Building My Path to College

As a child, the thought of going to college was a dream that motivated me to work hard, stay out of trouble, and never give up. While there was no particular college in mind at that time, I understood that going would allow me to learn more and hopefully lead to future job opportunities in order to take care of my family.

My mother helped to instill this idea, and her sacrifices, hard work and perseverance encouraged me to move forward. College became the North Star that guided and influenced my school experiences, activities and behavior. Staying out of trouble was important because a record of poor conduct and suspensions would have prevented me from being admitted into college or may have caused me to stop attending school.

Earning the best grades possible was necessary in order to receive scholarships and help pay for tuition. Avoiding conflict by ignoring mean comments and not reacting aggressively or negatively towards others who bothered me was difficult, yet necessary, in order to learn how to avoid responding inappropriately and damaging my reputation.

One day during my sophomore or junior year in high school, my sports & entertainment marketing teacher shared that colleges typically look for more than good grades and talked about the importance of getting involved with other school activities and community projects. This was some of the best advice that ever came from a teacher, and it pushed me to become more involved.

In all, high standards and expectations were set. Staying motivated and determined fueled the energy needed to reach my destination to college. Anything less would have made it more difficult or could have led to me falling off track. And while I now understand that a few mistakes along the way may not always prevent someone from reaching their goal, continually striving to do your best and avoid trouble will open doors for so many new opportunities and help make that dream come true. With whatever goals or aspirations you have for your life, remember to:

[ ] Keep an image of a goal that you want to achieve in your mind and work towards it by thinking, "What do I need to do now to help me reach that point later?"

[ ] Realize that each day presents an opportunity to get closer to that image or goal. Avoid items that will pull you away or make it difficult for you to reach that goal.

[ ] Maintain a positive mindset, surround yourself with others who have similar goals, and create positive habits, routines and action steps that will advance you forward.

Keep building!

Darron Daniels, Jr.