MyJourneywithnoending

byAnneMarieMosley

Collegewasnotanoptionformeinmyfamily..Ihadtogo.Therewasalotofunmentioned
addedpressureformegoingtocollegeandgraduatingfortworeasons.Reasonnumberonemy
olderbrotherstartedbutneverfinishedandtwomytwinsisterbecameamotherinourjunior
yearofhighschoolanddidnotattendcollegeeither.Thereforeitwasuptothemiddlechildto
savetheday.Well...wasreadyforthechallenge.
MyfirstchallengewasgettingintocollegeandbythegraceofGodandhardworkIwas
acceptedtomyfirstchoiceWheelockCollege.Great?...right,butnowhowwasIgoingtopay
forit.IwasawardedaPresidentialScholarshipbutstillhadabalanceandthentherewerebooks
etc.SoIhitthepavementandstartedlookingintoscholarshipsandfoundProject
Reach...ProjectREACH(theRoadtoEducationalAchievement)waslaunchedin1988,froma
privatedonation,toprovidefinancialsupportforthecollegeeducationoffiftyAfricanAmerican
andHispanicstudentsayear,whograduatedfromhighschoolbetween1988and1992.Project
REACHquicklyemergedasacommunitybasedprogramthatstrovetoproduceacadreoffuture
leaders.Thisprogramprovided4yearscholarshipstominorityinnercityyouthwhomajored
inaHumanServicefieldincollege.Youhadtodedicateyourwholesummertotrainingsand
workshopsthatfocusedonwhoyouareasapersonandhowareyougoingtomakeyourmark
intheworldwhilewewereawayatcollege.ProjectREACHjustdidn'tgivetheirmoneyway.
Youhadtodocommunityserviceonyourbreakswhenyoucamehomeorreportyourvolunteer
workifyoudidntcomehome.Throughthetrainings,workshopsandlifelonglast
relationshipsthatwerecreated.IwouldhavetosayProjectREACHtaughtmehowtopackmy
suitcaseforthisjourneyIwasgettingreadytoembarkupon.NotknowingthatIwasgoingtobe

thelastyeartobeinductedduetolackoffundingiswhenIencounteredanother
challenge...howamIgonnapayschool.AlsowhenfundingranoutIwas5monthspregnant
andasinglemother.Thisdetouronmyjourneywasjustadetour.Istayedoncampusuntilthe
endoftheschool,movedbackhome,hadmysoninthesummer.Camebacktoschoolwitha
threeweekoldbabyanddiaperbaginhandandmyregistrationpapersforafulltimestudentin
theother.NowIammakingthissoundcute,quickanduncomplicated.Butifthewordsin
betweenthelinescouldspeak.Youwouldhear:
Anneletpeopledown,peoplegaveuponherandtoldherthatshewasnevergonnagraduate.
Dropoutnowandjustgetaregularjob.Youandyourbabydon'tbelonginthisschool.Youare
afailure

Thesewordsonlymademestronger.Whileonthisdetourofmyjourneywhattraveledwithme
wasthedeterminationofprovingtoeveryonethattheywerewrong!Nottorubmydegreein
theirfacesbuttoshowthesepeoplewhotriedtoputuproadblocksmydegreespeaksvolume
saying:lookwhatIdidwithoutyou!!!ThisdeterminationinfusedwithmyfaithGODhas
justkeepmeonthepathofnotsettlingforanoandnottogiveuponmygoal.IfIgotanofor
someoneinasituationIfoundmyyes!!!!IbelieveIhavecarriedthatsamedetermination,
strengthandwillpowerintomyinteractionswithchildren.EspeciallywhenIwasinthe
classroomworkingwithmypreschoolerswhentheywouldsay,AweMs.AnneIcantdothis
orIdontknowhowtodothis.Myresponsetothemthenandmyresponseisstillthesamenow
whenIhearchildrensayIcantisthatthewordcantdoesnotexistwearegoingtokeep
tryinguntilwegetthejobdone!!!


TheCommunityParaprofessionalDevelopmentProgramcameacrossmypathinmyjourneyat
apointwhereIreallywanttobeintheclassroombyanymeansnecessary.Iheardaboutthis
programwhileIaminmycurrentpositionasSiteManagerforaChildCareProgram.Imissthe
classroomsomuchwhenIhearthecircletimesongsinthehallway.Seeingchildrensworkon
thewallsandwitnessingeducationaldevelopmentalmilestonesMakesmehomesickforthe
classroomBeingapartofthisprogramIlookforwardtogainingskillsonhowtobridgethegap
betweenhomeandschool,howtobridgethegapbetweenculturaldifferencesandexperiences
withintheclassroombetweentheteacherandstudentaswellwithchildrenandtheirpeers.
IbelieveaftercompletingthisprogramIwillstillneedsupportandguidancewithaidingmeon
makingthesebridgesIspokeofstronger.Byreachingouttocoworkersinthefield,creatinga
solidworkingrelationshipwiththeprincipalarewaystokeepmygoalsfreshandsustainable.
HoweverIfeelthatmymostrichestresourcesIwouldusethemostwouldbemyfellowcohort2
members.IwouldutilizethemthemostbecauseofthisjourneyIamonIhavecompanynow
andthecompanyIhavehasmadethisexperienceinsightfulandrichbecauseofthevarious
walksoflifeweallhavehad.ThathasimpactedthisCPDPexperienceinanuniquemannerthat
hasbeenpriceless.