I can still remember the day I was informed about the Trio Program. It was the third semester of my freshman year at Delgado Community College when I had the pleasure of joining the Trio Program. Through this program, I was introduced to Ms. Brandy, who is an academic advisor for Trio. Upon meeting her it was obvious that her job was more than a position to help and provide students with resources to succeed. She always went above and beyond to make sure that every student was on the right path. I admire her because a job should be something you enjoy and it is very rare to see someone who is passionate about guiding others to success without expecting something in return. Ms. Brandy welcomed me with open arms after I told her about my past situation, in which I had failed the previous two semesters. I had trouble balancing my school and work schedules. We then had an hour-long discussion about steps I should follow to prepare for upcoming semesters. Ms. Brandy helped me choose all of the classes I would need for my major. Together we mapped out a specific study and work schedule to ensure my time was used productively. Throughout our entire discussion, she was very supportive. She never criticized me about my past shortcomings and one thing she never failed to remind me of, was that I am able to do anything. I have to work hard for what I want and I understand that because she expects me to work for my success, the same way I expected her to help me through my academic and personal issues. Although she loves her job, she will not allow you to take advantage of her because she knows that each student within the program has the potential to accomplish their goals and wants to help them do this. Before I met Ms. Brandy I was not focused on my education. My plans were to achieve an associate degree in two years and transfer to a university to earn a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. She was one of the most supportive people I have met during my career at Delgado. Without Ms. Brandy and the services provided by the Trio Program, I would have never made it this far in my educational career. She is still someone I can depend on when I need guidance. From the time I first met her, she has been a big influence on my life and encourages me to continue my education. I have now earned my Associate Degree in General Studies and attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to earn my bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies.

Becoming an advocate and service to others in the disabled community is my purpose. Being born with mild cerebral palsy influenced my passion to become a childcare teacher and mentor for disabled children. My condition did not allow me to have a normal childhood because I was restricted from many activities and events. It affects my personal and intellectual progression. Even though I have increased in both areas with support from my doctors and family, achieving my dreams has not been easy. Becoming a teacher for young children will allow me to support children who have related or similar circumstances. My education will allow me to thrive in my career of molding children’s lives. I love the idea of teaching and guiding young children because they will learn the skills to become successful individuals. I plan to build a community center that offers services to assist them with any issues. My community center will be accessible to all children, but specifically a center for addressing the needs of those with Cerebral Palsy and other development issues. So, learning and gaining experience about resources and methods used to help children become successful during my journey is necessary because it teaches me how to become a successful teacher and mentor. The services in my community center will increase their overall development according to the needs of each child. My goal is to build a community center for children to call their second home and view each other as equal while receiving guidance and resources to prepare them for the future. It will be an honor to provide them with opportunities that I never had. I was just an African American child raised in a poor household with a disability. Therefore, I did not have many chances to showcase my potential. My passion for helping improvised children also stems from searching for guidance from different sources and enduring rejection. All children need is support and guidance to become successful in this world. Receiving any form of support is a blessing for people who cannot accomplish their goals because they do not have access to any opportunities. My similar circumstances encouraged me to become the support system that I needed for others. Grasping that my family will never be able to support my dreams without access to opportunities was painful because my plead for support went unnoticed. To achieve my dreams of launching a daycare and community center is not about gaining a career, but transforming the lives of all children and reaching their dreams. Teaching children as youth is essential because they are not influenced by their environment or society standards. Children are the future and if we want to see better communities with less violence it starts with the younger generation first. Guiding children to succeed will become my mark on this earth and inspiration for the disabled community. We will prove that a disability does not mean inability together and circumstances do not determine their success.