During my senior year of high school, my father sat me down to give me the news that no child would ever want to hear, especially at a prime time in their life. My father had stage 4 lung cancer. I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around it as my thoughts took off. Watching my father transition mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually was the hardest challenge I was ever forced to accept. He would no longer be able to attend my track meets when he wanted to after nine years of being my biggest supporter.
My coach, Charles Bragner, was the biggest motivator during this transition. Coach Bragner always mentioned during practice: “PUSH THROUGH the finish line, not to the finish line.” This was all the inspiration I needed.
At the end of my senior year of high school, I was accepted into 22 universities and colleges with full rides in track and field and academics. I was unsure where I wanted to attend college. I could only think about what if something happened and I needed to return home to Austin. After weighing my options and talking with my father, he told me, “You don’t need to worry about anything. Your mom is going to be fine, and I have watched you all grow. Now it is time you follow your dreams, son.” “Dreams” meant attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and getting a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. I did just that: I took that leap of faith and finally committed to my dream school, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU).
After announcing my decision to attend PVAMU for academics and not track and field was a stress reliever. It felt like I had bricks on my back because that “what if” still lingered in the back of my mind.
My family moved me into my freshman dorm, Building 36: ‘The Scholarly Gentlemen.’ Having my father there meant the world to me, knowing he was able to drop me off at a place that would challenge me as a man and give me a sense of hope and a future.
However, during my freshman year, on February 9, 2018, my life drastically changed. My father took his last breath with my mom by his side. He was called home to receive his wings. I knew the time was coming but had no clue what this part of my life would entail. I was trying my hardest to rush through college, taking 18 hours at a time, so my father could see yet another milestone in my life. It was a hard pill to swallow, but I knew I could not stop here despite the mental instability I had encountered. I had my niece looking up to me, and my father would not have supported me giving up.
During this time of my collegiate journey, I was beginning to get involved in many organizations on campus and find myself. To name a few, I was involved in the Student Government Association, Criminal Justice Club, Student Partnership Outreach Team, and Alpha Phi Sigma National Honor Society for Criminal Justice Majors. These organizations helped me cope with the loss of my biggest role model while also building me into a servant leader. My support system on the campus of PVAMU was like no other. Having strangers become close friends and having mentors constantly check up on me to this day, I knew then I made the right decision to attend PVAMU.
Furthermore, it took me years to finally talk about my story, which then became my testimony. I began meeting and mentoring others that walked a similar path as mine. It encouraged me to keep pushing through the pain despite the obstacles I may face.
After going through the loss of my father, I began to find my purpose and calling in life, educating and motivating others to keep going. I was offered three internships as an undergrad: PVAMU University Police Department Dispatcher Intern, Waller County Emergency Management Intern, and Aldine ISD Equity and Inclusion Junior Fellow Intern. These all had a central purpose of serving others and making a difference in this world.
Additionally, I was elected to become the 39th Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on the platform “PUSH THROUGH.” I knew this was an order from the man above, given the roadblock I endured during my freshman year. It was my time to show others, on a much larger scale, that they are capable of pushing through, too. I was able to grow tremendously in this position and find my career path, education!
Reflecting on the four years at Prairie View A&M University, everything happened with an intention to help me prevail. I was not only able to serve the student body with my platform but create my own brand, Push Through International. Push Through International is a Black-owned business that supports minority males across the world who have gone through life-changing situations. It also supports those interested in attending an HBCU of their choice through scholarship, resources and mentorship: WWW.Pushthroughint.com.
This spring, I will have a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Juvenile Justice and a minor in Social Work, as well as a certification in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Prairie View A&M University. My anticipated plan for my future looked totally different than it is now, but God allowed me to follow His plan. Nevertheless, I will graduate Cum Laude with a 3.68 GPA. I will be attending the University of Florida in the fall of 2021 on a full ride to pursue an M.Ed in Student Personnel Higher Education. My ultimate dream is to become a Dean of Students and University President at a Historically Black College/University.
I am indeed “PUSHING THROUGH” my finish line.
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