1. Emmanuel Ward 6 th period

2. Table of Contents  Cover page  Table of contents  Here I am  About ME  My people  My heritage  My name  My favorite things  Changing  Steps to change  Tomorrow

3. Emmanuel Ward October 11, 1994 18 years old Atlanta Class of ‘13 Benjamin E. Mays Here I Am

4. Who I Am I am….  Honest  Caring  Sensitive  Confident  Private  I LOVE… Helping people  I FEEL… Good about where I’m headed for the future  I FEAR… Being in a situation where I can’t do anything or I’m helpless  I NEED… To be more focused more consistently  I GIVE… All my effort or I try to  I WISH… The people closest to me live more comfortably

5. My People Grandparents: Lugene Roland Parents: Walter and Dianne Ward 3 Uncles 3 Aunts Siblings: Shantel and Christopher Ward, 1 older brother A lot of cousins

6. My Heritage My Father’s side… Starts off in a small country town in southern Georgia. He was born next to youngest in a full house that included his grandmother, grandfather, 5 sister and brothers and his mother. After his mother’s death at age 8 his family was split up in numerous Atlanta neighborhoods, landing him in Summerhill, or downtown Atlanta, with his uncle. After being used for his social security and accused of stealing, he ran away to his aunts house in Mechanicsville. My mother’s side… Starts off in the newly built Bowen Homes apartments in SW Atlanta. She was born next to last in a 1 bedroom apartment that included 1 mother and 6 children. Soon after, they moved into a new house on Lucile Avenue. While there she met my father.

7. My Name  Emmanuel is a Greek form of the Hebrew name Immanu'el, which means 'God with us.' The name first appears in a prophecy of Isaiah as the name of the son born of a virgin.  The name given to Christ as the deliverer of Judah prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 7:14, 8:8; Matt. 1:23).

8. My Favorite Things

9. Changing By age 25 I hope to have a well established way of income. I can now take care of my family financially. I’m single and I have no children. I’m a recent UGA graduate with a major in business embarking on my first big venture. I’m debating on staying in the Air Force for stability or taking a chance and going out on my own. I have my own condo and live alone, enjoying the time to myself. I take trips around the world every summer and this summer I’m considering Africa. I enjoy living the life I live and have little to no regrets. I plan on finding a soul mate before 30 and having a family by 33. My kids will have everything I didn’t have and my wife and I will be best friends. This is my ideal life.

10. Steps to Change Over the next 10 years… 1. I hope I find a better or comfortable way to live. 2. My work ethic must be spread out through multiple areas and not only 1. 3. I must think and plan for the future and not just live day to day. 4. I need to have more fun instead of stay to myself. 5. I must have more confidence in the decisions I make. 6. I must make better decisions. 7. I must take school more seriously. 8. I must take my health more seriously. 9. I could come across with a more serious attitude. 10. Be a more positive thinker.

11. Tomorrow Dear friend… since we last spoke on graduation night. I have gone on to achieve things far greater than I’ve ever imagined. That summer I made the decision to join the Air Force after I learned of all of the traveling. I saw the world my first 3 years and then was given the opportunity of a free education. I took advantage of it and attended UGA part time and graduated in 6 years with a doctorate in business. I have several successful businesses in the area I grew up in. Whether you know it or not, you’ve had a big part in my success also. Whenever I feel discouraged I think of your encouraging words back in high school. I remember you saying you always dreamt of being a teacher and I hope those dreams have come in fruition. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Your friend, Emmanuel