In life I have learned that when you want to quit you must remember why you started. The most influential person in my life is Ardena Johnson, my mother. She always told me that there is no such thing as failure, only giving up. As a child, Ardena dreamed of being the biggest Real Estate agent in Memphis, Tennessee. As a Senior at the University of Tennessee in 1998, my mother excelled in everything she did, from smooth talking professors to winning beauty pageants. She had dreams bigger than the campus itself.  

       What do you do when life is going amazing then the unexpected happens? In December of 1998, my mother was blessed with the greatest gift God could give anyone, a child. My mom graduated that year and went straight into the workforce. Like water going down a faucet sink, my mom’s dreams of being a real estate agent quickly faded. My mom is selfless, strong, and resilient and that is why she is my role model. Life came at her fast, but she chose to be a woman and take care of her business before her own dreams. According to USA Today, 61% of women who have children after enrolling in community college fail to finish their degree.  

     My mother’s dreams of becoming a Real Estate agent lead me down a similar path. My goal is to become a Real Estate agent and serial entrepreneur in Atlanta, Georgia. I am a student at Georgia MLS Real Estate School to get my license this year. I am also majoring in Economics and Real Estate at Georgia State University. I want to help others, and, in my career, I plan to give back to the less fortunate. Currently I am in a donation drive with Hosea Helps of Atlanta to get business clothes for men and woman across the Metro. Days when I want to give up, I think of the sacrifices made for me; I think of the woman who cannot finish their degree because of their children; I think of Ardena Johnson. My mother is the strongest person I know, and I am grateful that she did not quit and made me the woman that I am.  

Sources

Newlon, Cara. “University Support for Pregnant Students Uncommon.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 24 Sept. 2013, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/24/pregnant-college-students-lack-univ-support/2861583/.