You Matter!
Hello. I know this probably sounds embarrassing. Maybe even pathetic to some people. But honestly, I don't really care anymore. This is my life, this is where I'm at, and I'm just being real about it. Before anybody leaves some rude or negative comment, just remember we're all human. Nobody has everything figured out. Sometimes you get stuck. Sometimes you need a little help. And sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and ask for it. My name is Ezekeial. I'm 18, and I'm getting ready to move into my dorm at Howard University for my freshman year. I'll be studying psychology, and my long-term goal is to go to grad school and become a Licensed Counseling Psychologist. I've been working at a local print shop since I was 15. I've literally been saving every penny I could for college. I live with my aunt, and she basically raised me. My parents aren't really in the picture, and they have their reasons. I'm the youngest of six, and everybody else is grown and doing their own thing now. My parents divorced in 2023. My dad remarried a couple years later, and my mom is out living her life. She doesn't call me, she doesn't text me, she doesn't really check up on me. And honestly, I don't blame her. I don't blame my dad either. My mom went through a lot. I mean, raising SIX kids is a lot by itself. She needed a break. She deserves to live her life and be happy, and I genuinely hope she gets everything she wants. Same with my dad. I don't have any hate toward either of them. I just had to figure some things out on my own. And I've wanted college for a LONG time. Like, since middle school. I used to literally think about college all the time. I'd think about what my dorm would look like, what classes I'd take, what campus would be like, who I'd meet, what my life would finally look like. And now I'm actually here. I'm about to move into Howard University. It's honestly crazy to even type that. I've saved enough money for about three years. Every paycheck, every little bit I could put away went toward tuition, books, housing, food, whatever I knew I'd need. With my financial aid, I've been able to make it work. I plan on working while I'm in college too, and I'll figure out that fourth year when I get there. I'm not asking somebody to pay for my whole college education. I've been working toward this myself since I was 15. I'm just at the point where there's a few things I genuinely can't afford right now. There's about 8 things left on my Amazon dorm registry that I haven't been able to get because money is tight. That's literally why I'm making this post. I feel stupid even asking, but something in me said to just ask anyway. If you can help, thank you. Seriously. If you can't, that's completely okay. Even sharing this helps. And to everybody who's already bought something from my list or helped me in any way, I don't think you understand how much I appreciate it. I'm just trying to get myself to this next chapter. I've been through things I don't really talk about, and I'm sure a lot of people have too. But I'm still here. I'm still working. I'm still trying. And I'm still excited about what's ahead of me. So if you're reading this and you're struggling too, please don't think your situation is going to be your whole life. I know that's easier said than done. I've had plenty of moments where I didn't know how I was going to get from one point to the next. Sometimes you just have to keep going even when you don't have the whole plan figured out. Keep hope. Pray if you pray. Take a break when you need one. Ask for help when you need it. And don't be ashamed of needing somebody sometimes. I spent years dreaming about college, and somehow I'm actually about to walk into my dorm. That's enough to remind me that things really can change. Thank you to anybody who read all of this. And thank you to everybody who's helped me get here. God bless you all. 💙🙏