August 14, 2014, the day before I moved into the CSUN dorms, at Louisiana Fried Chicken in Compton on Rosecrans & Central my mama made me promise her I’d finish college and get my degree. Truth be told I didn’t even wanna go to college I only did it because it was “the right thing to do”. Little did I know I had signed myself up for a journey that no one could have prepared me for. Many nights I was sure I was going to drop out, move back to Compton, and take it from there. I always knew in the back of my mind my mama would be devastated if I dropped out of CSUN so I came back semester after semester. As I neared the finish line life smacked me in the face. Most people won’t know this cause in public I always kept it solid. I stand here today on the other side of the finish line that at times felt unobtainable. Through all of that I have my B.A. in Management. As a 21 year old black man from Compton I think I’ve done something worth being noted. I fulfilled that promise to my mama and I know she proud🙏🏾 (at California State University, Northridge)














