During my high school years I went to an urban public school. The school was rank one of the top worst high schools in NJ. It was the only high school in the area; everyone in the 9th thru 12th grade had to attend the school. The classrooms and hall ways were extremely crowded and if I was late for class, I would have to stand for the whole session (because of limited seats).
Not many students had a desire to learn and would interrupt the classes, while the teacher was trying to teach. There were days when I went to class and did absolutely no work but watch students argue with the teacher or fought other students. Everyday was an adventure and I had to be on my guard at all times because I never knew when someone would pull out a knife or start a fight.
There were many students I spoke to that told me they didn’t care about college and that they don’t have anything to look forward to in life. Most of them didn’t even know their father, mother is on drugs or too busy to pay them any attention, and all of sorts of other reasons why they didn’t see themselves going beyond where they were.
Our high school had the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the state. There were females having more than two kids before they either drop out of school or graduate. But despite all the negative things and attitude around me, I wanted to make something positive out of my life. I never got in to fights, I never put myself in situations were I would end up getting pregnant. I told myself that I did not want to have any kids till after marriage. I wanted to go to college, become an engineer, and be an example for others to see in the neighborhood.
To achieve that goal I had to go beyond what my peers were doing and stay focus at all times. The school at the time didn’t have any AP (Advance Placement) courses and I wanted to take higher level classes. So I wrote a petition to the Principle and allow other students to sign the letter stating that we were willing to take on the challenge.
The Principal didn’t want to bring those classes to the school because she was afraid that no one would pass the course. Then she began to worry about the students after us who may not want to take the classes. Despite her excuses we kept on requesting for the change. To show that we were serious, we went to a Board of Education meeting and presented our petition to them. They told us they will think about it and get back to us.
Weeks went by and months went by – no response. It was now the end of my freshmen year and no hope so far in getting to college.
I prayed to the Lord almost everyday to make a way for me to go to college. My parents didn’t have the finances to send me to college and I knew the only opportunity would be through my SAT scores, my grades, and passing the standardized examinations.
The beginning of my sophomore year, I would go to my counselor’s office almost everyday complaining about the education level and the classrooms. Then one day my counselor told me about a new program Princeton University was starting, he signed me up to get interviewed and take the exam to enter the program.
I was amazed, finally my prayers were answered. I went to the interview and took the exam – I passed with above average ratings. I was selected to be one of the students to join the program. The program was held every summer for three years. I didn’t get the opportunity to go on any summer vacations or relax during the summer but the opportunity to be apart of that program was worth it. The work was very challenging but I studied hard and did my best.
Then another opportunity opened for me to take college courses at the community college on Saturdays. I was excited and signed up for that program also. Although I was extremely busy with playing sports, being a member of several clubs, volunteering, and taking those colleges courses, I always managed to get good grades. Most of the time, it wasn’t my own personal intelligence but the Lord helping me through it.
During my senior year I got a letter in the mail stating that the Board of Education approved my petition to have AP classes in the school. But under the circumstances that everyone that signed the letter had to take the courses and pass with an A for it to continue for the other school years. Yea, I was swamp with so much homework and things to do. But I took those AP classes and passed with A’s, with the help of the Lord.
Although going to college had looked almost hopeless during my freshmen year. The Lord stepped in and provided all the necessary things I needed to help me get there. I went to college without needing my parents to pay anything out of their pockets. I had all my college applications completed by October and received my acceptance letters before the Christmas break.
This all happened because I had a desire to become something better than what I saw in the neighborhood. I wanted to show my peers that it is possible to grow up in an urban area, go to a degraded high school, and still make something good of myself.
I didn’t belong on the streets, teenage pregnancy was not for me and selling drugs to make a living was not an option. The Lord had a bigger plan for me. I had a desire to do the Lord’s will and to stay focus on accomplishing my goals.
This testimony was not to boost about my achievements but to let you know that God can work in your favor when there seem to be no hope. I don’t fully understand how the Lord opened those doors for me but I am grateful He did. All I had to do was trust Him.
I had faith that the Lord was going to make a way and I act towards my faith. The Bible says faith without works is dead. I had to do things to show my faith and work hard for it to be accomplished. I didn’t sit there and had a pity party. I encouraged myself that I was going to make it. I looked beyond the current situation and towards the future.
Don’t give up on your dreams and goals in life. Stay focus, hold on to the hands of God and He will help you to get there. There is nothing to hard for the Lord to do. The Lord specializes in things that seem impossible. You may have to work a little harder at times but in the end it will pay off. This applies to our physical and spiritual life. We should get goals in both areas and work towards achieving them.
Don’t settle for less than what you want. Try to reach your goals, and when you do -set new ones to go beyond.
Not many students had a desire to learn and would interrupt the classes, while the teacher was trying to teach. There were days when I went to class and did absolutely no work but watch students argue with the teacher or fought other students. Everyday was an adventure and I had to be on my guard at all times because I never knew when someone would pull out a knife or start a fight.
There were many students I spoke to that told me they didn’t care about college and that they don’t have anything to look forward to in life. Most of them didn’t even know their father, mother is on drugs or too busy to pay them any attention, and all of sorts of other reasons why they didn’t see themselves going beyond where they were.
Our high school had the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the state. There were females having more than two kids before they either drop out of school or graduate. But despite all the negative things and attitude around me, I wanted to make something positive out of my life. I never got in to fights, I never put myself in situations were I would end up getting pregnant. I told myself that I did not want to have any kids till after marriage. I wanted to go to college, become an engineer, and be an example for others to see in the neighborhood.
To achieve that goal I had to go beyond what my peers were doing and stay focus at all times. The school at the time didn’t have any AP (Advance Placement) courses and I wanted to take higher level classes. So I wrote a petition to the Principle and allow other students to sign the letter stating that we were willing to take on the challenge.
The Principal didn’t want to bring those classes to the school because she was afraid that no one would pass the course. Then she began to worry about the students after us who may not want to take the classes. Despite her excuses we kept on requesting for the change. To show that we were serious, we went to a Board of Education meeting and presented our petition to them. They told us they will think about it and get back to us.
Weeks went by and months went by – no response. It was now the end of my freshmen year and no hope so far in getting to college.
I prayed to the Lord almost everyday to make a way for me to go to college. My parents didn’t have the finances to send me to college and I knew the only opportunity would be through my SAT scores, my grades, and passing the standardized examinations.
The beginning of my sophomore year, I would go to my counselor’s office almost everyday complaining about the education level and the classrooms. Then one day my counselor told me about a new program Princeton University was starting, he signed me up to get interviewed and take the exam to enter the program.
I was amazed, finally my prayers were answered. I went to the interview and took the exam – I passed with above average ratings. I was selected to be one of the students to join the program. The program was held every summer for three years. I didn’t get the opportunity to go on any summer vacations or relax during the summer but the opportunity to be apart of that program was worth it. The work was very challenging but I studied hard and did my best.
Then another opportunity opened for me to take college courses at the community college on Saturdays. I was excited and signed up for that program also. Although I was extremely busy with playing sports, being a member of several clubs, volunteering, and taking those colleges courses, I always managed to get good grades. Most of the time, it wasn’t my own personal intelligence but the Lord helping me through it.
During my senior year I got a letter in the mail stating that the Board of Education approved my petition to have AP classes in the school. But under the circumstances that everyone that signed the letter had to take the courses and pass with an A for it to continue for the other school years. Yea, I was swamp with so much homework and things to do. But I took those AP classes and passed with A’s, with the help of the Lord.
Although going to college had looked almost hopeless during my freshmen year. The Lord stepped in and provided all the necessary things I needed to help me get there. I went to college without needing my parents to pay anything out of their pockets. I had all my college applications completed by October and received my acceptance letters before the Christmas break.
This all happened because I had a desire to become something better than what I saw in the neighborhood. I wanted to show my peers that it is possible to grow up in an urban area, go to a degraded high school, and still make something good of myself.
I didn’t belong on the streets, teenage pregnancy was not for me and selling drugs to make a living was not an option. The Lord had a bigger plan for me. I had a desire to do the Lord’s will and to stay focus on accomplishing my goals.
This testimony was not to boost about my achievements but to let you know that God can work in your favor when there seem to be no hope. I don’t fully understand how the Lord opened those doors for me but I am grateful He did. All I had to do was trust Him.
I had faith that the Lord was going to make a way and I act towards my faith. The Bible says faith without works is dead. I had to do things to show my faith and work hard for it to be accomplished. I didn’t sit there and had a pity party. I encouraged myself that I was going to make it. I looked beyond the current situation and towards the future.
Don’t give up on your dreams and goals in life. Stay focus, hold on to the hands of God and He will help you to get there. There is nothing to hard for the Lord to do. The Lord specializes in things that seem impossible. You may have to work a little harder at times but in the end it will pay off. This applies to our physical and spiritual life. We should get goals in both areas and work towards achieving them.
Don’t settle for less than what you want. Try to reach your goals, and when you do -set new ones to go beyond.
You do a great job of drawing the reader in to your stories and allowing them to see through tour eyes. I pray God will give you a larger platform so thatyou can minister to a greater audience.
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