By Breiana Herr –
For a teen deep in trouble, it can be hard to turn your life around.
Allante Floyd, a Penn Manor senior, is working to turn around his reputation and his life.
Floyd, originally from North Philadelphia’s William Tennent High School, is happy to be working toward his goals at Penn Manor.
“There is nothing wrong with William Tennent High School, it’s a great learning environment but it’s boring in my opinion,” Floyd said.
Floyd’s parents passed away nine years ago, leaving his grandmother to raise him and his brother Rakim Herman.
“I was torn, lost every care and became rebellious,” Floyd said. “My turning point took place when I was incarcerated.”
Floyd said he was arrested multiple times on serious charges and went to several schools as he continued to be expelled for bad behavior.
Even then Floyd said he wasn’t ready to make the changes he needed.
It took one final run-in with the law before he realized he should be headed in a different direction.
“I wasn’t that scared, I felt like it was a part of becoming a man and I prepared myself mentally the best I could,” recalled Floyd. “Being in a jail cell is very boring, it allows you to think, read and become crafty.”
Floyd said he noticed the people who were locked up didn’t seem to have a care in the world except getting out and doing more of the same activities that got them there in the first place.
Floyd decided being in jail wasn’t somewhere he wanted to be. He knew it wasn’t too late to make a positive change in his life.
“I now understand the importance of education, and now I value its power,” said Floyd.
Recently Floyd got his own apartment in Millersville with his brother, Rakim, where they intend to start their new life while his brother attends Millersville University.
Floyd said his brother has a big influence on him because he takes education very seriously and enjoys helping people. He is the only person that Floyd looks up to.
“He has my best interest at heart, so I trust him,” Floyd said.
They decided to grow up and take on the responsibilities of paying rent, buying food and clothing as well as other necessities. Floyd has to keep his apartment clean and his brother works at the admission’s office on campus.
“Coming to Penn Manor, my mindset was putting my education first,” said Floyd. “I wasn’t worried about fitting in or making friends. I just want to graduate and further my education at a four-year university.”
The number one school Floyd would like to attend is Millersville, where he wants to major in business management or accounting. If Floyd doesn’t get accepted in Millersville he would like to attend Penn State, West Chester University or Shippensburg.
Floyd said he wants to stay out of trouble and keep his life on the right path, so he can be successful out of college and get a good job to make money and start a family of his own.
The most important thing he has learned through all his experiences, said Floyd, is that the future holds many possibilities for him. He said he bleieves in the value of hard work and appreciates the opportunities that the future holds for him.