My Mistake Doesn't Define Me
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Growing up in Chicago, very few make it out. I’m fortunate to be on the track that I am on today and I want to be a beacon of light and inspiration for others.
Here is my story...
Due to my hard work and determination to succeed, upon graduation from highschool I gained an appointment to one of five service academies in the nation, United States Military Academy at West Point. It was a life changing experience for the time that I was there. After being academically separated after one year, I searched for a second chance at success.
I found that second chance upon being awarded the 2+2 Army ROTC Scholarship to Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. Wentworth taught me to appreciate working as a team and helped me to develop my leadership skills.
In a moment of youthful ignorance, in January of 2013, I was arrested and charged with misdemeanor larceny at a local Wal-Mart. Following this incident, I lost my full scholarship which resulted in a tremendous debt of $11,000 and was disenrolled from Wentworth Military Academy in my last semester before my projected graduation date.
In the Fall of 2013, I picked up the pieces and enrolled in school at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri where I am currently studying Criminal Justice. Although active in many student organizations on campus, my goal to graduate has been hindered. In May of 2015, I will be fortunate enough to walk across the stage at the Commencement ceremony, but I won’t receive my diploma until I can fulfill my debt to my prior institution, Wentworth Military Academy.
Despite my situation, I spent my summer at home in Chicago being productive. I worked at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and I completed volunteer work at the PACE Institute, a division of the Safer Foundation inside the Illinois Department of Corrections which works to reduce the recidivism rates of incarcerated inmates and newly released inmates through education.
With less than a month left of college, it has been a very difficult journey trying to acquire this large amount of money in order to achieve my goal of becoming a college graduate. The reason I made a GoFundMe stems from a thought I had a few days ago, “Someone somewhere is going through the same exact thing and they may want to give up. I’m fighting for them.” On my journey to graduate from college I would be extremely grateful and blessed to receive your help or at the least a point in the right direction. It is with gratitude and respect that I say I appreciate your help to assist me on my journey to success. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my story.
Here is my story...
Due to my hard work and determination to succeed, upon graduation from highschool I gained an appointment to one of five service academies in the nation, United States Military Academy at West Point. It was a life changing experience for the time that I was there. After being academically separated after one year, I searched for a second chance at success.
I found that second chance upon being awarded the 2+2 Army ROTC Scholarship to Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. Wentworth taught me to appreciate working as a team and helped me to develop my leadership skills.
In a moment of youthful ignorance, in January of 2013, I was arrested and charged with misdemeanor larceny at a local Wal-Mart. Following this incident, I lost my full scholarship which resulted in a tremendous debt of $11,000 and was disenrolled from Wentworth Military Academy in my last semester before my projected graduation date.
In the Fall of 2013, I picked up the pieces and enrolled in school at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri where I am currently studying Criminal Justice. Although active in many student organizations on campus, my goal to graduate has been hindered. In May of 2015, I will be fortunate enough to walk across the stage at the Commencement ceremony, but I won’t receive my diploma until I can fulfill my debt to my prior institution, Wentworth Military Academy.
Despite my situation, I spent my summer at home in Chicago being productive. I worked at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and I completed volunteer work at the PACE Institute, a division of the Safer Foundation inside the Illinois Department of Corrections which works to reduce the recidivism rates of incarcerated inmates and newly released inmates through education.
With less than a month left of college, it has been a very difficult journey trying to acquire this large amount of money in order to achieve my goal of becoming a college graduate. The reason I made a GoFundMe stems from a thought I had a few days ago, “Someone somewhere is going through the same exact thing and they may want to give up. I’m fighting for them.” On my journey to graduate from college I would be extremely grateful and blessed to receive your help or at the least a point in the right direction. It is with gratitude and respect that I say I appreciate your help to assist me on my journey to success. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my story.
Organizer
Alicia Pack
Organizer
Warrensburg, MO