My name is Antonio Rattley. I was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and started attending Carter G. Woodson School in the year 2007. Carter G. Woodson school has a very unique atmosphere, where students have the room, opportunity, and time to become the best version of themselves. Attending Carter G. Woodson gave me the green light to be the best at being myself.

While attending the school I became well acquainted with a plethora of programs, but most notably, the music program with Mr. Hinson. Music became my safe haven, a place where I could get away from the harsh noise around me and make a new one. I also utilized the art form of poetry to ignite a different path in my life, with the help of Mr. Elliot Miley. As follows are some of the accomplishments while attending Twin City Youth Poetry Slam Champion (beating out the present Winston-Salem Youth Poet Laureate), Gate City Youth Poetry Team 2 years competing in Brave New Voices National Youth Poetry Slam, Captain Eagle Poetry Slam Team (3 years held 2 of the top 3 spots in the Triad), Member of “Authoring Action” performance troupe I participated in an educational trip to EAST AFRICA funded by Carter G. Woodson Board and Administrators. I was able to explore Africa with 10 of my school mates for almost a month. We learned so much from interacting with the people in the village and wonderful house hosts. Awesome experience!

As adulthood was quickly approaching, a decision on what I was going to do for the rest of my life had to be made. I was accepted into multiple universities, stuck between whether I wanted to continue my education as an in-state student or venture away. There was a beautiful force that drove me to the 4th largest Historically Black College in the United States Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. I enjoyed the musical culture that we failed to have here in North Carolina and wanted to continue my academic life there. I am currently a sophomore in college and can’t be more proud of myself. Despite what society thought I would become by the age of 20, I continue to beat the odds.