“At the beginning of 2020, I was excited to be in the last semester for my doctorate at Houston Baptist University. I was finalizing my dissertation to present in March after spring break, and looking forward to graduating in May. Then, during spring break, COVID-19 hit. Everyone was stopped in their tracks. Our campus closed, and students weren’t allowed to return.

“I was nervous that I would not be graduating after three years of research and writing my dissertation. I could not believe this was happening, and that I had no control over it. Thankfully, my dissertation chair agreed that I should move forward with my defense via Zoom. Thank God for technology. I was the first one in the history of HBU to defend my dissertation virtually. I was elated that my dream of achieving the highest level of education was near. My hope in humanity was restored, and I received my doctor of education degree in May as scheduled.

“With all that said, I encourage everyone who is contemplating pursuing their educational goals to take the first step and register for college. Times are tough out there, and many are being laid off. It’s time to find a career you have always wanted. A degree will open so many more doors of opportunity, and you will feel accomplished. As Marian Wright Edelman said, ‘Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.’

“So do not let COVID-19 deter you from following your dreams. It almost stopped me for a few weeks. But determination and preseverance won out.”

— Chris Trevino

Chris is a humanities professor at Lone Star College-Houston North Greenspoint. She hopes to move into an administrative role in the post-COVID-19 world.

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“I went to live with my grandparents when I was 13. They were like my parents. They raised me as their son. And I helped take care of them until the end. I would go with them to their appointments in Houston, and there were a lot of them. But I made sure they never missed them. They both passed away from cancer. My grandpa had thyroid cancer and my grandma had leukemia. It got them pretty fast.

“For a long time, I felt lost. It was kind of like when they cut a person’s finger off, they still think it’s there. They still feel it. I would wake up saying, ‘Hey, mama and papa,’ but they weren’t there. I was pretty sad for a while. But then I was like, you know, they’re not struggling anymore. They’re not suffering anymore. They wouldn’t want me to be sad. They would want me to continue trying to better myself in life.

“If you have a dream, you have to work to make it come true. It’s not going to happen just like that. People don’t sell houses sitting down. You’ve got to go out there and work for it. Sometimes it takes patience. Sometimes you have to go through hell and high water to reach your goal. But in the end, it will be worth it.”

— Barron Williams

The post He faces future with late grandparents’ inspiration appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“My personal, spiritual belief is that what God created so many of us to do, we’re not doing it. And until we do it, truthfully, I think we’re just miserable.

“There are so many people who have a dream to achieve something but don’t think they can get there. I want to help change that. I’m calling my project Create a Dream. I’m in the beginning stages right now.

“I think I’m meant to do this. I can honestly tell you it just keeps coming up. I’ve prayed with my husband about it: ‘Lord, if this is not something from you, then please just take it away.’ Well, it doesn’t go away.”

— Jennifer Hinkle

The post She wants to help people realize their dreams appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“Growing up in my family, we never really played basketball. Most of our ancestors played football. I even have a cousin in the NFL. His name is Charles Godfrey.

“It’s pretty awesome. It makes me feel like I can accomplish anything because if he can do something like that, just think what I can do.”

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Tell me about your hopes and dreams.

“I would like to go back to doing hair. I studied it at Lee College and used to work at a beauty salon. I stopped working when my daughter was little, but I still enjoy everything about it.”

“I have a dream. I want to be in the military and also, hopefully, get a degree to be a doctor. Doctors make good money, and I want to be in the military to help people.”

“I can’t think of any dreams right now.”

The post Everybody has hopes and dreams, don’t they? appeared first on The Baytown Project.