A Very Special Day !

This past Saturday on May 11th, 2019 I graduated from the University of the District of Columbia with my bachelor’s in business management. This is a huge accomplishment for not only me but my family as well. I am the 2ndto graduate from college on my mother’s side and I have very many older cousins. I am also the first to graduate from college on my father’s side of the family as well. Out of my grandmothers almost 25 grandchildren I am the first to accomplish this achievement. But there was so much that lead up to this moment that when it happened it didn’t feel special to me. By that time, I was just ready to be done, I was mentally, physically, and almost spiritually done. I can remember that whole day saying that it hasn’t hit me that I graduated yet. As I looked around at my classmates, I noticed the difference in our moods it was almost if I was present but not there.

As the weekend went on, I kept getting all of these congratulatory messages, and just seeing what everyone is saying is nice. Then again, it didn’t really hit me that I accomplished something until I started going through some old stuff of mine. As I was packing my room getting ready to move off campus; I am just looking through stuff to see what I want to keep and what is going to go in the trash. So, I am going to tell you guys a secret I love to keep photos or little things of memorabilia I get when I am with friends.

So, as I am looking through my high school year book from the year, I graduated then to the pictures I had on my wall from over my past 3 years at Coppin. I can see how much that I have changed, yes physically but also mentally. Coming out of high school I was what some would say very hot tempered, and also had some issues within myself. It wasn’t really until I got to my freshman year of college and I got put under the wings of my senior I was able to start to find myself. I also played basketball and some of the problems I had on the court I would say correlated to my mental state. By sticking by my senior my confidence started to up little by little, then I started to get into makeup because of my sister. I would always watch her do her makeup before the game or when she is just going out.

By my second year of college I was an entirely different person than I was my freshman year, and it only kept going up from there. By the end of my sophomore year I came up with the idea of making shirts that would help me get through the day. A confidence booster to remind me that my height is something that I should be proud of. That has been a battle I have been fighting all my life and by making this brand it would not only help me but other tall girls that I know are going through that same situation. So, I grabbed a couple of my friends and did a photo shoot; from there I have been building my brand. I wanted it to be a legacy for my younger sister and niece, so I named it Skye Rose Designs.

By junior year I got my first roommate ever, but the thing is we clicked automatically. Honestly when she hit me up over Instagram, I ignored the message, but now that person has become my family. I admired her at first because it was the first time that I had met a tall girl that had such confidence in her height. Of course, I didn’t tell her that at the time; but by being roommates with her it did have an impact on me mentally, because by seeing her always be confident it rubbed off on me and gave me the confidence that I needed. She was also a model which was good for me because she was able to promote my brand for me. That same year I got invited to do my first pop up shop. I was so nervous, but I liked the outcome. I didn’t sell a single shirt, but I was able to promote and network my brand to a whole new audience. I also had my friends there to support so that made it fun.

By senior year there was a big change; transferring schools your last year of college and being able to graduate that same year is a very hard thing to do. For me to have to transfer schools when I was qualified to graduate early from one school having to transfer to another with the possibility of me having to do an extra semester. This was a decision I had to make, whether to stay at that current school but not play basketball and graduate on time. Or to transfer, play basketball, and possibly do an extra semester. I have been fighting with the decision to continue to play basketball a sport I love and just be a normal student for 2 years now. I made the decision to transfer to the University of the District of Columbia located in my hometown Washington, D.C. I said why not go home and finish my last year with a bang.

Then sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Before preseason during a pickup game with my team I got undercut and 4 of my teammates ran into my knee which made it hyperextend. Being the person, I am I love to push my limits, so I kept playing and walking on my leg. Comes preseason time I am not able to run; I couldn’t extend my right leg. So, in September I go on crutches and nothing happens it doesn’t really get any better. I get sent to one doctor at a hospital and they take an MRI. They are not able to really find anything or really give me an explanation on what is wrong with my knee. October rolls around and I am still on the crutches they gave me a shot in my knee to see if it would help. It does but not by much; by this time, I was on some many medications I couldn’t keep track. I get sent to another doctor at a different hospital to get a second opinion.

This time he just looks at the old MRI’s and tries to give me his explanation, which was he couldn’t tell me when I would be back on the court, but he doesn’t think surgery is necessary. So, I get recommended for physical therapy, by this time it’s around December. I was in physical therapy for a month, and then I get sent to another hospital and doctor. This time they take an X-Ray and he found the issue with my knee. At this point I am not sure what to feel, I was happy but also very upset that it took that long and so many different doctors to find a problem. But I was thankful that the problem was solved. I was scheduled for surgery immediately, if you know me you know I’m injury prone but have never had a major injury that required surgery.

This was a battle I had to mentally to prepare for, I can say I was honestly terrified. But I was thankful to have my mom there the entire process. The last thing I remember was being put on the surgery table and then I woke up with my mom sitting next to me. I was so happy, but I was also very doped up. They told me it would only be a week I needed to be on the crutches anymore. To hear those words after being on crutches for almost 3 months, I was so happy but scared because I thought I forgot how to walk. I hadn’t put pressure on my right legs in months all my muscle mass was gone.

By the glory of God, I was off the crutches within a week, I still couldn’t play ball but I had my legs back so I could walk and start my road to recovery. By my standards I was doing a great job with my therapy I was actually excited about it because the thought of being able to play basketball again excited me. If you have ever had a sports injury you know how dreadful it is to have to sit out and watch. Also, along the way I had many opportunities come up for my clothing brand.

I was able to participate in my very first fashion show thanks to the UDC Modeling team, this was a huge accomplishment for not only me but my brand. By that time, I was well on the way to recovery, because of that I was able to walk in heels for the first time in almost 5 months. I was so proud of myself. Then the very next week I started running on the treadmill again. It seemed that good things were continuing to happen for me. Around this time, I was also told I was qualified to graduate because I only had 1 extra class to take instead of 2 like I thought I did. I was so happy because not only was I graduating but the school accepted my credit for the study abroad program I applied for this summer. From there I was invited to do another fashion show and on May 1stI submitted my application to copyright my very first phrase from my clothing brand. I was also published in a magazine; so now I am able to tell people I am a published creative.

Like I have learned everything happens for a reason, and I also learned that I would not be continuing my basketball career at UDC for my final year. At the time I found out I was still dealing with the demons of my injury to really be upset about the situation. I was just thankful that they allowed me to get my degree. So once again I am faced with the choice of having to decide to play basketball or not. As I continue to still think about it, I get joyful at the fact that I was able to get my degree within 4 years liked I always wanted. That was a goal that I was able to accomplish through all the hardships. I saw that I never gave up no matter what I am faced with in life. I am stubborn in the way I don’t like the word no because I will continue to keep trying again until that no turns into a yes.

In the end I am happy that I was able to achieve this milestone not only for my family but for myself because this shows me that I am capable to do any that I put my mind to. So, no matter where the journey takes me whether it’s to another school to play my final year of basketball or to be the best creative, designer, CEO, writer, and blogger I can be. I will not be afraid, and I will walk each path with confidence.