Catherine's father greatly influenced her to pursue her dreams of becoming an entertainer like him. Though she lost her way in her teenage years due to outside pressures, her father continued encouraging her to follow her passions. After his death, Catherine was inspired to honor his memory by graduating from film school. She is now pursuing her dreams of becoming a positive influence for young people through media.

1. MY MCBS STORY
By Catherine Oduke

2. My journey has been eventful,
discovering who I am, and what I
want to be, has been an interesting
emotional roller coaster.

3. My father is my greatest influence,
he always told me education is the
key and it will open great doors for
me.

4. He was not an entertainer but he commanded a
room, he had such a great personality, he was
always the life of any party and a great dancer.

5. He was a great story teller, he was funny and he
didn’t need a mic to get peoples attention, once
he entered a room people would gravitate
towards him naturally.

6. He had a powerful voice, and if he was
on camera or had a mic, every body
would be glued to him, and nothing he
did was scripted.

7. I was always blown away, I
told myself when I grow
up I want to be just like
him.

8. We loved recording ourselves especially on
birthdays, and when we listened to it later it
sounded like a real show, I knew this is exactly
what I wanted to do.

9. As I entered my teen years I lost track of
who I am, it’s so ironic how, in the midst of
discovering myself I lost my way.

10. I was changing and I felt I
had no control, I felt
misunderstood, insecure, I
felt different.

11. I thought I needed to be a certain way to
be accepted, so I emulated what I saw on
TV, and the Media greatly influenced my
life negatively.

12. When I finished high school I was lost,
I didn’t know what I wanted anymore,
I kept putting my dreams on hold,

13. I was un happy and I was not headed to a great path,
I started working full time, in a job I didn’t like.

14. My dad never gave up on me, he always encouraged
me to go back to school, he believed in me and
always said I shouldn’t be afraid to stand out.

15. Just because I don’t do things like
everybody else doesn’t mean there is
something wrong with me.

16. He constantly
reminded me the
world is at my
finger tips, and
loved to say “the
ball is in your court,
what are you going
to do with it?”

17. He encouraged me to do what I love, and not
settle. He couldn’t wait to see me graduate,
he was so excited.

18. Unfortunately he died before I went back to school.

19. I felt like my world was coming to an end, my
best friend, my role model, my number one fan
was gone.

20. There were times I felt I would never make
it, but I kept hearing my Dad's voice saying ”
Don’t be afraid to stand out, be you, show the
world what your made of.

21. These words kept replaying in my
mind like a record.

22. One day I was watching a documentary on PBS called
Merchants of the cool, it displayed how media
purposely misleads young people, it was an eye opener,
I realized that’s me and many other young people.

23. With the help of my parents who never gave up
on me and God, I changed my life, and wanted to
be a positive voice for young people, I decided to
go back to school, so I can achieve this goal.

24. I joined Full Sail University and I am living
my dreams. My job is a daily reminder of
why I need to follow my dreams.

25. I also want to make my father proud, he wanted
the best for me and paved the way so I can
succeed, and I have faith God will get me through.

26. I have found my way, I am passionately
pursuing my dreams, and elated I will be
graduating on July 1 2016, and finally
doing what I love.

27. Looking at my classmates stories I realized each
of them has been through a lot, every one had a
moment where they were at the bottom,

28. but they didn’t give up they pushed and pushed to have a better life.

29. They were lost for a little while but they found their way.

30. I am inspired by each of their stories and
I draw strength from them, I want to
encourage them and remind them

31. "All our dreams can come
true if we have the courage
to pursue them.” Walt
Disney.

32. Keep dreaming until your dreams come true, and if you
love what you do you will never work a day in your life.

33. TO BE CONTINUED