The Neighborhood that has Direction with No Path.

 
Growing up in Tallahassee on the northside of town came with multiple advantages such as having the best education system and neighborhoods one could only dream of. As I look back I can understand the sense of pride and assurance my parents had with sending me to all blue ribbon schools. I can feel the peace of mind of them knowing that I could walk to school on a beautiful sidewalk all the way to and from school safe. During my morning walks to class, I never had to worry about car traffic because of the distance the sidewalk and the median that was provided for me. After my freshman year of high school, I transferred from Lawton Chiles to Amos. P Godby High School. My transition from one side of Tallahassee to the other was easy socially due to the fact that I was able to adjust and make new friends. I was able to encounter a variety of people and learn about the struggles that they have to face daily. Instead of talks about what was going to be on the next test, I suddenly found myself talking about solutions to how my friends could find his or her next meal. I began to grasp how the simple things in life I took for granted, another person dreamed for. Fortunately, I was able to go off to college on a full scholarship and chase my dream as a professional in football. Currently, that journey is on pause and I have found my way back home. I am 24 years old now and after spending the last 5 years 400 miles south in the prestigious paradise of Boca Raton, FL, I have found a new perspective . I am currently working just 2 miles from my former high school, at Enterprise. Everyday I get frustrated as I drive pass Amos P Godby High School. Frustrated how students are at danger of falling into heavy traffic when school begins and lets out. I constantly see kids just barley walking inches away from traffic on a path created by years of struggle and solitude. In addition, at night the path’s only source of light is the beams from oncoming traffic. I had hopes that when I returned home these simple adjustments would have been made in order to help direct and protect the youth of our great city. I cannot imagine the dread of a child who is unable to wear their new pair of shoes due to the risk of getting them ruined by the muddy path on their journey to and from school. I cannot imagine the little girl who can never wear her favorite outfit to school because she knows the debris from traffic inches away could ruin her outfit at any moment.  When is this change going to be made? What does it take for the kids that live off of Tharpe Street to be awarded the same opportunity to make it to and from school safely as I did growing up? Most importantly, why hasn't the maintenance on these sidewalks been kept up to date for the safety of our community? Each and every morning the youth risk their lives at the right to an education. When are the parents of Tharpe street going to be able to feel the same security my parents had when they left their child to walk to school? This letter is to be the voice for the kids that have direction but no path.