As Antwone prepares to graduate early this spring, he reflects on his journey and the obstacles he overcame to reach this moment. Antwone admits that part of this journey was separating himself from those whose vision of the future didn’t align with his. “I was surrounded by negative people who didn’t want the best for me,” he says. They wanted to see him act out of anger, but he knew that was not sustainable for a positive future.

Antwone met his CIS Specialist, Mr. Nobles, when he arrived at Alger B. Wilkins High School. “He is a guy who takes care of business,” Antwone says about Mr. Nobles. “He knows the things he wants to accomplish and lays out a plan to make sure it happens”. That approach helped Antwone view school more positively—the reassurance that if he develops a plan and sticks to it, he, too, can accomplish his goals.

Mr. Nobles believes in Antwone and knows that he possesses the skills to do whatever he puts his mind to. He recently invited him to speak at CIS Cumberland’s annual Have a Heart Breakfast, adding public speaking to his list of obstacles he has overcome.

“He’s a smart, brilliant kid. Anytime he walks into the room, his personality automatically takes over. He’s going places,” says Mr. Nobles.

With his support, Antwone now has a clear vision for his future and has already made a bold step into the workforce by starting two businesses of his own. The first is a lawn care business. It’s a subject Antwone was already knowledgeable about, and a way to make a positive impact in the beautification of the community. He also has a car detailing business, providing a full list of services to clients to ensure they arrive in style. His ambition doesn’t stop there. His ultimate career goal is to work in e-commerce and trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

Antwone is incredibly thankful for the support he has received from Communities In Schools. His message to his peers, “Don’t lose sight of your goal just because something gets in your way. If you really want to achieve it, you should persevere and push through it.”