My name is Kennington Ryver Rogers an Elementary Education Major. What/ who inspired me to attend South Carolina State University, my mother. As a child, my dream has always been to attend an HBCU but surprisingly South Carolina State was not my first choice. However, as time got closer for me to decide what college I wanted to attend, South Carolina State started to become my number one choice. I started feeling like I wanted to continue the legacy my mother started. You see my mother was a first-generation college graduate so I thought to myself why not continue the legacy? South Carolina State has a rich history of producing great educators and professional individuals. The reason I chose my major is that I want to help young people and I want to be a role model to young boys. I did not have a male teacher until I was in the seventh grade. The Great Civil Rights leader Malcolm X said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” When I think about education and why I want to become a teacher, I get excited because the ideas are endless. I feel that a person can uplift a student without a degree of higher education; however advanced training and better skills will allow me to give back in unique ways. As a young African American male growing up primarily in a single-parent household, I never wanted to be a statistic or the "status quo". My mother tried to ensure that I was well-rounded and focused on my academics as well as athletics and community engagement. I have seen and admired her work with students as a school counselor. I want to somehow be a guiding light or beacon of strength for my future students. I want to show them that people are much more than what often appears on the surface. I just want to be there for my students and be a light in their path so that I can deliver exactly what they need. By having a deeper understanding of them you can approach them like a friend and guide them like a mentor to help them improve their behavior and attitudes. These are the reasons I chose my field of study.