I had to learn to adapt to adversity and develop problem-solving skills just as she had done. These qualities will have long-lasting effects, and I will use them to overcome obstacles in various aspects of my life. My family being African American plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding and appreciation of cultural identity. My mother instilled a strong sense of pride in our heritage, made sure we knew about our history and helped us through the challenges we may face as black individuals in society. This was especially so when we moved to a more rural area. In a rural area, the community played a more significant role in our family's life. We rely on neighbors, friends, and community organizations for support as well as create a strong support system for us through giving back to the community. This sense of community provided a nurturing environment and opportunities for us to develop relationships and learn valuable social skills. Moving to a rural area exposed us to a different way of life, diverse cultural backgrounds, and alternative perspectives. This exposure to a new place broadened our understanding of the world and showed us different lifestyles and experiences. It is these experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today.

Thinking back when asked how I am overcoming adversity made me think deeply about my childhood growing up. I grew up in a single-parent home with my mom and little brother. My mom use to work a part-time job for most of my elementary school years so she could make sure she was there for my brother and me. I was not able to go to private school at a young age because my mother could not afford it. My schools weren't the best but I had a team who cared about me and worked hard with my mom to make sure I learned and stayed focused. My mother put me in football and I feel that saved me. Saved me from trying to hang out with the kids who use to get in trouble in the streets. Overcoming adversity for me was that. I had something to look forward to doing daily after school. Something positive in my life since at that time I was having a hard time with my father not being present in my life. I feel that that bothered me the most because I couldn't understand why he wasn't there when I hadn't done anything to make him go away. My coaches in grammar school and high school were father figures in my life helping me overcome struggles in becoming a young man. I'm forever grateful for them. My mother made sure I never missed a practice or a game even when we didn't have a car. I feel like it is a daily struggle to be a young black man because we some much stacked against us. My mother decided to send me to a Catholic school to keep me on a good path to success. I learned to join community givebacks to help young mothers with children by talking to them even though I'm only 17 years old they too like me have a future. I also volunteer on my younger brother's football team as a mentor because a lot of the children that play come from broken homes as well. I teach them that they don't have to turn to the streets but to maintain a positive attitude and continue their education. Volunteering helps me stay aligned and stay out of trouble knowing I have multiple people that count on me. I want to continue being able to overcome adversity through the rest of my life because it is a continued fight.