Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, to Jerry and Mallie Robinson, both sharecroppers. In 1920, after her father left the family, Jackie, her mother, and her four older siblings moved to Pasadena, California. In 1935, Jackie graduated from Washington Junior High School and entered John Muir High School. In high school, he played various varsity sports and learned football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. After graduating from high school, he transferred to UCLA where he became the school's first athlete in varsity football, basketball, baseball and track and field. In 1942, Jackie was drafted and assigned to a separate Army Calvary unit at Fort Riley, Kansas. At Fort Riley, there was an Officer Candidate School (OCS) to which he and several other black soldiers applied for admission. Although the guidelines stated that the OCS was race neutral, few black applicants were admitted and many applications, including those of Jackie and her colleagues, were delayed for several months. He was finally admitted when heavyweight boxing champion Joe Lewis and Truman Gibson protested. At that time, Lewis was stationed at Fort Riley and Gibson was deputy civilian assistant to the Secretary of War. Jackie graduated from OCS on January 28, 1943 with the rank of second lieutenant and later became engaged to Rachel Isum, whom he met when he was a senior and she was a freshman at the 'UCLA. The couple would eventually have three children, and all but one would survive their father. On April 15, 1947, at the age of 28, he changed baseball forever by becoming the first African American to play in the major leagues. That fateful day he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in front of a crow... middle of paper ...... thanks to my courage and willpower. Every time I wanted to end my life, I was strong enough to overcome the urge. I was determined and persistent in my desire to destroy my stutter and my accent, and I finally succeeded. Even though I have defeated the oppressors, there are still times when I believe what has been said about me is true. When these moments arise, I remind myself that even though in times of weakness I may think I'm worthless, someone cares about me. In the same way that Jackie Robinson always remained true to himself and his own personal values. , I too strive to stay true to myself and my personal values. I hope everyone realizes, as I do, that no matter how bleak things may seem right now, there will always be a glimmer of courage to guide us as we overcome adversity, as long as we're going the way of Jackie Robinson..