Personal Essay: Single-Parenting

Like approximately 72% of African American children in the United States, I was raised in a single-parent household. While most people view this as a disadvantage, I saw it as a motivating reason to strive to achieve success. According to statistics, I should be underprivileged, unmotivated, and deemed to be unsuccessful due to a lack of resources and guidance that two-parent households universally provide. To the contrary, because of my nurturing and positive upbringing I have overcome many challenges and achieved tremendous success thus far. In many ways it was my single parent upbringing that has given me some of the most vital that distinguish me as a leader who can contribute to diversity at JPMorgan Chase.

According to statistics, I should be emotionally weak and suffer from feelings of abandonment, however it was these feelings of abandonment that taught me most to honor relationships. Knowing the feeling of exclusion triggers my passion to be inclusive. This love for relationships prompted my current involvement in organizations such as Georgia Daze where I encourage minorities to attend the University of Georgia, and the Black Educational Support Team where I serve as a mentor for diverse freshmen once they commit. I
Constantly exercising my wits, my personal heritage has taught me to always academically want for more. Since starting college, I have challenged myself to take courses that required me to think critically and leverage my natural abilities. My ambition for higher learning continues as I take advantage of opportunities to learn more about various industries and the business world in general. Some people attempt to erase their personal heritage or even wish they could alter it. However, I use my personal heritage to fuel my passion to invest in my skills and give back to my campus and the surrounding