I had to suffer to survive. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. 13 years of college nonstop has been rough, but I manage to do so with triple D effect: DESIRE, DEDICATION, and DETERMINATION. Where I come from, most people would've given up. I was a curse and a blessing at the same time. When I felt like I was buried, I was really planted.
I was taken away from my mother at age 8 and grew up in poverty. I had a teacher tell me I would end up dead or in jail because I did not have a father figure in my life. Little did she know, my FATHER figure was GOD. I finished high school as Valedictorian while living in a Group Home in the Dirty South of Mississippi. I wore most of the same clothes from middle school until I graduated from high school. Those are just a few of the circumstances that I did not let dictate my life. I DID NOT become a product of my environment. I DID NOT just sit on my BUTT and use it as an excuse. Stars can't shine without darkness. I believed in me when no one else did.
When I finished high school as Valedictorian in 2007, I took a Northeast Mississippi Community College scholarship. It was there where I accomplish many accolades. I worked 3 jobs while going to school, obtained my CNA 2008, license Respiratory Therapy 2011, and Register Nurse in 2014. I was asked by a faculty member why I went back to RN school. I cannot work RT and RN at the same time. I was planning for something bigger. I went to Mississippi University of Women to obtained a BSN-RN and Diversity CRNA Mentorship program in 2016. In 2018, I finally got that acceptance letter to attend the Doctoral CRNA program. This was my confirmation I was headed on the right path. Now it's 2020, and I got that 2020 vision. I am officially done with the Doctoral CRNA program as C/O 2020. Let me repeat; I am officially done with the Doctoral CRNA program as C/O 2020!
Vision without action is DAYDREAM. Action without vision is a NIGHTMARE. The past gave me experience and made me wiser to create a beautiful and brighter future. I was trying to beat the odds with my back against the wall. Whatever God calls you to do, He equips you to do as well. Sometimes it's not about who has more talent. It's about who's HUNGRIER. All I had in my pocket was 1% Luck, 1% Talent, 98% Never GIVE UP equals 100% Success Formula. How can you beat a person who never quit? The answer is, you simply can not.
Next stop Boards, and a delayed graduation ceremony in May. I can not believe I have reached this stage in my life. I've met some great people along the way. Thank GOD I made it this far because I know a lot of people didn't. Thanks to my family, friends, foes, preceptors, teachers, or anyone who had a piece of my education who had supported me through the long, arduous journey towards success. There is Beauty in the struggle. Don't stop when you're tired; stop when you're done. Defeated the odds. Hate it or Love it. The underdog has made it to the top!
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