They Told me I Would Never Go to College. I Now Go by "Dr."

Let the naysayers be your motivation

Growing up, I was told college would never be a good fit for me due to my disability. My reading and writing scores were far below average. However, going to college was my dream. It broke my heart at my IEP meetings when my teachers told me that college was not an option for me. My classmates laughed at me when I talked about college. Despite the naysayers, I got accepted and graduated with my Bachelor's in Social Work. The lack of encouragement did not end there. I then decided that I wanted to get a PhD in order to be a professor to help other students who have had similar experiences. I was laughed at again. Luckily, doubt is my biggest motivator. After several rejection letters, I finally got accepted into a PhD program on a full ride scholarship. I graduated in 2019 and my new name is "Dr." I am a professor at Fayetteville State University. I now have the amazing opportunity to advocate for students who have had similar experiences as I have.

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