My Life Exerted Through Writing by Philip Heslop (Student)

“Believe in your dreams, believe you me, don't let go. “- Damian Marley

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, my family made a drastic move to the United States. On my arrival to the United States, just like any other child, I had dreams and hopes of what I would do, where I would go and how I would achieve these goals. I dreamt of an unrealistic perfection of myself and strived to be that way. However, with the influence of peers, I realized that all I wanted to do is fit in with others. However, fitting in wasn’t me, so I decided to stand out and now standing out has taken me through some of my hardest struggles, that have now shaped me in the person I am today.

Being a young black male there will be numerous stereotypes, whether good or bad that will be sparked up in conversations. When someone sees an African American he or she assumes that we should act a certain way, talk a certain way and look a certain way. For this reason, I decided to stand out in everything I do but when standing out if you don’t fit in any of society's criteria, they place you in a different category with even more stereotypes. A category where they state, “you’re the whitest black person I know”. At this point, I ponder on how, by just smiling, being happy, and treating others respectfully, have I enslaved my people, thus creating such an effect that my personality out-weighs my culture, my family tree, my bloodline, and everyone before me who have fought for our lives and freedom. However, I pushed through all the years that I was teased and called certain names just for being myself. All that pain I overcame made me stronger and helped me to be successful both academically but also as an amazing friend, mentor, and student.

Throughout these struggles, I joined the 100 Males to College, a program where young males are receiving help and guidance to be on the right path for college. Through this program, I was introduced to Dual-Enrollment classes at the Worcester State University (WSU) and at the Quinsigamond Community College (QCC). I’ve also gained 18 Dual Enrollment credits, leadership skills, internships and job opportunities from this program. The leadership qualities that I possess have been evident in the positions of responsibility that I have had so far. These include being appointed as the Parliamentarian of the National Honors Society, the leader of the H.O.P.E (Helping Out People Every day) Foundation that I co-founded with a few of my friends to help, mentor and tutor students so that they are able to have a successful school year.

Regardless of all the struggles that I went through I remembered to believe in my dreams, never to let go, remember where I came from and prove to myself that I was capable of great things in this world. All the struggles that I went through contributed in molding me into who I am today. I am a charismatic, academic, who is not defined by how I walk or talk and who does not simply think about self, but also never gave up on my goals. The attributes that I gained throughout my struggles are all the reasons why I know that I will continue to stand out in college and in the future rather than blending in with others.

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