By Bianca Vaughan
Hard, difficult, tough, and rough aren’t ways most adolescents describe their upbringing but for Le’Kiesha White these are just a few words you’ll hear her say about hers. Ms. White is a 21-year-old senior at Saint Augustine’s College, and she’ll be graduating in May. Most people and she included didn’t think she would make it this far but despite all odds she’s here.
Imagine growing up not truly liking yourself, not fitting in, having difficulty making teams, attempting suicide, struggling with your sexuality, and to top it all off having a family that isn’t all the way there for you. Well, Ms. White had to deal with that and then some.
Over the last decade, between 347,000 and 544,000 10th through 12th grade students left school each year without successfully completing a high school program, says the national center for education statistics. To make matters worse one in three adolescents drops out of college according to the U.S Census Bureau. But Le’kiesha White didn’t become a statistic.
Keisha, as she is known around campus, is a hard working young lady. She’s a member of the women’s basketball team, a member of the Blue Chip cheerleading squad, and last but not least a pre-med/ biology major. As you can already sum up being Miss White wasn’t easy then and isn’t easy now. In a recent interview she talked about her journey.
Q: What was life like for you growing up?
A: “In the beginning when I was younger, I moved around a lot. I was involved in a lot of sports and I wanted to stay out the house because my family was a little dysfunctional.”
Q: By dysfunctional what exactly do you mean?
A: “We don’t have a good relationship with each other. We’re not like a regular family; I don’t talk to them on a regular basis, and most of the time I don’t care or mind not talking to them. It’s like 5 people going in 5 different directions at all times.”
Q: What were some obstacles that stood in your way?
A: “I wasn’t confident and I felt ugly and people used to joke on me. I then moved to Chesterfield, Virginia and went to a predominantly white school. It was hard to make teams and be accepted and I didn’t start making teams until the 9th grade.”
Q: Were your parents involved in your life?
“Yeah they were. They came to a lot of sporting events but that was it. They were more involved in the athletic part more than academics. My father was only involved to take the glory to say, ‘Oh that’s my daughter.’ My mom was the working one but did what she could for me for the most part.”
Q: Did you have a tough time in school?
A: “Yes and No. I had a rough time with myself because of how I looked. But once I started playing sports people knew me and by high school I was pretty much a normal student.”
Q: How was your social life?
A: “Back then I didn’t really have any other friends outside of my recreation league but gradually after I adjusted I got more friends.”
Q: Did you date?
A: “I only dated one boy then I became gay and I dated a few girls.”
Q: Was there ever a time you just wanted to give up?
A: “Yeah I tried to commit suicide when I was in high school but clearly the attempt was unsuccessful.” She said jokingly
Q: Did you ever think you would make it this far? (As she answered one lonely tear rolled down her face.)
A: “No I thought that I wouldn’t amount to anything and my greatest fear was ending up like my parents.”
Q: What is it about your parents that makes that your biggest fea--to become like them?
A: “It’s the fact that I don’t want to be stuck, stuck in life. I want to always be going somewhere and doing something in life.”
Q: How do you feel about to graduate with all that you’ve been through?
A: “I feel like I’ve come a long way and I’ve accomplished a lot but I still have a long way to go.”
Q: What’s your next step to conquer in life?
A: With the biggest kool-aid smile she said, “To go to grad school and get my masters in chemistry or forensic science, and to someday get my dream job which is to work for the FBI or NASA.
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