Nicholas

My name is Nicholas and I am 17 years old. I currently am a freshman at EMU and this is my story. Life for my family was tough as my mom has MS and dad had trouble keeping employment. August 2015, things began to turn around as my father was offered full time employment and we could see the light at the end of the tunnel until that tragic morning of 9/14/2015. My father had fallen 12 feet from a cherry picker and hit the concrete. His fall was catastrophic leaving him today with a traumatic brian injury among other major issues.

I was 15 years old and just started my junior year a Lincoln Park High School. My mother was the glue who kept my sister and I focused during this awful time. We kept a normal life routine like our family was simply like every other family. I continued to play tennis, swim and run track for LPHS and was the captain of all of those teams. I graduated 11th in my class of 411 students. My GPA 3.975 and that is with me skipping the 8th grade. I was offered a awesome opportunity at Eastern Michigan University where I intend to obtain a degree in Criminal Justice and become a attorney. Staying focused, my mother as well as many prayers allowed me to be where I am today.

I still make lunches for the homeless at the soup kitchen, our family always adopts a small family at Christmas, and I collect pop bottles and cans to buy hygiene products for Mimi mission. As you can see with hard work, dedication, determination and a lot of love…anyone can succeed.