santiana turner '20 Recruiting Profile

Santiana Turner

Born-Again

My childhood wasn’t the best. About eight to 15, I remember finding myself with battle wounds for stepping into situations I was unprepared for. Wanting the best for myself had it’s way of triggering me emotionally. But I did not give up. My mother wasn’t the type to ask for help; she was always too naive to let people know that she needed the help.  So we ended up homeless. I was broken and very unhappy with my personal stability. That wasn’t the life I wanted to live. Every single day after that encounter, I’ve always looked forward to a successful, happy ending and asked myself, “Will it come today? Will it be tomorrow?” I was dying for a change but one thing never changed, I never gave up hope. 

I had an epiphany after being seperated from my little sister.  To this day, we have not seen each other. Because of that situation, I always tell myself “wherever the world may lead me, never let it affect school.” I needed a way out of poverty and a way into success. My life fell back on track when I met a man named, Pastor Alex or PA who would come to my school and put groups together every Tuesday to talk about anything and everything.  It was so relaxing and peaceful and every week I would look forward to it. There was a lot of trust within the group where whatever was said would stay there. I occasionally wrote poems to express my feelings with a lot of detail and creativity. He was fascinated and felt the need to read them to his other groups. After I graduated from elementary school, we lost contact and I never got to thank him but I would never forget him and the things he has done for me.  He showed me to use the eye that I've already had and taught me to envision things in my future rather than live in the moment. 

High school was a realization to me. It prepared me for the real world by showing me how to be responsible and how to handle situations as a young adult. I love my highschool experience because it brought out the best of me. It had its challenging moments, but I believed I could do it and I did it with as much strength as possible.  I did my very best because I stayed focused and remained on track to graduate. I joined the Track team my freshman year and have been running with passion and love all four years. It has given me strength and taught me leadership as well as setting goals for my individual performance. I look at Track & Field as a symbolism to my life symbolising that I’m in the fast lane of life where running is the symbol of change, while working towards a long term goal. 

I don’t regret anything I went through because it made me who I am today. I am looking forward with very high hopes in attending a four year university or college where I feel unity, majoring in business administration under the real estate field. While continuing my 4+ running career in Track & Field and maintaining a high average grade point average. Although life has its way of growing you up, epiphanizing you see things in a different light, challenging your commitment and perseverance to reaching your goals. I’ve always kept hope for a better tomorrow. Every one of those obstacles helped me find myself. My successful ending will start today.