The Key To Endless Possibilities
Giving Thanks To What Matters to Me Most

Photo Illustration by Sage Nenyue | VOX Staff

By Crissinda Ponder | VOX Staff

“You better not get any B’s on your next progress report,” my mom often commands. She has always stressed the importance of education to me, so I have taken it seriously since my early days in school. My mother is my inspiration. I have been encouraged by her drive to go beyond a high school diploma. She said when she was in school, she had to study and maintain focus because she wanted to make a better life for herself. She followed her parents’ guidance and worked to the best of her ability. My grandparents pushed my mom and her brother very hard as they were growing up. They encouraged them to take advantage of the many opportunities life has to offer. My mother keeps that pattern thriving as she continuously pushes me to make good grades.


"All parents want their children to have better lives than they have," my mom told me the other day. She has always made it her goal to assure that my grades remain above average. So I study and work hard to make her proud.

Mrs. Ryals Jenkins, my teacher in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program at my high school, also inspires me to do my best. She has helped me by preparing me for the “real world.” Mrs. Jenkins was the one who taught me the process of making a résumé, and how to carry myself with confidence. The résumé is what I used when I applied for my internship at VOX, and my confidence continues to grow because of her influence in my life. It’s because of Mrs. Jenkins and teachers like her that I’ve been inducted to The National Honor Society and The National Beta Club. But if I didn’t apply myself, I might not have gotten achievements.

The first time I got really excited about my education was when I was in the 10th grade. One day after school I opened an interest letter I received from a college, and something clicked inside of me. At that moment I understood how much doing well in school really means. That interest letter helped me realize my broad scope of potential. Since then, I’ve gotten so many letters from different colleges. The thought of leaving home to go to college has lightened up my life.

It’s not just the book knowledge that excites me about education. It’s the fact that learning helps me keep an open mind. This past summer, I felt at if the entire world opened up for me when I went to France and Italy with my French class. I was able to see past the boundaries of American culture and appreciate the differences in other cultures. Having an open mind also allows me to block out ignorance, challenge stereotypes and be intolerant of people who don’t make space for change in their lives.

Education pays off. I am a college bound student and in the top five percent of my senior class because I never give up or settled for less. With my family and teachers’ support, I continue to study hard to stay ahead and focus on my future.

Crissinda is a senior at Creekside High. She’s crazy about the books.