No matter how hard things in my life got, I didn’t give up. My parents always instilled in me never to give up. When times got hard my dad would always say shake it off and take it like a woman. I could tell he wanted more than one boy, but I guess the rest of us four girls would have to do.

I can recall some of my days in the first grade. Now that I think about it, I was just like a boy. My mother always told me I could do what a boy could do and better. I guess my mom and dad knew everything back then because I could do everything a boy could do and better. I believe God made all humans equal and gender shouldn’t keep me from doing anything. I still go by my mom’s saying today.

Even in academics I excelled. Things came easy to me. I don’t think it was because I was exceptional, though. I think because I paid attention and tried my hardest in my classes. No matter how much it stressed me, I would figure it out. If I had given up, I knew the next thing would be even harder so the best thing to do was get the first thing out of the way. This piece of logic must have worked because by the time I finished high school, I was the only African-American honor graduate in my class. I not only pleased my parents and relatives, but I also felt proud of myself. I knew then like I know now that hard work pays off and giving up never gets you anywhere. This is why I strive to do my best no matter how the odds are against me.

Even now in college, I’m faced with many new challenges. This time there is no one here to tell me what to do and give me that boost I need when I’m down. I have to do that for myself. I am now that adult that has to deal with new situations and face them head on as they come. I know that if I try, I mean really try, I will succeed. I don’t think God gives us so much that we can’t bear it all so I know I will win.

Soon I’ll be in the business world. I don’t think anyone wants to hire a quitter. That’s a waste of time and money. I want to be a person that an employer would be proud of. This is why I am working hard to ensure my position in life. I have to start now and that is what I am doing in college.

Times are hard these days. Some people are either out on the streets doing nothing or in nice homes living off the government. I don’t want to be a part of that. I want to be better than that. I want to grow older and be an example to others. I want people to say look at Miss Brown she sure has been blessed. I want them to know even though I came from a life that was surrounded by drugs, violence, and the prison system, I still made it because I didn’t give up.