Share the Dream: My Life, My Focus, My Goal Share the Dream: My Life, My Focus, My Goal: Geddis, Calvin

Share the Dream essay by Calvin Geddis

Hi, my name is Calvin Geddis. I’m 18 years old and was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. I come from a family that has dedicated their lives to God, which makes me a pastor’s grandchild, an elder’s son, and a musician. I am half Haitian and half African American, but I was never very close to my Haitian side of the family, so I never learned to speak Creole. A little bit about my story — when I was 11 years old, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. This condition unexpectedly paralyzed my body from the neck down. I had to learn how to walk, talk, and live life like a normal kid again. It was something that should’ve taken four years to recover from, but I believe it was God who healed me in just four months! Ever since then, I’ve known that God has a purpose for my life. The reason I chose to enroll at UMass Dartmouth is because of my uncle. He attended UMass Dartmouth a few years ago and earned his master’s degree in business management, a major I’m also very interested in. He recommended the school to me, and now I’m pursuing my own degree here. My goals for this journey are to build strong connections, develop discipline, and gain skills that will help me succeed in the future. After I graduate, I plan to earn my real estate license and become a real estate broker. I also hope to go back to school for theology and see where God leads me through that path. When I achieve my goal of earning a master’s degree in business management and obtaining my real estate license, I plan to join my father who is already a realtor to buy, flip, sell, or rent houses. Together, we could start a business in real estate. Alongside that, I plan to take online theology classes to earn a degree in theology, with hopes of becoming a chaplain, a pastor, or helping my church grow with a fresh perspective on faith. I believe I can make a real difference in people’s lives through real estate by helping families in my community find affordable housing and through ministry, by helping those struggling with anxiety, depression, or addiction find peace in God.  I truly believe God has a plan for my life, and I’m looking forward to seeing it come to pass