Jasmine Raper '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Jasmine, growing up my parents were never married. I lived in split households that were not the average distance away but instead multiple states away from each other, it took a toll on me. I lacked the stability of a single home and while living with my father I suffered mental and physical abuse administered by my stepmother and my stepbrother without my father's knowledge. Personally, I believe that this allowed me to prosper rather than using it as an excuse when I struggle in life. I have learned to try, fail or not, to stay optimistic during situations when others do not. Many have said that they do not understand how one can build others and herself up when she has been through so much, but these same people let the past dictate who they are and what they will become in the future. Imagine you were to have a weight, it doesn’t matter the shape, but imagine someone asked you to carry the weight across a room. Depending on how heavy it is may determine how you decide to transfer it, whether it's dragging, carrying, or even rolling, the weight will still get across the room at a different pace depending on the person moving it. Now imagine a person carrying something from the past through an extended amount of time. Every single person has a different pace in which they heal from the past. Some choose to try and ignore their hardships and put a metaphorical band aid over them. All band aids must be ripped off eventually, leaving the wound exposed. While some embrace the wound, take proper care in mending it, and eventually walk away recovered, even though some scars may remain, others are not so keen in facing things they fear may hurt them. I take pride in my progress thus far, I use my weaknesses as strengths, and I’m determined to not allow the past to be a weight on my future. My ambition burns strong, and I am not afraid to face disappointment and challenges that may await me. As a wise man once said...
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”- Winston Churchill