Team Raymond
Some may ask what is your why? I work hard every day because in my child hood I watch my parents work hard every day to put food on the table; my mother worked two jobs and my dad had a full time job as a car salesman.
When I turned six, my father died of Agent Orange from serving in the Vietnam War. This put a lot of stress on my mom to raise me and it made me to the man I am today. She told people “it takes a village to raise a child," and as a widow she took on the responsibility of playing mother and father.
Leading into my elementary school days, a lot of stress built up within me. I wasn't doing well in school, kids used to pick on me, I got in a lot of fights, and I gained a lot of weight. It was all because I didn't have my father in my life and I possessed bitterness, guilt and shame. When I started playing football and basketball, I soon learned the goals of discipline, team work, and had my first taste of victory in success. Seeing my life as a child doing great things on the field and the court, as well as watching the greats play, opened my life for a positive turn around. I realized at a young age that education was my key to fulfilling my dreams and playing sports was the gate way to relieve all the pain and stress I was facing in my life.
My life did another drastic change when my mother and I moved from our home to St. Mary's County, Maryland. After six months, I settled into country life with a mature mind set of focusing on chasing my dream. In St. Mary's County, I got rooted with the desire that if you don't strive for success, you will fade into the shadows as another under achiever. As a child, I've seen my father in a casket and my mother struggle with her hands and knees to raise me. Nothing in my life came easy, from the academic achievements, awards, to my sports victories. It all came through with hard work and the desire to establish myself with a better life than I had to face. There were a few dry Christmases and birthdays, but it only humbled me and made me desire more for my family and myself.
When I told some people I wanted to attend high level University and play basketball, they laughed at me. They said I wasn't talented enough, and that my dream wouldn't become a reality. Then with making it through my first semester at LaSalle University I proved a lot of people wrong, but in my heart I still wasn't satisfied. I was able to attend LaSalle University and receive academic scholarships but I didn't get the opportunity to play basketball. Sometimes when you fail in life it's not failure until you quit, and I wasn't ready to give up my dream or my education. So I search for a school that could grant me both. Then the opportunity to go to Penn State Harrisburg came, I see it as a blessing and a win-win opportunity to fulfill that missing part in my life. I worked hard day in and day out trying to set myself in a great opportunity for success, but with any trail we go through in life there's circumstances you have to face. I was blessed with the opportunity to come to Penn State Harrisburg, play basketball, and receive and education, and now I'm faced with financial circumstances that's holding me back from chasing my dream. Right now with my family's financial situation I won't be able to continue with my spring semester, it's a really tough situation for me and my family in making decisions for what are best for now and what is best for my future. I'm in need of assistance & help and I believe that I will be blessed one day with the opportunity to continue my journey to my dream. Even though my path seems real cloudy I have faith and heart that someday soon I will get through this hurdle. I'm not sure when this blessing or blessings will come but one day I will achieve my dream and get through this struggle. Understanding life and the circumstances we face no matter what happens the battle is not over.
Sincerely and Thank you.
Raymond E McLeod
PS; As my mom say's “It takes a village to raise a child", and anyone willing to have my back & help me through these circumstances please contact me. Support Raymond Eugene TheGreat32t McLeod.
Psalm 37, 23.
When I turned six, my father died of Agent Orange from serving in the Vietnam War. This put a lot of stress on my mom to raise me and it made me to the man I am today. She told people “it takes a village to raise a child," and as a widow she took on the responsibility of playing mother and father.
Leading into my elementary school days, a lot of stress built up within me. I wasn't doing well in school, kids used to pick on me, I got in a lot of fights, and I gained a lot of weight. It was all because I didn't have my father in my life and I possessed bitterness, guilt and shame. When I started playing football and basketball, I soon learned the goals of discipline, team work, and had my first taste of victory in success. Seeing my life as a child doing great things on the field and the court, as well as watching the greats play, opened my life for a positive turn around. I realized at a young age that education was my key to fulfilling my dreams and playing sports was the gate way to relieve all the pain and stress I was facing in my life.
My life did another drastic change when my mother and I moved from our home to St. Mary's County, Maryland. After six months, I settled into country life with a mature mind set of focusing on chasing my dream. In St. Mary's County, I got rooted with the desire that if you don't strive for success, you will fade into the shadows as another under achiever. As a child, I've seen my father in a casket and my mother struggle with her hands and knees to raise me. Nothing in my life came easy, from the academic achievements, awards, to my sports victories. It all came through with hard work and the desire to establish myself with a better life than I had to face. There were a few dry Christmases and birthdays, but it only humbled me and made me desire more for my family and myself.
When I told some people I wanted to attend high level University and play basketball, they laughed at me. They said I wasn't talented enough, and that my dream wouldn't become a reality. Then with making it through my first semester at LaSalle University I proved a lot of people wrong, but in my heart I still wasn't satisfied. I was able to attend LaSalle University and receive academic scholarships but I didn't get the opportunity to play basketball. Sometimes when you fail in life it's not failure until you quit, and I wasn't ready to give up my dream or my education. So I search for a school that could grant me both. Then the opportunity to go to Penn State Harrisburg came, I see it as a blessing and a win-win opportunity to fulfill that missing part in my life. I worked hard day in and day out trying to set myself in a great opportunity for success, but with any trail we go through in life there's circumstances you have to face. I was blessed with the opportunity to come to Penn State Harrisburg, play basketball, and receive and education, and now I'm faced with financial circumstances that's holding me back from chasing my dream. Right now with my family's financial situation I won't be able to continue with my spring semester, it's a really tough situation for me and my family in making decisions for what are best for now and what is best for my future. I'm in need of assistance & help and I believe that I will be blessed one day with the opportunity to continue my journey to my dream. Even though my path seems real cloudy I have faith and heart that someday soon I will get through this hurdle. I'm not sure when this blessing or blessings will come but one day I will achieve my dream and get through this struggle. Understanding life and the circumstances we face no matter what happens the battle is not over.
Sincerely and Thank you.
Raymond E McLeod
PS; As my mom say's “It takes a village to raise a child", and anyone willing to have my back & help me through these circumstances please contact me. Support Raymond Eugene TheGreat32t McLeod.
Psalm 37, 23.
Don't Let Nothing Stop you from Reaching your Dream
Team Raymond's Keys for Reaching Your Dream
1. Establish your mind & spirit: Your mind is the most important part of who you are. It is where your thought, dreams and imagination comes from. You have to establish your mind in the right direction to push your body and your life to where it needs to be. Then Establish your spirit in the right direction. A strong mind is nothing without a strong spirit, when you develop a strong spirit and connection with God and put him first in your life, you will develop the unique value most importantly to never quit when you can't see your dream unfolding. (Faith)
2. Keep Focus: Everyday you will face trials and tribulations on the journey to chasing your dream. Is very necessary to keep focus daily and Every morning wake up with that vision and dream and plan how your going to get their.
3. Never Give Up: Some of your plans on a daily basis within the journey to chasing your dream will fail. Never give up because failure is the learning experience to success. And remember the experiences you go through will mold you to that person God created you to be and you will fulfill your destiny.
May you take these 3 Keys of encouragement with you with your walk towards fulfilling your dream and becoming what your destined to be.
What ever your destined to be you are, but now your just in seed from.
-TD Jakes
Life is a growing experience so if you plant your mind, body, and soul in good ground you will grow and reach your full potential.
Join Inspir32 and help represent Greatness within your daily walk through life.
1. Establish your mind & spirit: Your mind is the most important part of who you are. It is where your thought, dreams and imagination comes from. You have to establish your mind in the right direction to push your body and your life to where it needs to be. Then Establish your spirit in the right direction. A strong mind is nothing without a strong spirit, when you develop a strong spirit and connection with God and put him first in your life, you will develop the unique value most importantly to never quit when you can't see your dream unfolding. (Faith)
2. Keep Focus: Everyday you will face trials and tribulations on the journey to chasing your dream. Is very necessary to keep focus daily and Every morning wake up with that vision and dream and plan how your going to get their.
3. Never Give Up: Some of your plans on a daily basis within the journey to chasing your dream will fail. Never give up because failure is the learning experience to success. And remember the experiences you go through will mold you to that person God created you to be and you will fulfill your destiny.
May you take these 3 Keys of encouragement with you with your walk towards fulfilling your dream and becoming what your destined to be.
What ever your destined to be you are, but now your just in seed from.
-TD Jakes
Life is a growing experience so if you plant your mind, body, and soul in good ground you will grow and reach your full potential.
Join Inspir32 and help represent Greatness within your daily walk through life.
