The following text is a book excerpt written in first person:

Chapter 4- The Unveiling: Borough of Manhattan Community College

     It would be impossible to forget the feeling that overcame me as I walked the halls of what would be for the next two years---my place of growth. To say that my experience here was life changing would be an understatement. It was as though a veil was removed from my eyes, and that I was now in a different world, filled with distinctive people and brand new circumstances.

     After my first class, as I stood in the hallway watching refined individuals of color, speak without the use of slang and dress appropriately, I was stunned. I watched professors glance, then smile at me as they walked by clutching their suitcases, headed to teach their next class or to mingle with their well put together colleagues. I noticed groups of people laugh, and converse while seeming to have what to me, was considered innocent fun. They carried themselves in a way that was unfamiliar to me as a black man. Their interactions were nothing like the ones I had with my close friends back home in the projects, but yet something about it felt safe--- and it intrigued me.

     One thing all of these people, young or old seemed to have in common, was the fact that they were on a mission. They had purpose, and a true sense of themselves, and here I stood; Dannis Dublin, six feet, and 250 pounds not sure of who I was or what I was even doing here. However, it was at that moment that I decided that I too, am on a mission and I’m going to chase after my purpose, that is not yet defined.

     The curriculum at B.M.C.C. consisted of tons of reading material. I had no prior history of college-level reading, but I had no choice but to delve into it. This is where the transitioning began. They say “reading is traveling without moving your feet”, and that is similar to the way my newfound love of reading was beginning to expand my mind and take me on a long-winded journey to higher education.

_____________________________________________________________________

The following text is written in third person.

Chapter 7- Confidence- The College of Staten Island

     It was August of 2008, a bright and beautiful day it was, in the parking lot at the College of Staten Island. Nothing could be heard besides the sound of car radios at respectful volumes, students discussing their courses, and a small group of Democrats handing out Barack Obama fliers, for the man, who was soon to become our first black president.

     Out of nowhere, a brand new, all black, fully loaded Range Rover drove into the parking lot blasting Young Jeezys’ new hit record, “My President is Black”. All of those in attendance, watched this figure get out of his car with amazement. With all of the swag in the world, there he was. From his head to his toes, everything he wore was new, crisp and fresh. As he retrieved his books out of the back seat of his car, he flashed a smile, full of shining platinum fronts, at the two ladies standing in the parking lot. They watched in amazement as his gold chains glistened, and the scent of his Dolce & Gabbana cologne rose into the air. Dannis Dublin has arrived. His aura was unmatched, and neither his presence nor his personality could be ignored.

     As Dannis walked around the College of Staten Island campus, he was taken aback. The campus was not only aesthetically pleasing, but it was huge and to his liking, filled with beautiful women. It was 204 acres, and the scenery was the complete opposite of B.M.C.C. On that warm, and promising August day, as he looked around and took a deep breath, he mumbled to himself “now this is something, I could get used to”.

     Majoring in Sociology seemed to be the best option for Dannis at the time. After researching and deliberating, he decided that in this lane he would become unstoppable. -----------