Don’t Miss the Opportunity
Doors to opportunities can be subtle. The decision window can be so small and quick that we often don’t realize the opportunity or if we do, we don’t realize the magnitude of the situation.
At he age of 5, my parents started instilling the importance of going to college and procuring a good job so I wouldn’t work as hard and be as tired from work as my parents. Since the beginning of these encouragements, my educational goal was to go to college. Although my goal persisted, after I entered junior high school, my enjoyment for school plummeted. It was boring and honestly, I was over it. My mom’s friend suggested I look into magnet schools, but both magnet middle schools ended at the 8th grade, which I thought was pointless to apply since I would only be there for one year.
The following year when I was in the 8th grade, my English teacher suggested I attend whatever meeting was announced on the intercom. I heard the announcement being made, but honestly, at that time, if I didn’t hear my name at the beginning of any announcement, I tuned out the rest. Trusting my teacher, a few of my classmates and I ventured to the library.
Only after reaching the library, I learned the meeting was an informational meeting about LAMP Magnet High School. LAMP’s guidance counselor pressed play on the recruitment video and a new goal emerged. I wanted to go to LAMP. The school offered a multitude of AP classes and the students received thousands of dollars in scholarships. LAMP would be a steppingstone to help me achieve my ultimate goal of attending college.
I applied to the school, but unfortunately, I did not get in. Fast-forward to the first week of my 9th grade year, I received a call from Montgomery Public Schools. They informed my mom that there was an opening at LAMP and they wanted to extend an invitation for me to attend. My mom hung up the phone and relayed the message. I’ll be honest; I do not remember how long it took me to say “yes,” but I do know it was quicker than my mom thought it would take because she asked, “Are you sure?” That following Friday, my mom removed me from my current school and enrolled me into LAMP.
Although LAMP was its own journey, after I graduated college, I became more appreciative of that chapter of my life. I also became appreciative of the opportunity and the people God used along the way. If it wasn’t for my teacher, I would have never looked into LAMP. If it wasn’t for my mom’s friend, I would have never considered attending a magnet school.
As I mature in God, I realize how pivotal it is to take advantage of God’s opportunities. It reminds me of Saul. He had an opportunity to become Israel’s first king and although he took the opportunity, he abused it. He began to operate out of his own strength and desires instead of God.
My encouragement to you is to ask the Lord to open your eyes to the opportunities around you. Ask Him to guide you on the opportunities you should take. Ask Him to help you steward your opportunities well. Despite the challenges LAMP brought me, I studied hard, asked for help when needed, met some incredible people and made the best out of the situation. Two decisions – the decision to listen to my teacher and the decision to say “yes” – changed the trajectory of my life.
