Statistically, I should not be writing this essay. Only 15% of kids like me graduate from college. I am 6 times more likely than my peers to go to prison and 7 times more likely to end up in the criminal justice system. I am the child of an incarcerated father. My biological father has been in prison since I was 2 years old even more so lowering the expectation I will be a positively contributing part of society. If I was today what statistics say I should be struggling in school, have behavior issues, already be in the criminal justice system, struggle with mental illness, and the list goes on. The cards have been supposedly stacked against me since before my father went to prison because I am so the son of a teen mom. On paper, society has no exceptions for me to amount to anything. What society doesn't know is that I am a full IB student with a 5.0. I love to learn and have always excelled in academics, especially math. I have never been so much as grounded let alone in trouble with the law. I am a four-sport athlete who enjoys being coached and have won multiple coaches' choice awards. I am not another statistic. I am eager to prove society wrong and show kids like me they also do not have to be what statistics say we will be. I will be a pre-med student with dreams become a psychiatrist. I will be able to help kids who struggle with mental illness overcome the obstacles set in front of them. I will help them dream big and understand that they also do not have to be part of a negative statistic. They can have a positive impact on society just like I will. This is what drive me to do better and be better.

Statistically, I should not be writing this essay. Only 15% of kids like me graduate from college. I am 6 times more likely than my peers to go to prison and 7 times more likely to end up in the criminal justice system. I am the child of an incarcerated father. My biological father has been in prison since I was 2 years old even more so lowering the expectation I will be a positively contributing part of society. If I was today what statistics say I should be struggling in school, have behavior issues, already be in the criminal justice system, struggle with mental illness, and the list goes on. The cards have been supposedly stacked against me since before my father went to prison because I am so the son of a teen mom. On paper, society has no exceptions for me to amount to anything. What society doesn't know is that I am a full IB student with a 5.0. I love to learn and have always excelled in academics, especially math. I have never been so much as grounded let alone in trouble with the law. I am a four-sport athlete who enjoys being coached and have won multiple coaches' choice awards. I am not another statistic. I am eager to prove society wrong and show kids like me they also do not have to be what statistics say we will be. I will be a pre-med student with dreams become a psychiatrist. I will be able to help kids who struggle with mental illness overcome the obstacles set in front of them. I will help them dream big and understand that they also do not have to be part of a negative statistic. They can have a positive impact on society just like I will.