Never let the thought of the ‘impossible’ deter you from reaching your goals. My name is Dymond Walker and I’m a high school senior at Magnolia Science Academy – 3 (MSA-3) in Carson, California. I’ve attended Magnolia Public Schools since I was in sixth grade and throughout my journey through both middle school and high school I have had my fair share of trials and tribulations.
As a freshman in high school, transitioning into a new workload with intensive classes wasn’t hard for me. I’ve always learned to adapt to new settings and situations. Overthinking and over-exerting myself was my only problem. My mother never had to push me to do better, I’ve always wanted that for myself. I have been told by so many people that I just about had every odd against me. Not only was I an African American but I was also a female. I lived in a single parent home and my father was incarcerated. I didn’t live in the richest neighborhood and to the world I was just another statistic, another number to add to the teen pregnancy rate. I knew I had more in store for me than what the world stereotyped me to be.
Thinking ahead of the world encouraged me to work harder than I ever did before. I became involved in my community with Top Teens of America and now I have over 400 volunteer hours. Yet there couldn’t be clear skies without a storm. In 2016, my mother entered into surgery, but almost didn’t make it out. In recovery, she flat-lined right in front of my sister and me. Doctors and nurses alike rushed to revive her. As my sister went to work to provide for the household I stayed home some days to nurse my mother back to health. In November of 2016, my family and I had the unfortunate event of our house of ten years catching on fire. Technically we were homeless for about eight months, but by the grace of God my grandmother and grandfather allowed us to stay in their house. Even though 2016 posed to be one of the hardest years of my life I still managed to keep up my academics and end my junior year off with a 3.9 G.P.A.
I could only have done this with the help and guidance of all my teachers and friends. The staff and administrators at MSA-3 have truly been a blessing in my life. They have always been gracious enough to work with me on deadlines and have always listened to me when I just needed to vent and express myself.
Today, I stand here to tell you that nothing is impossible—if you have the mindset to go after what you want. Let no tragedy stop you from growing into who you want to be. As of right now, I have been accepted into 35 universities/colleges with a $29,000 scholarship (per year) to Whittier college and a $88,000 scholarship from Notre Dame of Maryland University, which is one of the best all female universities. I have also been accepted into multiple Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) such as Bethune-Cookman University, Lincoln University, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and many more.
If I had to give advice to youth, I would say try to aspire to be more than a number, more than a statistic, and more than your wildest dreams; and have a great school like MSA-3 provide the foundation to accomplish all of those things.
Looking forward to the future,
Ms. Dymond Walker
This blog is a part of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ month long celebration of #CharterGrads.
