The summer of 2012

This summer was filled ups and down and yet I must use the cliché of “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Well, maybe a generous increase in funds and then I would be completely satisfied.  Between my four online classes and crazy adventures with family, my time management skills were tested and as much as I threw punches, procrastination is a dangerous opponent. As soon as school year was over I drove to Baltimore Maryland for a leadership Academy hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. at John Hopkins University. There I met 40 other fraternity brothers from all across the United States inculding California and Mississippi.

 The leadership academy was awesome! Meeting these brothers and attending the programs sparked innovative ideas that we could take back to our respective schools and continue the legacy of greatness. My favorite part about the program was visiting the MLK memorial because he was a brother of the fraternity and also made some notable influences around the world. Three days into the program I received news that the internship I had planned to start after the program was retracted because of funding and now I was faced with another adversity of being broke and having too much down time. So I decided to use the free time to visit friends and family back home in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Delaware.  The drive was expensive and long but my little car held on for dear life. I must add I witnessed an unusual amount of road rage including partaking in a few myself, especially when I saw a teenage boy texting and driving.  Meeting with family was fun and exciting except the feeling of not being PRODUCTIVE!!   

Trying to save my summer and make it worthwhile I contacted the Liberian Ambassador to the United States for assistance in my goal of interning with the Liberian Government next summer. (Hopefully President Ellen Johnson) As of now we’re still in talks but I’m going to need a lot of persuasion and determination to make it happen.  By this time I had caught up and was ahead in all my classes so I started looking for ways to increase my funds. I got a job working with individuals with disabilities but as much as I enjoyed working with them, I felt it to be a waste of time because it did nothing for my career but provided enough money to keep a struggling college student fed and cover the basics of life. Therefore I took another job offer and started working as a banker for U.S Bank. I was offered a teller position at a competitor’s bank but felt my skills exceeded that opportunity so I bargain for more, needless to say, I think I made the right decision in waiting for U.S Bank.  I’ve never been more excited to receive an offer letter. As the end of summer was rapidly approaching I topped of my journey with finishing my four classes and officially getting my Associates of Arts from Bucks County Community College. 

 To end my summer, I took my ASVAB and physical in attempts of enlisting with the Air National Guard primarily because I’ve always been interested in the military and when my physical results come back, I would be enlisting. Overall my summer was fun and now my last project is working with the Boys & Girls club for a mentoring program.