Greatest Influences

My past and my family are my greatest influences in my life. The reason I say my past is because I look back at the person I was and how I lived and know that I must do whatever it takes to never go back. A person's past is a powerful asset. It can either destroy them or make them grow. My past helps me to grow. My family is the other greatest influence in my life. I am not the first to graduate college on my mother's side of the family. However, I am the first on my father's side. Both families have done well with and without a college education, but it is obivious who has worked harded in life physically. I believe that my past and family will help me become the person I am supposed to be, but only I can make that happen. My past and my family represent two opposite roads in life, one good and one bad. I will not take either of them. I will be taking my own road and where that ends I do not know. My influences in life has molded me into the person that I am today and I am greatful for them.

Future Goals

My goals have been pretty consistant. I want to join the Peace Corps and go to Africa to work with HIV/AIDS patients and to do this I need to have at least a BA. Well, I have that but while I am in the school fram of mind I am going to get my MA. That will also help me attain a higher position where I am going. I am told that it is recommended. That has been my goal from the beginning and it is still my goal. I have not changed any of my goals because they have helped me to stay on track and motived. Since they are working for me I see no reason why I should alter them in any form. I do not know how long I will stay overseas. Serving one term is 27 months. I might want to come home after that and I might want to do another term. Regrdless, of how long I stay that is my goal and I am sticking with it.

Moral Dilemma

Which one do I choose? I have had a life full of moral dilemma and nine out of ten times I made what most people would call an unmoral decision. But, at that point in time of my life I had to survive and when you live on the street one has to make decisions on living or dying. I have done it all: lie, steal, cheat, con, and turn tricks to get what I needed to live the life I was living. I said it once before I have had and interesting life. There is this one decision I made that really made me proud, even though a lot of people got arrested. I was at a party about three am and there was drinking, snorting, smoking, shooting going on all of the place. I had just done a shot of coke and laid back to let it rush to my heart. As I laid back I saw a little girl sitting in the corner of the room she was staring at me with this blank look on her face. Then, her parents came into the room with an infant and as they passed the child to eachother they passed a needle and some herion. Needless to say I did not have a good high when I saw that. I waited a few minutes and did what I normally did before I left, so I would not be suppected. I then called the cops from a pay phone. I stayed in the alley to see if they would come and they did and they arrested everyone and took the kids. That was I guess one of best decisions I made or least I hope it was. At least the kids were out of those living conditions.

Family's Role

My family has been nothing but supportive of me going to college. They are just happy that I am in one place for this long of a period and that I have cleaned my life up. They have helped my emotional and I suppose by allowing me to live with them for 3 1/2 years it has helped out finicially. They are constantly telling me how proud they are that I am focused on something that will benefit me in the future. So, their encouragement has made me feel proud of myself and it has helped me strive in college. I am really happy with the fact that they are proud of me and that makes a person feel good about themselves.

Life in College

My college experience has great. I started college in January 2005 at Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville, Alabama. I received all of my basics and my AA and AS from that college. Life while attending there was no different really than it was before I began, excpet I had to adjust my schedule. I enjoyed it though. I did not really socialize with anyone there. My purpose was to get my two-year degree and to transfer to receive my Bacher's and Master's. So, it was basically go to class and then come home. I lived with my parents for the two years I was there. That made it easier. I transfered to A&M in January 2007 to receive my BA & MA. After I started at this university life was a little more difficult. I remained at home with my parents and commutted back and forth daily. So, I had to drive an hour and a half one way just to get to school. I did that until this past May, when I realized I could live here cheaper than I could drive. My experience at A&M has been very exciting. I have meet a lot of people and developed some very close relationships with a few. As for my life it has improved some from the beginning of college. I know have a little more freedom and for the first time I am living on my own, which is something I have never done before. I have always been married or had a roommate. So, I have really began to enjoy life a little more.