In school, I take all honor classes to challenge myself and to push myself . In addition to working hard in school , I decided to join a few extracurricular activities such as running two modeling teams , mentoring with Aziza Pe&ce program , Operation Understanding DC, secretary for Peer Forward , tutoring and national honors society. I also decided to create a vision board in order to keep myself focused. Once I made the vision board, with my dream college in the center, I promised myself that despite how bad the storm might get, I’ll always work hard and stay focused on reaching my goals and accomplish everything I’ve desired to accomplish.

My father use to tell me every year that I was his little princess and he will protect me at all cost. Until the alcohol started making me look and sounding like my mother. I can still hear him yelling at me with hate in his voice that was meant for my mother. I remember the list of physical features that he said I shared with my mother, I guess you can say it’s a list of things that made him hate me. “ Your ugly dark brown eyes, stupid short hair and brown skin that’s the same color as your mother’s” those words ran circles in my head as the 6’4 tall ,dark skinned,strong, tattooed man I call my father veins poked out from my name that he has tattooed on his arm . My father made me believe that my brown skin was no longer the skin of a princess but instead leather. My skin was now seen as the same leather they use to make a punching bag as I hung in the middle of a black and white decorated living room with a marble cafe table in the middle , two white couches with black small pillows that complemented the room and a big flat screen tv mounted to the wall. His living room was beautiful, it was better than my mother’s and I entire one bedroom apartment with a broken window in the living room that was next to my dora explora box tv set, a piece wide thick wood that was used as a cafe table sat in the middle of the floor, and a single chair with four super soft blankets that we used to make a tent because my mother couldn’t afford a couches at the time. but I rather be there at my mother’s apartment than with Muhammad Ali in his nice living room. Growing up with a father who showed very little love and a lot of hate i decided to use him as an example of how I shouldn’t be treated by a man. My father has never been a prince charming to me but he has taught me that I am stronger than I think I am and I shouldn’t settle for anyone like him. Having someone who always tries to find way to bring you down taught me to find happiness on my own. I showed myself that my skin is not leather, it’s not a punching bag that my father can hit when he’s upset but instead it’s gold, it’s beautiful , soft , chocolate colored and should be protected at all cost .My skin should not have bruises and I should never be afraid of someone who's supposed to take care of me. I will no longer mistake verbally abuse as someone wanting the best for me. I do not deserve to be beaten but instead appreciated, love and hugged . My father's abuse-ness has helped me create my murals. I know my worth and I will never let anyone put their hands on me or make me feel like I’m less than what I am . My father use to tell me every year that I was his little princess and he will protect me at all cost. My birthday was a holiday day in his eyes and it was his favorite but now it’s my favorite holiday. I’m no longer the princess that my father saw when I was little but Now I’m the queen that looks like her mother. I have beautiful brown eyes , short flowy hair & gorgeous brown skin

i submitted a video below https://youtu.be/SFbKvIJueW0