I am surprised with the woman I am today. Growing up, most people are told to get good grades and to go to college, and so was I. However, I wasn’t sure that was possible. I am the first person on both sides of my family that will be receiving a diploma from a four-year college or university. Can you say, “Wow”? I never thought that I would become the bright, independent, powerful, and courageous woman I am today. My family was just proud that I broke the “cycle”. The “cycle” consisted of five generations of women, including my mother, that had a child before the age of 20 and thus did not graduate high school. As you can see, I had a lot of family pressure on my shoulders. But the fear of this “cycle” never deterred me from wanting to achieve my dreams and goals, and then making them happen. I could always hear my mom in the back of my head telling me, “You didn’t put all this work in for nothing, you will be okay, you will prove them wrong, and I will always be here to catch you if you fall. After getting accepted into Old Dominion University, I thought my struggles and worries would disappear; I thought wrong. I am the President of the Student Health Advisory Committee on campus, and that organization has been a big part of my life since my freshman year. Last spring, during a tough time in my life, I thought about giving up and going home. I was going through personal, friendship, relationship, and financial issues all at the same time. Sadly, my organization also was not doing so well. I was the new President of the organization, with hardly any Executive Board members, and no member participation whatsoever. I just wanted to hide my face, get in bed, and cry. I felt as if my life was falling apart in front of me and there was no way I could dig myself out of this hole. I felt alone, misguided, and tired. But then I remembered those magic words, “You didn’t put all this work in for nothing, you will be okay, you will prove them wrong, and I will always be here to catch you if you fall.” I decided that a change needed to happen in my life, and that I was in no position to give up all that I had achieved so far.I surprised myself by taking those inspirational words my mother gave me and changing my whole perspective here. I rebranded myself, and innovated new directions in my life. I buckled down and used many of the provided campus resources that my pride kept me from using before. I talked to a financial aid advisor to help me with my expenses at school and at home. I also realized that I suffered from anxiety, so I sought the help of the Office of Education Accessibility and am now thriving in my academics. Now, it’s my senior year; my GPA has risen tremendously; my organization is thriving with active members and Executive Board members; and I’m healthier, happier, and ready to take on my next challenge. I broke the “cycle”, I’m in control of my life, and I am excited to say, in my senior year, that I’m ready for the next chapter!
May 14
Kiera Scruggs
