Maurice St. Matthews is a young man with dreams and aspirations. At age twenty-eight, Maurice has had his number of setbacks and hardships. For four years, Maurice attended a community college in the triangle district of Manhattan, studying Communication Studies. Initially, Maurice wanted to become a news anchor, then he wanted to run his own magazine (Phace), to eventually wanting to pursue writing. Put on academic dismissal/probation (for the second time), Maurice decides to leave college behind, only having forty credits to his name.
As of February 2023, Maurice is twenty-eight. Not being a registered student or being inside a classroom in five years, Maurice is a self-taught individual. It's safe to say that Maurice has more blog pages than college credits. Self-employed, Maurice takes great pride in his craft and is always eager to learn and educate himself. Political and social commentary is Maurice's field of comfort. However, Maurice's resolution for this year is to get deeper into storytelling. Although Maurice has done short stories in the past, he hasn't written shorts on a consistent basis. So far, Maurice has two installments for a series titled Brothers in Arms.
On July 18, 2021, Maurice gave his life to Christ and was baptized. Twenty-six was the age where Maurice came to the realization that some of the battles he had fought were spiritual. Witnessing his conversion were members of the church who watched Maurice grow up over the years. Once going down in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins, Maurice was given a pamphlet and a Bible. Leaving the church of his childhood, Maurice and his family drove back home snacking on the chips of their choice. During his walk with the Lord the only one that knows where things will start and end is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2019 was a prosperous year for Maurice. At only twenty-five, Maurice had laid the groundwork for what he wanted his work to stand for. Having two hands full of blog series to his name, Maurice had proved to everyone that he can hold his own. Close friends and family of Maurice were his key base for support. Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest were the platforms that Blogger provided Maurice with the global audience he needed. Eyes set on a new decade, Maurice may not had known what was to come, but he knew that great things were on its way.
January 29, 2018, the world that Maurice once knew was no more. No degree. No job. No source of income. Maurice had a lot to think about. Maurice's fall from grace was a tough lesson that resulted in the exposure of the true colors of those close to him. Sometime in August of this year, Maurice's mother and two younger siblings took a trip to Vermont. This gave Maurice a chance to clear his head and freely leave his house for inspiration. During this week of free time, Maurice went to visit an old high school friend, Nate. It was sitting in Nate's living room where Maurice found out that everybody has their struggles. Leaving Nate's house, Maurice goes on his way to the Frederick Douglass Library to return How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind by Thomas C. Oden (2007). Sure, he was twenty-three and had time on his side, but man gets desperate when he can't find his way in the world.
Rochelle Boroughs was light skinned and wore long braids. She was a quiet girl that kept to herself and chatted on her phone with whoever. Rochelle was smart and knew what she wanted. Both Rochelle and Maurice met each other while taking the same Psychology course at APRCC (A. Philip Randolph Community College). Out of all the females Maurice had encountered while in college, Rochelle lit the fire in his desire. However, Maurice didn't talk to Rochelle much, besides doing small things to get her attention. Mustering up the courage to approach Rochelle came in May of the 2015 Spring Semester. Spotting Rochelle sitting between two classrooms, Maurice tries to work the little magic he had in him. He started off asking Rochelle for advice he wanted to give a friend who wanted to attract a young lady. Rochelle told Maurice what this friend should do. Maurice response back by saying, "that's the way I feel about you." Rochelle blushes and mentioned how sweet Maurice was. By the next class, Maurice saw Rochelle sitting quietly to herself. Tapping her on the shoulder, Maurice gave Rochelle a letter with the lyrics to Musiq Soulchild's Love (Aijuswanaseing-2000) attached to it. Surprisingly, Maurice's declaration of love took Rochelle aback, causing her to jet down the nearest staircase and call a close friend/kin. Neither person was the same after this took place. Rochelle was so distraught that she didn't attend or take the final exam on the last day of class (nor did she have to). Maurice would take the absentee/celibate route at only twenty years of age. His relations with females were never the best, but this incident with Rochelle broke the camel's back. Maurice and Rochelle would never cross paths again, but her light skin and long braids haunts him in his dreams.
Everyday Maurice continues to put the pieces of his life together as if they are parts of a puzzle. On his left stands every decision and action Maurice has made in the past. On his right stands the plans and aspirations Maurice has for the future. Holding his head up high and using both legs to walk forward, Maurice has work to do. With help from the Lord and his self-determination, it's up to Maurice to lay the foundation.
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