My name is Chivone Smith and I am currently a junior at Clark Atlanta University. I never thought I’d ever be able to type those words growing up, but it’s been a road well traveled thanks to the people in my life. Today, most people grow up from a bad background. Whether it is interfamily problems or environmental problems, you’ll be sure to find someone who has a certain story to tell. While my upbringing was no prettier, my latter years of life provided me a rules of the road book that all lead to blessings.
In my younger days, I never took my hobbies to be my talents. I always wrote about any and everything. I was always the last person in the movie theater as I watched every ounce of a movie until the curtain rolled back up. I was always reading a new book and discovering a new author. I just couldn’t get enough of entertainment. Even throughout high school, I ranked number 1 in all of my classes. I personally like to believe that it was due to a lack of enthusiasm in my peers, but I also own up to the fact that I wanted better for myself and to get better, I had to work harder. My life changed my senior year of high school. My counselor approached me with the opportunity of a lifetime. She presented me with an application for the Bill and Melinda Gates scholarship.
Initially, I thought it was a hoax and that no one would ever pay for someone’s college education all the way up to his or her PhD, but boy was I wrong. After blowing off the application until the very last two hours that I could upload it online, I submitted it. Within a two-week period, I unexpectedly received notification that I moved on to the second phase of the application process. Overcome with tears, I accepted that news as confirmation that I never thought I’d hear from the scholarship committee and accepted that news as more than enough.
Weeks later, I unexpectedly received a third letter stating that I received the scholarship.
Overcome with heavier tears, I said, “Clark Atlanta University, here I come!” I still don’t think Clark or even I understood the seriousness behind my words.
Within month’s time, someone paid a 600 dollar deposit for me to come to Clark. I flew on a plane by myself for the first time. I’ve interviewed celebrities I never thought I’d even be in sight of. I’ve attended event’s I never thought I’d be invited to. I’ve been compensated for taking part of several award show productions. I have published material in newspaper and websites. I’ve had several internships and housed a position on my campus where I am the managing editor of my college publication, The Panther newspaper.
If someone would have told me that I, a young lady from a single mother, living in the rough and tough neighborhood of Southside Chicago would be able to say that I would have experienced all of this, I would have blown them off. However, I can say that with God, hard work, a positive mindset and a support team backing me everyday, my achievements are limitless.
My scholarship, the people in my life and the experiences that I have encountered have all shaped me into the personable, proactive, goal oriented dreamer that I am today and I am forever grateful. College, alone, has opened a many a door for me and education has geared me to not only learn about the world, but the people who inhabit it. As a result, I look forward to the future and what new things about others and myself, that I can discover.
