The Elephant Story
Family Reunion
In May 2024, I got a tattoo on an elephant on my left arm. How come? Allow me to tell you the story. A few months prior to that on January 2024, I returned to middle school after a much-needed Winter Break. Although I wasn't quite ready to resume work, I was eager to complete the school year as I planned to move from Louisiana, where I had spent about four years, back to South Carolina. My daughter's mother and I had recently reconnected and were on amicable terms again. I had been reaching out since 2020, and after much prayer and patience, God finally helped us reconcile. We managed to resolve our differences. Because of this and my wish to be an 'active' parent, I decided to make the move so we could co-parent in person.
Are You Kidding Me?
To ensure a smooth transition, I contacted a recruiter for the school district I had spoken with a year earlier. I was informed that I would need to take not just one, but four Praxis Core tests to qualify for a teaching position in Charleston, SC. Unbeknownst to me, this information was not entirely accurate, and my recruiter was merely trying to ensure I would qualify for any available job offers. Was I mad? No. But at the time, I was in panic mode. Nevertheless, I chose to discipline myself, concentrate, and start studying the material. I quickly established a routine of going to work and then studying for two hours at home. I was motivated by the lack of time, the need to secure a high-paying job once I moved, and the desire to provide the best I could for my daughter. Occasionally, I would even study at work near the football field at the middle school I worked at during my free period. I was determined to make time for my studies—no excuses. My social life even plummeted. Before this, I had been dating frequently but given the number of tests I needed to pass and the limited time available, I decided to slow down and focus on my work.
Make Effort, Not Excuses!
Thanks to my dedication, I successfully passed the Reading, Science, and Social Studies tests on my first attempt. However, like anyone else, I faced setbacks. I failed the Math test twice. After my second failure, I reviewed my scores and identified my weak areas. During the last week of school, after weeks of studying, sacrificing, and disciplining myself, I passed the Math test with a score higher than I had anticipated. I left Natchitoches, LA and raced back to Ball, LA with a big smile on my face to spend the rest of Field Day with my 8th graders. This moment of success was firmly etched in my memory, and I felt a sense of pride in my achievement.
Why The Elephant?
I am definitely not a procrastinator. However, similar to an elephant, there was a time in my life when I faced significant stress, limited time, and a lot at stake, and I depended on my memory and work ethic to get me through. The tattoo served as a reminder just like I overcame living on the street, living in a car for 6 months at tone time, and all the trauma from my childhood, I too, had conquered this. Normally, I prefer to plan in advance. Yet, in life, we cannot always anticipate what is coming. We do not always receive a warning. So, what should we do in those situations? We fight anyway. I decided to embrace the moment. I was deliberate with each day, every weekend, and every hour I utilized. And it all turned out well! Just take a look for yourself.
May this story inspire you to go hard and be relentless about your life as well!
