In my senior year of high school, I received an acceptance letter to UCLA and an invitation to interview for a scholarship. There were several other students from across the country who came to interview for the scholarship also.  I wasn’t the best-dressed applicant. I wasn’t the smartest. I didn’t come from the best home life. I wasn’t even the most prepared, but I was there. So often half the battle is just showing up. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. When you are blessed with an opportunity that’s going to help you to succeed, you better at least show up!

Several days after the scholarship interview, I received a call from one of the deans at UCLA. She told me that they were awarding me the Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarship to attend UCLA. She said I wasn’t the top candidate, but they were making an exception and awarding a second scholarship because of my academic record and my perseverance. Thank God, I had showed up! That call was a huge turning point in my life. I think it was the first time that I realized that the impossible was indeed possible. I went to college on a full academic scholarship. I obtained my Bachelor degree despite being a single mom (but that’s another story). I went on to pursue my Master’s degree and am now working in a field that I absolutely LOVE. Education is the key to changing your circumstances. Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the greatest tool which can be used to change the world.” When you are up against what seems like impossible situations and circumstances, remember that nothing is impossible, you just don’t know how to do it – yet.