I think everyone faces many different roadblocks, weather their big or little there are things that jump in the way of people success everyday. For me this was the hardest thing I could have ever gotten over. I once had a friend that I loved more than anything else. That friend took his own life February 2nd of 2025. This is the biggest roadblock anyone could have thrown in my way. I left school with the intention of dropping out and I thought my life was over. I planned to leave school, take my life, and that was the end of it. I pondered in this terrible headspace for weeks and came to the conclusion of, this is going to be my motivation. He was the person who pushed me to be my best self when he was here so why would that change once he’s gone. Everyday I get up, I get up for him. I work as hard as I can, for him. I thrive and prosper in the name of him. To this day I don’t think I’ve gotten over it or ever will, ive learned to live with this and im in a better place now but this is something I will forever have to carry with me for as long as I live. With this realization I chose to pick up as many college courses as I could, I started working two jobs also as a full time athlete and ended my first semester trying harder than I ever have with a 4.3 GPA. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of myself in my entire life. I don’t think my family has ever been more proud of me. I could not get to the happiness I currently feel now without the support of my friends and family, truly without them I would not be here today. As well as without the impact as someone so amazing I wouldn’t be the person I am today. This has changed what I wanted to do as a career tremendously. I chose to go down the path of being a kindergarten teacher, I want to be that safe space for kids, I want to leave that big on an impact and impression on kids to help them strive to be the best they can be. I want to teach the next generation to be their best self even in the worst situation. That’s why I chose Elementary education.

Would you look at me and think at one point in my life I wanted to drop out of school and take my own life? Well that was my plan. From the time I can remember, to my junior year, that was the plan. Then the biggest life changing moment happened. A man I loved and was with for years took his own life. We had broken up before this but never had the time to make amends. This was the absolute worst moment in my life and I still get tears thinking of it. Shane Demichael Draper was that man, and I will name his name for he has made an impact on more people than I can even count. He was the biggest inspiration in my life and continues to be. After I found out this news I left school for about two months with the intention of dropping out. I thought my life was over and if he didn’t get to live why should I? I pondered in this for weeks and weeks until I came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t want him doing this if it was the other way around. Who was the one who taught me to get up even when I didn’t want to? Shane. Who was the person who constantly pushed me to be my best self? Shane. So from then on I got my stuff together and everyday I have tried my hardest to strive to be even half the amout of encouraging and impactful as him. I started going to school and I started trying harder than ever, I took as many college classes as I could and I ended my first semester of trying my absolute hardest with a 4.3 GPA and I could never be prouder. Day after day my motivation is the person who used to motivate me to be the best me. I take pride in myself and the hard work I’ve had to put in. I worked two jobs, overcame what I can only describe as the person I loved more than anything taking his own life, being a full time athlete, taking college courses, and finishing with a 4.3 GPA. I try so hard to do my best because this is what I would have wanted him to do, but he’s not here to do it, so I will. I still work, I did let one of my jobs go sense I will be going to college soon but I currently work at a little Boutique called Silhouettes, this is a small business in Clinton just on the square and I help elderly women everyday find their beauty in their wardrobe when they can’t find it within. I couldn’t be happier with all the hard work I’ve put into myself and my character and how hard I’ve worked to get where I am today. I give lots of thanks to my family and friends for I would not be here today without them.