2024 Children of Courage Scholarship Award Recipient
The "Children of Courage" Scholarship Award is aimed at improving the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the youth of the communities of color that they serve. This program seeks to enhance higher education opportunities among qualified high school graduates, providing a financial award that will afford students the opportunity to have higher educational training in the academics of law enforcement or other related areas for the betterment of the Criminal Justice System.
Growing up with 1 consistent parent was a blessing and a curse, because I felt the pressure of my father having to pay for my attendance at a private school with no help. I felt the pressure of wanting to better myself as an athlete and as a student. But in the background, I was dealing with painful personal issues between myself and my mother that as a young child made me angry.
Early on as a young child I remember always going back and forth from my mom to my dad’s house until I was about 8 years old when I started living with my father full time.
My dad, who is truly my role model/hero and honestly my savoir from my mother, one day told me that my mom loves me but because of how she was raised and unresolved issues from her childhood, made it hard for her to be the parent she so badly wanted to be. At the time I was about 12 when my dad said this to me, and I felt like my dad was just covering for my mom as he has plenty of time before, but now that I’m high school grad starting my freshman year of college, I now understand what my father was telling me and now I have a better relationship with my mom.
My dad has really supported me in every way from mentally to financially and more importantly emotionally. I was an angry child and without the emotional support of my father finishing high school may not have been achievable let alone being able to attend The University Of Buffalo to play football.
I have been always determined and highly motivated to go to college for 3 things, the first is to get my education. As a student athlete I know the athlete in me has a shelf life that only God knows but what I learn in college academically will be forever ingrained in me. Secondly molding the athlete inside of me to be the best football player on and off the field. Becoming a great athlete is about putting in the work when no one else is watching so that you are ready to excel when they are watching. With greatness being the goal on the field I have the same standard off the field.
Focusing on my studies as I start my freshman year of college will be my main priority as a college student, however collaborating with local business and non-profits is something that I have done and will continue to do. The youth in the community need our support in every way. I was blessed that my father laid the foundation down for me to be successful and chase my dreams to the point that laying a foundation down for other youth is now a part of the dream that I am chasing.