#aimhigher2015

I am taking a writing for a social change class and we wrote a blog about what happens when foster care youth age out.

Hello fellows in learning! Been a long time since I’ve posted anything and I apologize for that. The school semester has started and I am busier than ever! I just felt now was the time to share how things are going and find out how everyone else is. This semester has been a whirlwind for me and it has only just begun! I’ve done a great deal of thinking considering my plans for school and a lot has changed. Now my general plan for my life is the same but the path to it is definitely different. For a long time I refused to make any changes to my “grand plan” out of fear. I was scared because that meant a great deal of uncertainty would come into my life and I wasn’t sure how’d I’d deal with that. Now, I’m facing it head on and I’m not slowing down! Yes, there is some more uncertainty in my future now that the old plan is done. In fact, it isn’t just done but also blow up. I basically put a stick of dynamite under the plan and just shielded myself from the blast as best as I could. Inevitably, I did get hit by some of the debris but that’s okay. Cause now I have more room to discover new things about myself. Now, I’m not nailed down with this plan I’ve been following religiously for the few years. Yes, it is important to have a plan for the future, but don’t feel like you have to follow it to the end because things change. Changing it will make things more uncertain but it will also make you freer. I’ll be honest, it can be extremely terrifying but it is also amazingly beautiful as well. So that is my advice for anyone willing to listen to my rambling. Don’t be unwilling to change the plan cause life changes and it’s okay to be scared (I would think you were crazy if you weren’t) but don’t let it control you. This is the time to fall in love with life, make it a long-term relationship.

To all the freshmen who are just now starting their #journeytosuccess I say enjoy these college years. These years are going to be where you truly learn to be independent and to find out what it is that you truly like. No matter what it is that you may like always remember the true reason why you decided to start this journey. Don’t let temporary things distract you from your goals. Always keep your long term goals in the back of your head when you are out making important decisions. Particularly if you’re pursuing college, remember parties and relationships always take second to school work and any other thing such as clubs and organizations that take up a lot of your time. Besides if you don’t maintain a certain GPA many organizations won’t allow you to be a member anyways.  However, don’t be afraid to try new things (legal things) because you might realize that there is a different path you may want to take. I personally realized I was pursuing the wrong degree my sophomore year, so I changed my major that year. Always remember enjoy this journey and don’t be afraid to ask for help because that will be key in some situations. College students don’t be afraid to talk to your teachers after class or seek out a tutor. Also, don’t think a university is your only option after high school always do your research and find out more about yourself because no one knows you more than you. Then research resources because there are resources out there to help us be prosperous. Life after high school does not have to be stressful, if you make goals and set priorities.

Freshmen- When you start college or any post secondary education remember that it is a bigger responsibility than high school. You are now accountable for your own future. It may seem scary, but it is so exciting. You can be anything you want, but it takes time and commitment. I recommend keeping a planner and scheduling study times. I never studied in high school but always passed tests, but in college I figured out really quick that studying is a must. Set time aside to go to the library. Also you should pick a major as soon as possible, you don't want to take classes you don't need and wind up wasting your time. One last thing- go to as many on campus events as you possibly can. It's a great way to meet new people.

Sorry for being late! Been a busy summer guys! But in five years I see myself starting up my filmmaking career, possibly in documentary making. Where that takes me though is still up in the air. But hey, that just means all the doors are open and I’m ready to figure out which one is the right one. What I’m doing now though to keep those doors open is doing my best to build experience as well as connections. For example, I am in the early planning, if everything goes right, to do a short documentary as my project for the Honors College at school. A documentary focusing on LGBT children in foster care. Fingers crossed it comes through right! As well as doing an internship for the fall semester. Basically, as I said before, all the doors are open and I plan on keeping them open till I find the right one!

In life it seems adversity is almost inevitable at times; however, there are ways to overcome adversity. For me my biggest strength in overcoming adversity is having faith in God because I know without him I wouldn’t be here today. Also the fact that I always keep hope alive that there’s something positive always waiting for me at the end of the dark tunnel. On the contrary, one of my weaknesses is the fact that I can be too trusting of others sometimes. I always want to see the good in people and sometimes people can be conniving and just plain out take advantage of others. I’m learning to get to know people first before I accept them as my friend or trust them. Nevertheless, through all of life’s challenges I have not allowed adversity to hinder me from progressing in life, and being successful. I believe life’s trials and tribulations are only meant to make me stronger and I prove that to myself every day.

           To be an Aim Higher Fellow means following your dreams and not letting anything or anyone stand in your way. There are so many people who have had the same life experiences as me, but not everyone came out victorious. So many people give up when life gets hard, but as an Aim Higher Fellow we should stand up and be strong when life gets hard. After all, as a fellows we are advocates, and as advocates we must stand up for what we believe in no matter who is standing with us. Also, to me being an Aim Higher fellow means being a leader. Regardless of where we are at we must always remember that others are watching us and looking up to us and we must always put our best foot forward. With leadership comes responsibility and as fellows we must not take that lightly. Being a fellow is important to me because I will always remember that there were others just as qualified as and more qualified than me, but they picked me and because of that I will always be grateful and thankful for the amazing opportunity to be a 2015 Aim Higher Fellow.