Reflection On African Americans

Being first-generation African American is a big part of me that I believe would reflect positively on my ability to succeed at Penn State. I take pride in my heritage and I think it has definitely shaped my growth and thinking. As an individual, I think I am defined largely in terms of my experiences with others. My parents came from a developing country to America and they have made many sacrifices for me to have better opportunities than they had growing up. As a child of immigrants, I began to understand that by putting forth my best effort, and working hard, I am not only helping myself. My journey to success is not only reflective of me, but also reflective of my family. I hope to one day use my education to help less fortunate people
in Ghana who don’t have the opportunities I have. My sport has also played major role in my mental development. From my years in high school track and field, I have learned that my ability to succeed is not solely based on my natural talent. My success comes from countless hours of practice even if it means in the snow. Although I haven’t yet reached all of my athletic goals, going the extra mile has allowed me to see results. This very much relates to my academics because if there are concepts that I don’t understand, studying and getting help is like practice. In high school I have definitely challenged myself by taking AP and IB classes. These courses have really pushed me out of my comfort zone and I know that they will have me better prepared for college.