You see, often times we don’t realize greatness until folks have passed away. Legacies aren’t cemented until decades later when society decides if a trailblazer really accomplished something noteworthy or not. That’s NOT what I have made up in my mind is going to happen when it comes to Colin Kaepernick. This young man sacrificed his NFL career to stand up for something he, and millions of other people, believe is injustice and discrimination on behalf of rich, white America. Whether intentionally or not, Kaepernick made a decision to kneel for the National Anthem and in turn, speak up for those who don’t have a voice. He lost his job for it.
What he may not have realized was that he inspired generations of activists and forced thousands, if not millions, of people to face the hard truths about America and society as a whole. Why do folks get behind women’s rights movements and gay issues, but stay silent on black issues? You can say, oh he should be quiet, he’s making millions. But I see it a bit different. Yes, he’s making millions, but Kaepernick also has a platform: Scream young king! Let your voice be heard everywhere. For every professional athlete making a substantial income, there are hundreds of thousands of people of color living in poverty, in a disadvantaged position. 
Kaepernick is a black man with a white mother who knows a little more than most how color can play a role in someone’s life and their maturation and development. Kaepernick is my fraternity brother in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., an organization founded on the campus of Indiana University in 1911 when brothers had to stick together because the bond was all they had against racism, discrimination and bigotry. 
Kaepernick isn’t perfect nor does he have to be. Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t have a perfect life, but I would challenge anyone to say his impact was less received.
Kaepernick represents integrity, boldness and power in the face of adversity. He represents representation and accountability. Kaepernick represents being black in a white America. Kaepernick represents me. Life hasn’t been peaches and cream for anyone that I know and it likely will never be. But who’s to stop you or I in this lifetime from making it a better place. Each and every day as Kaepernick has been ostracized from the NFL and fights for rights for all, each and every one of us can figure out a way to fight in our lives. Kaepernick was just a football hero, but now he is a living pioneer.

What are New Years Resolutions really made of? Each and every year millions upon millions of people create lists and bullet points of things they will do or won’t do for a new year. It’s become somewhat of tradition that as the Earth completes an orbit it means humans need to drastically change something in their life. For the past few years I’ve made it a point not to have resolutions, but to achieve across the board. It’s gone well, but in the spirit of evolution I am ready to take things to a new level. While I don’t believe in a designated day to change something about your life that you could have begun last week or last month, I do believe in the power of speaking things into existence, writing them down and holding yourself accountable. 
That’s why this year I am completing both a list of quarterly goals and a vision board. I want to always push myself to be the best me socially, professionally and spiritually. 
For each goal that I write down I will be sure that each is attainable, but I will also push myself to accomplish some reaches and I will be diligent to add detail. For example, with the rise of cryptocurrency and general stock market I want to invest $1,250 quarterly total. I want to continue to invest in my future. To do so I will learn more about investing and more about different stocks in order to make sure I am making smart and calculated risks. Additionally, in making a vision board I want to see where I am and where I want to go on a daily basis. The truth is, I will never consider myself normal or ordinary in any way and I feel it's to important to me to take the necessary steps to make sure this happens.
My 2018 New Years Resolution is to be conscious of seeing and believing the best be in all aspect of my life. This is something that will not maybe happen, but it WILL happen all year long.