To the children who think you can’t, trust me you can:

Please be reassured that your beginning may be rough, but work hard, please, because your end can be so bright. No, do not think I am a person who was served on a silver platter, because trust me, I am far from that. I came from the bottom of the bottom and have achieved so much, but yet have so much farther to go!

I started my life growing up in one of the poorest counties in the entire nation of the United States: McDowell County. I was raised on welfare assistance my entire childhood. I received “food stamps” and a Medicaid Card until the day I graduated high school. Both of my parents were on drugs. I lived with my dad’s mother, my grandmother, and her husband because my mother was incarcerated.

I saw my grandmother put up with so much mental abuse it was unreal, but she had little income and would not be able to support us and her household without her husband; therefore, she had to stay with a man who did nothing but mentally abuse her! She always reminded me, though, to always stay in school and to never depend on a man. She told me to make my own money and support myself and if by chance I find a man that is good, just know to have a plan B to fall back on.

Coming from such an upbringing I may not have known much, however, I did know that I wanted to be nothing like the place where I came from. Not saying every day of my life was hell, but it was a lot harsher than most kids’ lives. I wanted to do the opposite of what everyone expected of me. I wanted the small town gossip to go from “You know she’ll never be nothing” to “I can’t believe she made it!”

So after high school I went to Bluefield State College where I am now a senior graduating in December of 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree In Early Education. Yes, you read that correctly. I came from hardships all the way to a college graduate, with two children by the way, and a Master’s Degree in my near future as well!

I am not going to sit and tell you this was easy, because trust me, it was not! However, no one wants to hear “I told you so" from a bunch of people who are miserable. I have heard so many times “You ain’t smart enough for no college.” That only makes my ambition stronger and it should yours as well.

So please, people, never let the cruel words of another bring you down, because when you make it you have the right to rub it all in the faces of the people who doubted you. Stay on track and never settle for less than what you deserve in life. Reach for the stars and you will touch one!