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    • Click to view Agrenney's profile
    Posted January 28, 2013 by
    Agrenney
    Location
    Sedalia, Colorado
    Assignment
    Assignment
    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    Girls + Education: Your message

    More iReports you should see

    Overcoming Obstacles

    By Agrenney  |  Posted January 28, 2013  |  Sedalia, Colorado
     
    From the very first day I began school I had an awareness that my brain worked a bit differently from my peers. In second grade, my different brain function was officially labeled with three rare learning disabilities. This resulted in hours of before and afterschool tutoring, summers of additional reading remediation and extra time for any academic task. Every year the team of learning specialists would meet with my parents and myself to discuss “my prognosis”. The specialist did not believe I could ever be successful in an academic setting because of how differently my brain works, they claimed I would likely not finish high school and therefore likely not go to college. This was a startling “prognosis” in the American culture where the standard is obtaining a college degree. The Specialist may have had an understanding of my different brain function but they did not understand how great my hunger for learning is and how I embody determination.

    Thankfully several people recognized my tenacity and desire for learning. These individuals gave me the most powerful gift I have ever been given, they believed in me. Their belief in me to overcome the obstacles to obtaining an education was what fueled me to succeed. I graduated top of my high school class and went on to earn Magna Cum Laude from the University of Denver. This was not an easy journey by any means, but I deeply believe in the power of education.
    Today, I hope to give back the most powerful gift I have ever received to other girls who face obstacles to education. I am the founder of EduKate, a socially conscious business that’s mission is to empower girls through education to become more effective global citizens. Profits from the sale of a Colorado made tote bag go to support girls’ education in areas of need globally. I founded this company because I believe educating girls is the foundation for creating positive change in our global community. EduKate is about supporting girls in obtaining an education so that they can solve community issues, implement solutions and pass the knowledge on to the next generation. The tote bag is a symbol of a community that values and believes in girls’ education. It is time for us to support girls in fulfilling their dreams of earning an education. I want to support other girls in overcoming their obstacle to education!

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