


	Victoria Grant on graduation day with her AVID teacher, Ms. Ramirez.



	Inspirational poem: "Power" by Justin Norwood
	I am power There’s nothing weak about me You can see it in my walk As I take the lead You can hear it in my voice As I began to speak You can see it in my eyes They’re neither timid nor meek I am power There’s nothing weak about me It’s the authority in my stance Who dares to challenge me It’s the way I toss my hair As if I’m the quota to reach It’s the way I take flight Like an eagle from a tree I am power There’s nothing weak about me Some see it in my clothes So stylish and unique Others say it’s in my face As I warn them to take heed My people say it’s the attitude That exceeds my abilities I am power There’s nothing weak about me Now I’ve drawn a conclusion About the power I am to be It’s not my clothes, hair, Nor the way that I speak It’s not my walk, stance, Nor the way I take lead Like the song on the radio By India Arie It’s the essences of power That my skin profoundly reeks That makes the world see Black is the way to be I am power There’s nothing weak about me

Victoria Grant

Education: Dublin High School

Hobbies: singing, dancing, and writing

Abstract: Victoria Domonique Grant was born in Oakland, California. She lived with her mom, aunt, and three cousins for the majority of her life. With Victoria’s father being imprisoned since she was the young age of seven, she had to learn the basic fundamentals that a father would teach his daughter on her own. Although her parents never saw eye to eye, they were both in agreement when it came to their daughters’ education.

Victoria’s mother Kim strongly encouraged her education knowing the dangers of the East Oakland streets and knowing that she would be the first in their family to attend a four-year university. Victoria attended Markham Elementary in Oakland, California, but because Oakland Public Schools lacked the resources that she needed to be successful, Kim transferred her into the Dublin Unified School district where she attended Wells Middle School and Dublin High. While attending Dublin High School, Victoria received a lot of encouragement from her mother, but also from her high school counselor, Mrs. Rubio.

Victoria, being one of a few African Americans in her high school, saw that the odds were against her, primarily because of the fact that she was an black female attending a predominantly white school and of the African Americans that did graduate for Dublin High, few continued on to attend a four year university. Knowing all of this, Victoria strived to achieve despite what was against her. Although Victoria went through various hardships, some of which being that she was one of the few African Americans excelling in her high school, her father being in jail during the times where she really needed him, her little cousin being born and Victoria trying to be a role model to her, financial struggles, and the death of the back bone of her family, her great grandmother, she made it to college. Now attending Saint Mary’s College of California, she is working and studying to become a registered nurse in the neo natal intensive care unit.

Keywords: African-American, first generation, AVID, family

Victoria's great-grandfather and his grandchildren (Victoria's mother and her siblings)

Victoria and her mother

Victoria and Uncle Roy

Auntie Monique, Cousin Kelly, and Victoria

Auntie Monique, Cousin Kelly, and Victoria

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