Stockton was ranked the number one most crime-infested city in 2017. That's where I grew up. How did I become a 4.0 student-athlete today? There are many routes in Stockton that can lead the African Americans to failure. Lucky for me I had a twin brother, so we could keep each other out of trouble and on the right track. When Tre and I started getting older we gravitated to many sports like football, basketball, and track to keep us out of the common troubles of Stockton. Our father had also been a Division 1 collegiate athlete so some would say "it was in our DNA" to be star athletes. We were great athletes in elementary school and middle school, both dominating our competition. As 9th grade came along I began to realize that my physical stature was lacking and would hinder me while continuing sports. I suddenly became a part-time player rather than a key player. My twin brother, however, continued to excel beyond imagination. I began to feel like I was living in my brother's shadow as he was gaining extreme attention from scouts while I was struggling to find a way to make an impact on the field. People began to tell me I was too small to play in college, as well as asking "What happened to the twin duo?" insinuating that I wasn't contributing to my team in a spectacular way like Tre was. I ignored the doubters and began to work harder, waking up before class going to the gym at 5 a.m and then going to more workouts after class. It started to pay off, as well as the couple inches I had grown in summer. Our senior year came around and Tre was raking in the offers while I was struggling to pull one offer in. Although I had stepped back into the role of becoming a star player for my team I could not seem to gain enough interest from colleges. I would constantly hear "You are too small or too slow", but I did not let that bother me. I was able to work through the adversity before and knew I could do it again. I did not receive an offer but I walked-on to SJSU, alongside my brother still, and continued to work my butt off. I even had to pick up a job to pay my way through college while playing football and maintaining a 4.0. I earned a scholarship here by displaying my endless dedication, commitment, and work ethic. The moral of the story is that hard work and dedication will be able to propel you to any goals you have. With me on your team, I will be committed and constantly push to be the best as well as push the company to be the best...your move!