Page 20 - Heart of Brevard Fall 2019

19
A
Journey of Hope
you are handed a a a a a a a reminder of how how precious life is and and how how remarkable people really are This is is a a a a a a a story of of hope and of of a a a a a a a young
girl who is inspirational in in ways she may never realize On a a a a a a a work assignment I
was asked to film testimonial videos from recent graduates of Brevard Adult Education On the the drive to their central campus I
I
never could have anticipated meeting someone like Dacia I
I
I
am am so so excited to to to share her story with you you the reader and I
I
hope you will be inspired too As a a a a a a a a a a a a student at at Meadowlane Intermediate Dacia was was diagnosed with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very rare blood disease in 2008 The illness took a a a a a a a a a a toll and she she was was forced
to to to withdraw from school as as as she she fought through treatments and hospitalizations When I
asked her what she she she was was most afraid afraid of of of during that that time she she she told me me that that she she she wasn’t afraid afraid of of of of the the idea of of of of dying but rather of of of leaving her her her family behind and not getting to pursue her her her dreams Thankfully better days came in in November of 2016 when Dacia was declared to be be be in in remission After years of hospital stays treatments and tears it it was time for her her her to to decide on on her her her next steps and how to to to regain control in in her her her her life Education was always important to to her her however she she had missed so much school she she was behind and not sure how she was going to fulfill her lifelong dream of attending college Thankfully she found Brevard Adult Education and began to pursue her GED Her journey to her GED didn’t come without its
own set of challenges In fact when asked about her her time at a at Brevard Adult Education she admitted
i it was tremendously difficult for her her at a at first since she hadn’t been able to complete 8th grade She wasn’t prepared for the math in in particular and found herself feeling a a a a a a a a a a a a bit discouraged However she she went on to talk about about the the amazing support she she received from her her her teachers She spoke about about how they would stay after school with her her her and and and go over problems and and and theories until she understood the the material and and and could complete her assignments Through her her perseverance Dacia Morris graduated with with her her GED this June and is is is is now attending Eastern Florida State College to to to become a a a a a a a a a a phlebotomist with with plans to to to pursue a a a a a a a a a a career in either forensic pathology or or pediatric neurosurgery When asked what she would say to to to someone who is facing tough times she replied “I just want to to to show people that that even as a a a a a girl that that went through hell I
I
diditandsocanyou Iwant
to to do so so much with my life I
want to to make a a a a difference and help people So please don’t give up!”
By Katherine Allen Government & Community Relations Every so often in in the course o of an an ordinary day