Devont Felix '20 Recruiting Profile

I grew up in a family of four and with a single parent, my mother. I am the only boy in the family and sometimes that can be hard. We moved quite a bit from Florida to Illinois. It was hard to find my place while moving so often. All this would play towards my reserved nature and introversion I have now. I didn't relate to anyone around my age often and I was extremely quiet for most of my life. I worked on my communication skills and how to start conversations to get where I am now. I even took a public speaking course in high school too. As a kid, I loved to figure out why something happens, and the properties they have. I was obsessed with aircraft and spacecraft; even now I keep up with the developments in aerospace technology. This was probably the moment I knew I wanted to work with science. Instead of getting books for my age, I would get science textbooks and encyclopedias. In fourth grade, I was admitted into an accelerated science class that put me down the path I take today. Drawing and writing also helped shape my personality. To keep myself from collapsing under the pressure I run, draw, and write. I used to and still use my emotions as fuel to run on. However, I don’t let my emotions take over and I’m known to be quite calm. My family never had lots of money, and we still tend to get by on anything we have. It’s hard because there are things I want, but can't get. This taught me patience and saving to get whatever I want later. My mother tries her hardest not to worry us, but I knew from the start I had to succeed. I have to take care of her and the rest of my family. This is one of the main motivations for my success. I came to that realization around age seven. At this point in my childhood, I had to learn how to be responsible and how to handle my frustrations in logical ways. While playing basketball in 6th grade I was struck between my eye and nose. For the next four years, I had extreme migraines and every day was a struggle. To still succeed, I had to suck it up and try my hardest. Every day was extreme agony, but I kept reminding myself, I have to keep moving. I had goals I still had to reach. That probably contributes to my work ethic now. Luckily, my migraines started to go away freshman year in high school. Over the years, I broke barriers that I thought were unbreakable. I still have a long way to go, but I have come so far and I won’t give up any time soon.