From Rebellion To Resilience: A Journey of Growth and Mentorship by Alexis

From Rebellion To Resilience: A Journey of Growth and Mentorship by Alexis - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

My name is Alexis Felton, and I currently attend the lovely North Carolina Central University. I grew up in Roanoke Rapids, NC, and attended KIPP Pride High School in Gaston, NC. During my time at KIPP, we experienced a significant change in leadership with the arrival of a new principal, assistant principal, and administrator. At first, I struggled with this drastic shift because I was comfortable with the way things had been.

The transition was especially challenging for me because I frequently clashed with the new assistant principal. I often disagreed with her, disrespected her authority, and ignored her rules. I saw her as overly strict and didn’t understand her perspective—until one day, everything changed.

One afternoon, I was in class and felt cold, so I put on my jacket, which was against school policy. I argued with my teacher, and the assistant principal came to address the issue. She brought me to her office, and what began as a disciplinary discussion turned into a life-changing moment.

She looked at me and said, “Alexis, I see you as my niece. I see how smart and capable you are, but you’re holding yourself back by being in the wrong crowd. The people you associate with don’t reflect your potential. You’re better than this, but you’re belittling yourself. I’m hard on you because I see so much potential in you, and I know you can go far.”

Her words completely changed the way I saw her. From that day forward, I viewed her not as an authority figure to rebel against but as someone who genuinely cared about my success. She became like family to me. I started going to her with my problems, and we had regular discussions about my goals. Together, we set weekly objectives to help me grow.

Even on weekends and during breaks, she would reach out to me with words of encouragement and advice. Her mentorship inspired me to work harder, stay focused, and believe in myself. She became a role model, someone I deeply admire, and her guidance has had a lasting impact on my life.