Kaliyah Potts
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The online courses allowed me to not only catch up on my credits I lost while in foster care, but also allowed me to learn in a distraction-free environment at my own pace.
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– Kaliyah Potts
First-generation student. This title I possess promises a future worth fighting for. Not only will I be the first in my family to walk across the stage and graduate from high school, but I will also be the first in my family to pursue a college education. For me, this changes everything. Not only will I be able to do what I have aspired to do, but I will also be able to give back to the people who have helped me get this far.
Life growing up was complicated. My mom was addicted to meth and her drug use led to a series of other problems. Coming from a single-parent family, this meant I was in and out of foster care after our time in homeless shelters didn’t work out. My life was defined by disappointment and chaos. This is why I am choosing to further my education. It wasn’t until I was released from foster care that I decided to change my mindset and ultimately my future because I never wanted to go back into the system.
I chose to make school a priority. With the help of blended and online courses, I am now pursuing a future worth fighting for. The online courses allowed me to not only catch up on my credits I lost while in foster care, but also allowed me to learn in a distraction-free environment at my own pace. I was able to complete my credit faster and now am on track to graduate with my class. The addition of blended courses has allowed me to pursue college classes. These courses have ultimately lead not only to me graduating high school on time but have also now made college possible. I am now proud to say I have held a 3.0 GPA since my starting my junior year of high school. No longer am I going to let fear and instability dictate my life, but rather pursue a life worth fighting for.
My plan is to attend Colby Community College in the fall. A college degree would not only change my life by helping me pursue my dream job of becoming a veterinary technician, but also change a pattern passed down from family. I want to change my life and everything I am used to. I am going to be the first to graduate high school and pursue college. A degree in Veterinary Science will mean I have not only overcome the obstacles my family has faced but allowed myself to pave a way for those after me. Changing my family’s legacy begins with me.