Personal Accomplishments: A Personal Analysis

The fundamental values taken from the lessons my mother, Samara D. Kendrick, has taught me that I am in control of my destiny and the future success and/or failure that will result based on my actions, decisions and beliefs. While being told by the administrative staff of my high school that "one day only a handful out of five-hundred students would go to college", with direction from my mother, I have learned to motivate myself with alternative goals and convictions. For the past four years, this statistic has stuck in my mind and has served as a catalyst for me to work diligently and with purpose. While attending high school, I have taken college dual-enrollment classes, participated in the schools H.O.S.A (Health Occupations Students

of America) program, actively participated in school clubs and activities, and volunteered in/outside of school (within non-profit community organizations). While keeping myself busy, I've learned that I have the power to motivate myself and positively influence others; which has helped me to focus on the most fundamental and important objectives and activities between junior and senior year. I've pushed on through the mythological onset of “senioritis” and have ascended to the top 9% of my class, making sure that not only would I make it to the finish line of high school but also moving onward towards the ultimate goal, attending a university, just as she has always pushed me to achieve.

It was not until I received my first admissions letter decision that I'd run into the biggest road block and it became evident that this moment was when I needed her the most.

As someone who has worked so hard throughout their entire schooling career, and had accomplished so many achievements, it was unbearable for me to understand why or how I could have fallen so short. Disappointment in myself had crept into my soul and it was tough for me to cope with the thought that I had let down not only myself, but also everyone else that was rooting for me in the background. The weight of the world felt like it was coming down on my shoulders. Initially, I went through stages of anger and sadness; moreover, I was on the verge of just giving up entirely and settling for less. I was convinced that this one setback would be a determining factor in the course of the rest of my life and how it would take shape. Essentially, I moved past these negative feelings and emotions. Remembering all the tireless days of work, the obstacles, the worrying, and the disappointment that amounted to the overall stress my mother endured. Causing these negative emotions within myself to change instead into inspiration, passion, and determination to keep trying. I've realized that my entire life will not come crashing down from one “We will think about it” response and/or moment in time. Although the feeling from rejection was a dramatic experience, I've also realized that I'm human and not oblivious to my feelings; however, the rationale was based on a hasty

conclusion.

”A wise man trains for the ill and not for the good” was a line written by A.E Housman. Although good food for thought, it brings my thoughts and emotions to the realization that within a lifetime, it is inevitable to come across promising opportunities (100% of the time), and not have the door closed in your face at least once. I feel as if failure is not in trying, it is based on giving up. An event that I have seen my own mother experience numerous times throughout my life, my own experience in being "deferred", and others similar to the one that I have encountered illustrates that there are other and better opportunities beckoning to be answered; there's always another open door somewhere waiting to be discovered. Disappointment can only bring down those who are not prepared for it, and are unwilling to overcome it. With the guidance of my strong willed mother, I've recognized, in order to conquer the battles and trials experience in one's life, "all you have to do is pick yourself off the ground and start again with a new and fresh attitude".