A LIFE IN THE MAKING
I find it easy to tell people about my life but hard to praise myself for much of what I have done. That is, except for being a “Dad”, “Father”, and son myself. My family are usually my #1 motivating reason for much of what I have done with my life. I came back to school for myself as much as for them.
My grandfather moved his family from Illinois when my mom was about 13 years old. He did this so he could earn his doctorate at Wake Forest University, and he stayed on for many years to teach in their science department. One of my favorite things he would tell me:
“Anything worth doing, is worth doing right the first time!”
I do my best to live by that motto and I do my best to instill the same in my sons too.
I have come from a blended family of sorts because my parents divorced when I was about the age of two. Not long before I had required heart surgery as a baby, so I have lived with emotional and physical knowledge I could have easily not been around for 38 years today. I say today, since today is my birthday. I required the heart surgery because after birth the hole that should naturally close, did not. Back to my family. I grew up helping with my sick grandmother until she passed during my 8th grade year of school. My mom had moved herself, my sister and me all into my grandparent’s home when I was about 6-8 years old. I cannot remember many times of my grandmother being able to walk.
I have, since about 11 years old, felt like I had to take care of everyone else in a way that I would put my needs last. This mentality lead me to start working at the age of 15, and several times over the years I had two jobs. This continued until the fall of 2013 when my back failed me. In the spring of 2015, I had to have spinal fusion surgery to stop my vertebrae from destroying my spinal nerves and/or themselves. It took about six months for me to relearn how to walk and to become free of enough pain I did not need prescribed pain medicine any longer. During that six months I had to resign from my job of nine and half years and I decided to go back to school.
I have had personal struggles, but with the support of my kids and my mom I have been able to make Dean’s List or President’s List every semester possible since fall of 2015. Since September of 2015 until January 2017, I work in an office at Forsyth Technical Community College (FTCC) as a “Work Study Student,” but in January of this year I started an internship at FTCC in their ITS department. I am currently taking six classes and working most of my time out of class. All of my teachers and instructors at FTCC have been my mentors through this journey. I have chosen the Cyber Security field because I feel there are not enough people who can speak for the victims of computer/digital based crimes. I hope to find gainful employment during my last semester or shortly after. Most employers in IT fields will compensate for additional training so I am sure more schooling will be in my future.
I am a “Cyber Warrior”, “Computer Technician”, father and a son. These don’t only define me but only inspire me. I aspire to be the best person, personally and professionally I can.
