viral photo | For most of her life, 18-year-old Destiny Jackson has lived with different foster families after escaping from a troubled home in Philadelphia. USA, when he was only 13 years old. Despite this and her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, the young woman has managed to overcome adversity and be admitted by more than 50 universities in the country. This is his story.
“It was getting out of control”he said of his circumstances at the time. Jackson told Good Morning America that she took it upon herself to leave home. She said she experienced homelessness, moving through foster homes and group homes. “It was very difficult at the beginning”, He said.
Jackson also revealed that he had to learn to control his health early on. She told that you were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 3 years old, but the lack of a stable home meant that she had to take responsibility for her diagnosis that would otherwise be reserved for a legal guardian.
“There was not a single person responsible for my diabetes except me, because one day I could be here, the next day I could be there”Jackson said. “The only constant person is always me, so I thought it was my responsibility, my duty, to be able to control my diabetes”.
Jackson said she often went to her diabetic appointments alone, but learned to manage the disease thanks to the help of her doctors and homeless shelter workers. “I had trouble finding a home because a lot of people don’t want someone with type 1 diabetes.”, He said. But I was also a teenager. It was not a good thing ”he added.
Although finding a host family willing to host her was difficult, according to Jackson, she now has a choice between several colleges. “I always wanted to go to college. I always knew that I wanted to do something with my life. Whatever happens, I had to be attentive to the award “he said about his motivation.
Through various college fairs and online applications, Jackson applied to numerous colleges. But when the answers came, they were all acceptances. In all, Jackson was accepted in 56 universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California at Los Angeles, and Howard University.
“I was very surprised. I thought, ‘Am I dreaming?’ Wake me up from this “, He said. Jackson said his plans are to get a Bachelors degree in political science and complement it with communication and media studies.
“There are always men who are in these leadership positions. So when I see Kamala Harris, not only being the Vice President of the United States, but also being a black woman, I think that’s beyond achievement. “Jackson said. “That gives me a lot of confidence to know it’s okay, if she can do it, why can’t I? “he added.
While at Spelman, Jackson said he also plans to pursue acting, as the arts were one of his main coping mechanisms. Said “He loves to sing and act” and wants to have his own radio show before become president of the United States. Jackson has done an internship with the Philadelphia city hall.
“There have been many occasions when people He told me that he was unable to do somethingEither because of the fact that I was homeless and in foster care or even simply because I was a type 1 diabetic. “Jackson said. “But I knew that I was capable of doing anything he proposed to me regardless of what others say”added.
His advice to others: “I learned in life that no matter what you set your mind to, you cannot allow other people to make decisions for you. You are the author of your own story, you create your own narrative. If you want to do something, you can make it happen “.
Article source: https://mag.elcomercio.pe/
