I have a good support system. I would say my mother is my biggest role model. She has been through a lot coming up but she still remain strong and She doesn’t let that stop her. She got her B.S in criminal justice in 2018 and right after that she got her masters. She helped shape me into the young lady I am now because she always encourage me no matter what. She is always there for me even when I’m in the wrong. She loves me regardless of what wrong doings I do. The fact that she has big goals in life just inspire me because I do as well. “AAHHHHHH” said me and the crowd as we were screaming for my mom because she just graduated from being her BS. The smile on her face was priceless ,eyes beaming with happiness for finally being able to graduate. Everyone got up to hug her. We were all so proud of her. She said “thank you guys for coming ,hope to do this again when i get my masters” and when she said that my heart burst with content to know not only did she get her BS ,she's getting her masters too. She is going over and beyond and I was so proud to call her my mom. Just like she said about getting her masters,she did just that not even 1 year later. She put her mind to it and never lost track. This is one of the reasons I look up to my mom. So when I am asked who my inspiration is, just know it's my mother. This is the reason why. My mom always inspiratire me to be the best in everything I do. I realized that your background or whatever you went through doesnt stop your success and to always push through and don't give up. My mom has been through alot and the fact that she doesn't allow herself to fail, encourages me to keep doing what I'm doing so I can graduate and start my life outside of high school. You should try if you fail, get up and try again. You're not going to succeed if you don't try. All your hard work pays off in the end. Never give up, because you never know what is waiting for you at the end. If you give up early on, you will never know the advantages and great things that are waiting for you at the end. A wise person once told me “the struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow” meaning you can struggle now but that struggle is only building you up to be stronger and the more you struggle the more strength you have to endear in the future. Considering the pandemic we are in now, that never stopped her or me. We have been trying to do above and beyond, I can only appreciate my mother for everything she has ever done for me.

My name is Monica Williams. From Memphis TN and live in Colorado Springs. My mom moved us out of Memphis to have better opportunities. In Memphis so many people especially teenagers and kids die everyday and I’m just blessed to be able to leave and start new. I want to do two things ;I want to own my own Restaurant mainly serving soul food and down southern food. My next idea goal is to be a physical therapist and I also want to own my own company. Since I know you don’t have to go to school to own a business I decided to go to college for exercise science/kinesiology to further my career in physical therapy. The idea of learning about the human body encourages me to continue my major choice. When I graduate I plan to work under someone first so I can learn and conquer in the physical therapy business then I will open my own. As far as the restaurant that will be my next business. I love to cook and I’ve grown up watching mostly everyone around me cook. Both of my grandmas ,my mother, most of my aunties and even my dad cook a little bit. They encourage me everyday and I’m grateful to have such support that I have now. I just have to save up and keep my eyes on the prize. I wish that African Americans can be considered just as successful if not more successful then whites. I also wish that it wasn’t always “first black” or “first women” or even worst “first black women” as of there was a superior race. As if it’s not bad enough that African Americans aren’t accepted. I was inspired to start since I was old enough to know what’s going on out there in the world. Discrimination and racism being one of the biggest things we went through and are still going through it today. It hurts me to see what we have to go through and we don’t deserve it. All my life I’ve seen how people treat African Americans and although I can try to change people minds and even explain to them what they are doing is wrong. It is going to take a lot more than that and it’s going to take time. I always wondered is this what the world have come to? Is this what my future kids and grandkids have to go through? I pray that it will change soon because I don’t know how much I can go through without breaking down. I have tough skin and words typically don’t hurt but after hearing them over and over and over it starts to break a barrier I’ve set in my heart. So when you ask me what I inspire to be I say I inspire to be the best business owner, the best student, the best daughter, the best parent. My life goal is to hear a little less of “ The First Black ...”.

My name is Monica Williams. From Memphis TN and live in Colorado Springs. My mom moved us out of Memphis to have better opportunities. In Memphis so many people especially teenagers and kids die everyday and I’m just blessed to be able to leave and start new. I want to do two things ;I want to own my own Restaurant mainly serving soul food and down southern food. My next idea goal is to be a physical therapist and I also want to own my own company. Since I know you don’t have to go to school to own a business I decided to go to college for exercise science/kinesiology to further my career in physical therapy. The idea of learning about the human body encourages me to continue my major choice. When I graduate I plan to work under someone first so I can learn and conquer in the physical therapy business then I will open my own. As far as the restaurant that will be my next business. I love to cook and I’ve grown up watching mostly everyone around me cook. Both of my grandmas ,my mother, most of my aunties and even my dad cook a little bit. They encourage me everyday and I’m grateful to have such support that I have now. I just have to save up and keep my eyes on the prize. I wish that African Americans can be considered just as successful if not more successful then whites. I also wish that it wasn’t always “first black” or “first women” or even worst “first black women” as of there was a superior race. As if it’s not bad enough that African Americans aren’t accepted. I was inspired to start since I was old enough to know what’s going on out there in the world. Discrimination and racism being one of the biggest things we went through and are still going through it today. It hurts me to see what we have to go through and we don’t deserve it. All my life I’ve seen how people treat African Americans and although I can try to change people minds and even explain to them what they are doing is wrong. It is going to take a lot more than that and it’s going to take time. I always wondered is this what the world have come to? Is this what my future kids and grandkids have to go through? I pray that it will change soon because I don’t know how much I can go through without breaking down. I have tough skin and words typically don’t hurt but after hearing them over and over and over it starts to break a barrier I’ve set in my heart. So when you ask me what I inspire to be I say I inspire to be the best business owner, the best student, the best daughter, the best parent. My life goal is to hear a little less of “ The First Black ...

My name is Monica Williams. From Memphis TN and live in Colorado Springs. My mom moved us out of Memphis to have better opportunities. In Memphis so many people especially teenagers and kids die everyday and I’m just blessed to be able to leave and start new. I want to do two things ;I want to own my own Restaurant mainly serving soul food and down southern food. My next idea goal is to be a physical therapist and I also want to own my own company. Since I know you don’t have to go to school to own a business I decided to go to college for exercise science/kinesiology to further my career in physical therapy. The idea of learning about the human body encourages me to continue my major choice. When I graduate I plan to work under someone first so I can learn and conquer in the physical therapy business then I will open my own. As far as the restaurant that will be my next business. I love to cook and I’ve grown up watching mostly everyone around me cook. Both of my grandmas ,my mother, most of my aunties and even my dad cook a little bit. They encourage me everyday and I’m grateful to have such support that I have now. I just have to save up and keep my eyes on the prize. I wish that African Americans can be considered just as successful if not more successful then whites. I also wish that it wasn’t always “first black” or “first women” or even worst “first black women” as of there was a superior race. As if it’s not bad enough that African Americans aren’t accepted. I was inspired to start since I was old enough to know what’s going on out there in the world. Discrimination and racism being one of the biggest things we went through and are still going through it today. It hurts me to see what we have to go through and we don’t deserve it. All my life I’ve seen how people treat African Americans and although I can try to change people minds and even explain to them what they are doing is wrong. It is going to take a lot more than that and it’s going to take time. I always wondered is this what the world have come to? Is this what my future kids and grandkids have to go through? I pray and pray and pray that it will change soon because I don’t know how much I can go through without breaking down. I have tough skin and words typically don’t hurt but after hearing them over and over and over it starts to break a barrier I’ve set in my heart. So when you ask me what I inspire to be I say I inspire to be the best business owner, the best student, the best daughter, the best parent. My life goal is to hear a little less of “ The First Black ...”.