Amiyah Murphy-Allison, a third-year UCF social work student, is rewriting her life story. The 20-year-old has endured more loss and hardships than most people her age, and at one point people in her community told her she would never amount to anything.
But thanks to loving friends and some adult role models, she came to learn that she is in charge of her future.
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Murphy-Allison 麻豆精品 S� the eldest child 麻豆精品 S� and her siblings were taken in by their maternal grandparents in Illinois. But less than two years after their adoption, Murphy-Allison 麻豆精品 S檚 grandfather died from lung cancer.
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Things began to turn around for Murphy-Allison with that conversation and when her grandmother announced that she and her grandchildren were moving to Florida to live together with family. It was a move that set Murphy-Allison on the path to success.
She also connected with a social worker whose therapy and compassion helped to turn her life around.
麻豆精品 S淐olleen [the social worker] would take my sister and me out for ice cream and just to see how things were going with us, 麻豆精品 S� Murphy-Allison said. 麻豆精品 S淪he made a very big impact on me and my siblings 麻豆精品 S� lives. 麻豆精品 S�
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Her new friends inspired friendly competition: Who could get the best grades was a popular game.
She discovered dual-enrollment 麻豆精品 S� a free program where Murphy-Allison was able to earn college credit hours while completing her high school education. She became involved with student council and sports, and graduated from her Tampa-area high school with a weighted 5.8 GPA.
Murphy-Allison was accepted by all 12 colleges to which she applied, but it was not hard to decide on UCF, she says. She was invited to attend at the end of her senior high school year, for a six-week academic, on-campus intensive program for students like Murphy-Allison who show exceptional promise and ability, and who can also benefit from the opportunities that the Access program provides, such as mentoring and additional academic preparation before attending university classes in the fall.
In her time at UCF, Murphy-Allison has continued to focus on her academics; a current goal is keeping her GPA at a level that will qualify her for the Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in Social Work advanced standing program. That program allows successful students to obtain their master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in social work in just one year.
In August, she was surprised to learn she was selected as the first recipient of a new scholarship created by College of Health Professions and Sciences Dean Christopher Ingersoll.
She is also involved in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 John T. Washington Honor Society, an organization that focuses on scholarship, community service, networking and raising the standard of education for African American students.
In addition, Murphy-Allison works in .
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