No one in my family understood me. All of my immediate family members, including my first cousins who are really like siblings, are what people call “normal, status-quo, white-collar” scholars. They all got the best grades, the highest recommendations, internships that looked good on resumes, and most of all, praise from older family members. I got the rolled eyes, the “Huh?”, and “How are you going to make a living like that?” That was until I decided to beg my parents to take me out of private school and enroll me in the neighborhood school so I could go to Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) to learn the ins and outs of mechanics. I was STEM before it became the buzzword in schools! Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with how cars look and what makes them go! I was always curious about science and technology, but especially engineering and how things worked, what parts did what, and how they could be enhanced to make them sleeker, more economical, better for the environment, and faster! In the 10th grade, my IB Personal Project was how to make a more effective car exhaust. It got high reviews by all the people who came to my booth. I think I really may have a good idea that I can build on in the future! During my senior year of high school, I began my career at Atlanta College and Career Academy in the automotive class. This allowed me to put STEM to the test and really get my hands dirty working with automobiles. I found my tribe. At first, my family was skeptical. They moaned and groaned that I should have taken the other route that my brother and cousins took: taking academic-based classes at local universities to gain college credits. My parents saw college courses as the only way to success. They saw mechanic classes as a long, hard road with no financial gain. I, on the other hand, saw ACCA as my ticket to happiness. Since I have earned automotive certificates as a high school senior, I have excelled. I was able to take my mom’s car into class more than twice to have it serviced by me and my classmates. She was impressed. I won her over! I have also fixed my granddad’s van at the shop by replacing the shocks and tires. As a result of the course, I can replace brakes, do suspension, light engine work, tire replacement, and general service. This past summer, I started my own traveling automotive business! I had several satisfied customers. From my time in the automobile class, I have gained three certifications: Automotive Chassis Technician Specialist TCC, ASE- xEV Electrical Safety Awareness-Level 1, and Auto Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician TTC. My teachers have even awarded me the Most Valuable Student twice as a result of my hard work and tenacity. I am now starting my freshman year at college, majoring in automotive engineering. As a young black man attending a school in northwestern New York, I will not come across many other students of color. I will have to work harder and longer to be sure I am at the top of my class. However, I am positive that I can succeed. I want to be a role model to other people like me who often get pushed to the side because we are not the “norm.” I have a clear path, as well as hands-on experience that others probably would not have. This is my time to shine and make a mark for others to follow!

No one in my family understood me. All of my immediate family members, including my first cousins who are really like siblings, are what people call “normal, status-quo, white-collar” scholars. They all got the best grades, the highest recommendations, internships that looked good on resumes, and most of all, praise from older family members. I got the rolled eyes, the “Huh?”, and “How are you going to make a living like that?” That was until I decided to beg my parents to take me out of private school and enroll me in the neighborhood school so I could go to Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) to learn the ins and outs of mechanics. Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with how cars look and what makes them go! I was always curious about what parts did what, and how they could be enhanced to make them sleeker, more economical, better for the environment, and faster! In the 10th grade, my IB Personal Project was how to make a more effective car exhaust. It got high reviews from all the people who came to my booth. I think I really may have a good idea! This past school year began my career at Atlanta College and Career Academy in the automotive class. I found my tribe. At first, my family was skeptical. They moaned and groaned that I should have taken the other route that my brother and cousins took: taking academic-based classes at local universities to gain college credits. My parents saw college courses as the only way to success. They saw mechanic classes as a long, hard road with no financial gain. I, on the other hand, saw ACCA as my ticket to happiness. Since I have been going to my mechanics class, I have excelled. I have even taken my mom’s car into class more than twice to have it serviced by me and my classmates. She was impressed. I won her over! I have also fixed my granddad’s van at the shop by replacing the shocks, tires. As a result of the course, I can replace brakes, do suspension, light engine work, tire replacement, and general service. I plan to promote myself as a travelling mechanic during the summer to strengthen my skills and make extra money for college expenses. I still plan to attend college, but now, because of the program that ACCA offers, I have a clear path, as well as hands-on experience that others probably would not have. I have found the college of my dreams that actually has automotive engineering as a major! I am thankful that my school not only caters to “scholars,” but to all kinds of learners like me who need more than books to find a purpose for my passion.

No one in my family understood me. All of my immediate family members, including my first cousins who are really like siblings, are what people call “normal, status-quo, white-collar” scholars. They all got the best grades, the highest recommendations, internships that looked good on resumes, and most of all, praise from older family members. I got the rolled eyes, the “Huh?”, and “How are you going to make a living like that?” That was until I decided to beg my parents to take me out of private school and enroll me in the neighborhood school so I could go to Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) to learn the ins and outs of mechanics. Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with how cars look and what makes them go! My parents thought is was just a fleeting hobby; I would outgrow it. However, as the years passed, I wanted to know more about cars. I was always curious about what parts did what, and how they could be enhanced to make them sleeker, more economical, better for the environment, and faster! In the 10th grade, my IB Personal Project was how to make a more effective car exhaust. It got high reviews from all the people who came to my booth. I think I really may have a good idea, I just need more time and resources to make it a reality. This year I began my career at Atlanta College and Career Academy in the automotive class. I found my tribe. At first, my family was skeptical. They moaned and groaned that I should have taken the other route that my brother and cousins took: taking academic-based classes at local universities to gain college credits. My parents saw college courses as the only way to success. They saw mechanic classes as a long, hard road with no financial gain. I, on the other hand, saw ACCA as my ticket to happiness. Since I have been going to my mechanics class, I have been mastering it. I have even taken my mom’s car into class more than twice to have it serviced by me and my classmates. She was impressed. I won her over! I have also fixed my granddad’s van at the shop by replacing the shocks, tires. As a result of the course, I can replace brakes, do suspension, light engine work, tire replacement, and general service. I plan to promote myself as a travelling mechanic during the summer to strengthen my skills and make extra money for college expenses. From my time in the automobile class, I have gained three certifications: Automotive Chassis Technician Specialist TCC, ASE- xEV Electrical Safety Awareness-Level 1, and Auto Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician TTC. My teachers have even awarded me the Most Valuable Student twice this year as a result of my hard work and tenacity. I still plan to attend college, but now, because of the program that ACCA offers, I have a clear path, as well as hands-on experience that others probably would not have. I have found the college of my dreams that actually has automotive engineering as a major! I am thankful that my school not only caters to “scholars,” but to all kinds of learners like me who need more than books to find a purpose for my passion.

No one in my family understood me. All of my immediate family members, including my first cousins who are really like siblings, are what people call “normal, status-quo, white-collar” scholars. They all got the best grades, the highest recommendations, internships that looked good on resumes, and most of all, praise from older family members. I got the rolled eyes, the “Huh?”, and “How are you going to make a living like that?” That was until I decided to beg my parents to take me out of private school and enroll me in the neighborhood school so I could go to Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) to learn the ins and outs of mechanics. Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with how cars look and what makes them go! My parents thought it was just a fleeting hobby; I would outgrow it. However, as the years passed, I wanted to know more about cars. I was always curious about what parts did what, and how they could be enhanced to make them sleeker, more economical, better for the environment, and faster! In the 10th grade, my IB Personal Project was how to make a more effective car exhaust. It got high reviews from all the people who came to my booth. I think I really may have a good idea, I just need more time and resources to make it a reality. This year, I began my career at Atlanta College and Career Academy in the automotive class. I found my tribe. At first, my family was skeptical. They moaned and groaned that I should have taken the other route that my brother and cousins took: taking academic-based classes at local universities to gain college credits. My parents saw college courses as the only way to success. They saw mechanic classes as a long, hard road with no financial gain. I, on the other hand, saw ACCA as my ticket to happiness. Since I have been going to my mechanics class, I have excelled. I have even taken my mom’s car into class more than twice to have it serviced by me and my classmates. She was impressed. I won her over! I have also fixed my granddad’s van at the shop by replacing the shocks, tires. As a result of the course, I can replace brakes, do suspension, light engine work, tire replacement, and general service. I plan to promote myself as a travelling mechanic during the summer to strengthen my skills and make extra money for college expenses. From my time in the automobile class, I have gained three certifications: Automotive Chassis Technician Specialist TCC, ASE- xEV Electrical Safety Awareness-Level 1, and Auto Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician TTC. My teachers have even awarded me the Most Valuable Student twice this year as a result of my hard work and tenacity. I still plan to attend college, but now, because of the program that ACCA offers, I have a clear path, as well as hands-on experience that others probably would not have. I have found the college of my dreams that actually has automotive engineering as a major! I am thankful that my school not only caters to “scholars,” but to all kinds of learners like me who need more than books to find a purpose for my passion.

No one in my family understood me. All of my immediate family members, including my first cousins who are really like siblings, are what people call “normal, status-quo, white-collar” scholars. They all got the best grades, the highest recommendations, internships that looked good on resumes, and most of all, praise from older family members. I got the rolled eyes, the “Huh?”, and “How are you going to make a living like that?” That was until I decided to beg my parents to take me out of private school and enroll me in the neighborhood school so I could go to Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) to learn the ins and outs of mechanics. Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with how cars look and what makes them go! I was always curious about what parts did what, and how they could be enhanced to make them sleeker, more economical, better for the environment, and faster! In the 10th grade, my IB Personal Project was how to make a more effective car exhaust. It got high reviews by all the people who came to my booth. I think I really may have a good idea! This year I began my career at Atlanta College and Career Academy in the automotive class. I found my tribe. At first, my family was skeptical. They moaned and groaned that I should have taken the other route that my brother and cousins took: taking academic-based classes at local universities to gain college credits. My parents saw college courses as the only way to success. They saw mechanic classes as a long, hard road with no financial gain. I, on the other hand, saw ACCA as my ticket to happiness. Since I have been going to my mechanics class, I have excelled. I have even taken my mom’s car in to class more than twice to have it serviced by me and my classmates. She was impressed. I won her over! I have also fixed my granddad’s van at the shop by replacing the shocks, tires. As a result of the course, I can replace brakes, do suspension, light engine work, tire replacement, and general service. I plan to promote myself as a travelling mechanic during the summer to strengthen my skills and make extra money for college expenses. From my time in the automobile class, I have gained three certifications: Automotive Chassis Technician Specialist TCC, ASE- xEV Electrical Safety Awareness-Level 1, and Auto Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician TTC. My teachers have even awarded me the Most Valuable Student twice this year as a result of my hard work and tenacity. I still plan to attend college, but now, because of the program that ACCA offers, I have a clear path, as well as hands-on experience that others probably would not have. I have found the college of my dreams that actually has automotive engineering as a major! I am thankful that my school not only caters to “scholars,” but to all kinds of learners like me who need more than books to find a purpose for my passion.

No one in my family understood me. All of my immediate family members, including my first cousins who are really like siblings, are what people call “normal, status-quo, white-collar” scholars. They all got the best grades, the highest recommendations, internships that looked good on resumes, and most of all, praise from older family members. I got the rolled eyes, the “Huh?”, and “How are you going to make a living like that?” That was until I decided to beg my parents to take me out of private school and enroll me in the neighborhood school so I could go to Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) to learn the ins and outs of mechanics. Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with how cars look and what makes them go! I was always curious about what parts did what, and how they could be enhanced to make them sleeker, more economical, better for the environment, and faster! In the 10th grade, my IB Personal Project was how to make a more effective car exhaust. It got high reviews by all the people who came to my booth. I think I really may have a good idea! This year I began my career at Atlanta College and Career Academy in the automotive class. I found my tribe. At first, my family was skeptical. They moaned and groaned that I should have taken the other route that my brother and cousins took: taking academic-based classes at local universities to gain college credits. My parents saw college courses as the only way to success. They saw mechanic classes as a long, hard road with no financial gain. I, on the other hand, saw ACCA as my ticket to happiness. Since I have been going to my mechanics class, I have excelled. I have even taken my mom’s car in to class more than twice to have it serviced by me and my classmates. She was impressed. I won her over! I have also fixed my granddad’s van at the shop by replacing the shocks, tires. As a result of the course, I can replace brakes, do suspension, light engine work, tire replacement, and general service. I plan to promote myself as a travelling mechanic during the summer to strengthen my skills and make extra money for college expenses. From my time in the automobile class, I have gained three certifications: Automotive Chassis Technician Specialist TCC, ASE- xEV Electrical Safety Awareness-Level 1, and Auto Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician TTC. My teachers have even awarded me the Most Valuable Student twice this year as a result of my hard work and tenacity. I still plan to attend college, but now, because of the program that ACCA offers, I have a clear path, as well as hands-on experience that others probably would not have. I have found the college of my dreams that actually has automotive engineering as a major! I am thankful that my school not only caters to “scholars,” but to all kinds of learners like me who need more than books to find a purpose for my passion.

No one in my family understood me. All of my immediate family members, including my first cousins who are really like siblings, are what people call “normal, status-quo, white-collar” scholars. They all got the best grades, the highest recommendations, internships that looked good on resumes, and most of all, praise from older family members. I got the rolled eyes, the “Huh?”, and “How are you going to make a living like that?” That was until I decided to beg my parents to take me out of private school and enroll me in the neighborhood school so I could go to Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) to learn the ins and outs of mechanics. Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with how cars look and what makes them go! I was always curious about what parts did what, and how they could be enhanced to make them sleeker, more economical, better for the environment, and faster! In the 10th grade, my IB Personal Project was how to make a more effective car exhaust. It got high reviews by all the people who came to my booth. I think I really may have a good idea! This year I began my career at Atlanta College and Career Academy in the automotive class. I found my tribe. At first, my family was skeptical. They moaned and groaned that I should have taken the other route that my brother and cousins took: taking academic-based classes at local universities to gain college credits. My parents saw college courses as the only way to success. They saw mechanic classes as a long, hard road with no financial gain. I, on the other hand, saw ACCA as my ticket to happiness. Since I have been going to my mechanics class, I have excelled. I have even taken my mom’s car in to class more than twice to have it serviced by me and my classmates. She was impressed. I won her over! I have also fixed my granddad’s van at the shop by replacing the shocks, tires. As a result of the course, I can replace brakes, do suspension, light engine work, tire replacement, and general service. I plan to promote myself as a travelling mechanic during the summer to strengthen my skills and make extra money for college expenses. From my time in the automobile class, I have gained three certifications: Automotive Chassis Technician Specialist TCC, ASE- xEV Electrical Safety Awareness-Level 1, and Auto Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician TTC. My teachers have even awarded me the Most Valuable Student twice this year as a result of my hard work and tenacity. I still plan to attend college, but now, because of the program that ACCA offers, I have a clear path, as well as hands-on experience that others probably would not have. I have found the college of my dreams that actually has automotive engineering as a major! I am thankful that my school not only caters to “scholars,” but to all kinds of learners like me who need more than books to find a purpose for my passion.

No one in my family understood me. All of my immediate family members, including my first cousins who are really like siblings, are what people call “normal, status-quo, white-collar” scholars. They all got the best grades, the highest recommendations, internships that looked good on resumes, and most of all, praise from older family members. I got the rolled eyes, the “Huh?”, and “How are you going to make a living like that?” That was until I decided to beg my parents to take me out of private school and enroll me in the neighborhood school so I could go to Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA) to learn the ins and outs of mechanics. Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with how cars look and what makes them go! I was always curious about what parts did what, and how they could be enhanced to make them sleeker, more economical, better for the environment, and faster! In the 10th grade, my IB Personal Project was how to make a more effective car exhaust. It got high reviews by all the people who came to my booth. I think I really may have a good idea! This year I began my career at Atlanta College and Career Academy in the automotive class. I found my tribe. At first, my family was skeptical. They moaned and groaned; they saw college courses as the only way to success. They saw mechanic classes as a long, hard road with no financial gain. I, on the other hand, saw ACCA as my ticket to happiness. Since I have been going to my mechanics class, I have excelled. I have even taken my mom’s car in to class more than twice to have it serviced by me and my classmates. She was impressed. I won her over! I have also fixed my granddad’s van at the shop by replacing the shocks, tires. As a result of the course, I can replace brakes, do suspension, light engine work, tire replacement, and general service. I plan to promote myself as a travelling mechanic during the summer to strengthen my skills and make extra money for college expenses. I have gained three certifications: Automotive Chassis Technician Specialist TCC, ASE- xEV Electrical Safety Awareness-Level 1, and Auto Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician TTC. My teachers have even awarded me the Most Valuable Student twice this year as a result of my hard work and tenacity. I still plan to attend college, but now, because of the program that ACCA offers, I have a clear path, as well as hands-on experience that others probably would not have. I have found the college of my dreams that actually has automotive engineering as a major! I am thankful that my school not only caters to “scholars,” but to all kinds of learners like me who need more than books to find a purpose for my passion.