We finally moved to North Carolina and I was devastated. I felt like I had to leave behind all of the friends I had just started formulating deeper bonds with. I felt like I had to start over from scratch with making friends and I missed Khalif; and finding out that he contacted me the night before we moved and I missed his call, didn't make things any easier. I never told him I was moving when I found out. I figured since we wasn’t together anymore, why bother. He found out my last day of school because my best friend and I were crying, and another student went back and told him. He approached me before the day was over, and wanted to know why I didn’t tell him I was moving. After we talked, he gave me a hug. I didn’t expect him to try to contact me that night. I didn’t find out he had called until my family and I were well in NC and I checked the caller ID box.…
One day in a place far away from south Michigan, a kid named Evan was running in a long race. It was an estimated 26 miles. It was his first race that he has ever participated in. His nerves were racing and his relatives were too. This race was televised to the whole state of Michigan. He didn't practice and is coming into this with no running experience. The only thing that pushed him to do this was that his dad was a four time Olympic gold medalist in running.…
I exited the Interstate 95 ramp heading west towards Hollandale Beach Boulevard. I continued traveling west in the center lane as I drove over the rail road tracks another vehicle that exited the northbound ramp and tried to merge over into the center lane. Therefore, traffic was stop and go, I was already applying my brakes when I struck their vehicle on the driver’s side taillight and quarter panel. There is no damage to my vehicle.…
"Miami no es los Estados Unidos" (Miami is not the United States) is a phrase that I heard many times while growing up in Miami. It is problematic, because at its core lies the idea that a city that is teeming with Latinx/Hispanic immigrants could not be representative of what the United States "really" is. An idea that is pervasive but that unnecessarily emphasizes the vibrant culture of Miami, and underplays the socioeconomic inequality that exists in many other cities. As an immigrant I have grown up as a part of communities that are often considered under-served, and that consistently struggled financially. Something that I was aware of from a young age, and that truly shaped the way I looked at my future. With every time that my mom woke…
I moved to Hialeah Gardens about 4 years ago has not been at all a difficult adaption for me in the town. I started going to school at Hialeah Educational Academy in the 6th grade when I moved half way through the school year to Hialeah Gardens. It was easier to be able to get to school without needing to wake up an hour and a half earlier and also being able to live here will make it a lot faster to shop through all the grocery stores that previously were farther away from the house. The reasons for that why the town, it’s such a wonderful place to live in would be because stores are a lot closer, and the school location.…
If I could go somewhere where i've never gone before, where would I go? I would say Atlanta Georgia. The reason why, because of their weather they have and visit the places out there. The top two places that I want to see in Georgia are Georgia Aquarium and Six Flags Over Georgia. I never knew there was a aquarium in a state until I was 6 or 7. I can have more fun in Georgia then I can in Florence. The things that happens in Florence doesn't happen in Georgia. I also want to visit their shopping malls. The history about Georgia just have my attention to visit.…
My Carolina story is one of perseverance. I grew up in a prominently white and underrepresented area, being a multicultural male it was very hard to fit in. However, with the backing of family and friends I was able to overcome many of the obstacles that plagued my area. Through hard work and dedication, I believe that anything is possible. It can be said that as long as you believe in yourself nothing is out of reach. For me this was the key to my success, however, upon applying to UNC-CH I was waitlisted. This greatly hurt my confidence as I felt as if I wasn't smart enough, but to my surprise I made it off the waiting list and enrolled in UNC. Nevertheless, the effects of being waitlisted lingered over me a long period of time. I found myself contemplating whether I was smart enough to attend such a prestigious university. Although soon enough I began to get involved on campus and through this I realized UNC was the best place for me and that no matter what I could make it at a esteemed university. The diversity that UNC offers was a vital key in helping to understand my place, I heard that "diversity creates identity" and this has been one of the strongest statements I have ever heard. My Carolina story is one of struggle and perseverance to fit in, yet, with hope and hard work you can accomplish anything.…
I have lived all my life in sunny Florida. I have always been a little different. While most of my friends were playing basketball or baseball I was tinkering with electronics and repairing or improving any item that came my way. I learned a lot from my older brother, who taught me everything I know about computers and technology. When I was a sophomore in high school, my brother and I worked together to build my own gaming computer. I have had a passion to learn as much as I can, so that I can be the best that I can possibly be. I was bullied as a child for being different, but I knew that if I pushed on, I could achieve my…
I am a true Floridian born and raised for the first fourteen years of my life in Homestead, Florida. My childhood growing up was difficult due to my mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, which profoundly affected my life. Being an only child and the thought of possibly losing my mother to cancer was devastating, especially since my father was absent the majority of my life. During my middle school years, I struggled so my mother decided to homeschool me. In 2011, my family relocated to Lakeland, Florida and I entered high school at Victory Christian Academy developing new friendships along with fond memories. Following graduation in 2015, the next year of my life was spent contemplating decisions on whether to register for college or obtain…
Lately my heart has been breaking. I find myself being filled with awesome teachings, learning new things about myself, and digging deeper into the world. The only issue is that i'm filling up but lack places to pour out. Yes, other Center of Global Action participants are a place where I can share what God has been teaching me or encourage and empower them. However, something is missing. I have this deep desire to pour out to those who are in a different path then I am or who don't know the Lord. Something in my spirit is telling me that I NEED to disciple or mentor people.…
Today I'm going to Fort Myers, Myers for a breathtaking week that I'm over the moon excited about. I love going to Florida to see palm trees because they are different trees, only grow where it's warm, also carry coconuts, and are beautiful to look at. Going to the beach always excites me because the hot weather, the rippleless carmel sand, and seeing the magnificent ocean. Finding sea shells are one of the best ways to remember a sunny vacation and some shells are small, medium, large, and can be pretty heavy to hold. I for sure know I'll be coming back next year to a bright, magnificent, and humid…
Yesterday marked 2 whole years spent making memories together and I would not trade any of it for anything. We've had our rough days but have always come out stronger than before.…
Going into my senior year I still had the idea of, I can make it into a Florida school, I wanted to go to a Florida school to play baseball. So my senior year starting the baseball season with a new coach, I made my mind up, I’m going to work hard to stay in Florida and change my coaches mind. Through my senior year I was by far the best pitcher my ERA was under 1, I had 27 pick- offs in just one year. Also this year I was interviewed for being the hot shot of the week, an article in the newspaper. I was nominated for picking off 7 base runners in one game. I learned my pick off move from my coach in middle school before I knew my summer league coach. So I was still working with my summer league coach every once in a while at this point, but…
One day, while I was laying peacefully on my bed, my mother came in with a letter from Florida A&M University. I didn't really want to speculate anything because a few days before I received a letter from another college saying that I wasn't accepted. Nevertheless I was still excited when I opened it and even more so when I read that I had been accepted. So without much hesitation I packed up and headed to Tallahassee. When I arrived my mother and I took care of registration and a plethora of things you have to manage as a new student. After all the hassles of college registration were completed my mother departed for home and I was left by myself to attend college. What a great feeling! Little did I know what I had on store for the next day, my first in college.…
One day in Florida, two nine-year-old kids are playing in the park. The birds are chirping. The sun is shining. A dead body is rotting. The kids, Quentin Jacobson and Margo Roth Spiegelman, run home to tell their parents. Quentin wants to push the whole finding-a-dead-body thing from his mind, but Margo finds out the man killed himself and wonders why.…
