From Football to Cisco – Dreams Can Change – Cisco Blogs

Goals, we all have them. But what if, after achieving you your goals, your dreams change? And how do you even reach a goal to begin with? For me, it took a lot of hard work, dedication, and persistence. But it is exactly those things that led me to becoming a Project Specialist at Cisco for our Customer Experience (CX) team.

At a young age, I was built up with so much resentment. I felt like two different people – “Kirk” or “Jr” at home was respectful, quiet, and caring. Then there was “Kirkland” – the disrespectful, mean, overly aggressive (but intelligent) kid. Although my parents were separated, they did the best they could in raising me. The things I did growing up were not a result of what was going on at home but more so a lost soul trying to figure out who he wanted to become.

I started playing football in the fifth grade – and my life changed. At the time, I lived with my dad – who had previously played football and introduced me to the game. I knew it was a way to honor him, and my first season playing – I fell in love. I finally found something that helped release my built-up anger and express myself.

Unfortunately, when I returned to Durham, N.C. to live with my mom, the bad decisions and wrong influences all came back with me. Over the next two years, I lost track of how many times I was suspended or in detention. I found joy in hanging around the wrong individuals and doing things with no good intentions. I knew these actions weren’t me, but everyone else thought it was cool. Quite frankly, I was selfish.

It wouldn’t be until the seventh grade, where I would begin to learn my lesson when – for the thousandth time – my mother was called to the school after I had been suspended. The look on her face changed me forever and knowing that I had hurt her so deeply is what hurt me the most.

On the days I stayed home, I noticed the hours of hard work my mother was putting in to provide for our family – often working from 9AM to midnight. I would always try to wait up for her, and then fake being asleep as she’d come in to check on me so as not to get into trouble and sometimes, I would hear her cry.

I knew she was tired, and that rarely – if ever – did she get a moment for herself. I also knew money was tight, but she made every day the best she could for us kids. Seeing this brought tears to my eyes, and I knew I had to change myself, my actions, and my perspective – so that I could change the path of my future.

This realization brought me back to football. I knew furthering my education meant the world to my mom, and I thought football might help me to get a scholarship and pay for college. So, at 12-years-old my first goal was made – football was going to be my way out.

As I entered high school, I became the best student I could be – no more trouble or bad decision – I even gained 40 pounds going into my sophomore year! I was determined to do whatever it took to get a scholarship, and as my seasons progressed, I gained more recognition and awards than I expected. The notary was great, but there was one thing missing – a scholarship.

At the end of my junior year, I had spoken to hundreds of coaches, received plenty of letters and invites – but still no scholarship money. With one year left to achieve my goal, I wasn’t about to give up. My senior year was unlike any other, but when the season ended, I felt I had nothing to show for it.

Then, on December 7, 2016 – the phone rang, and my life changed again. It was Fayetteville State University. I finally had my scholarship! My mom and I both cried that day, realizing I had finally achieved my goal.

I played football for my dad, but I went to school for my mom. And it felt so good to be able to give her this gift.

During my freshman year of college, I had a lot of playing time but felt lost again. The goal I had set four years prior of playing football at a higher level was accomplished – now what? What was my next dream?

After an injury ended my season, I knew I needed a life beyond football. My football mentor at the time worked at Cisco – I had never heard of the company before, but he made it seem like a dream company to work for. I wanted in on that dream, too.

After football season ended, I left Fayetteville State University and transferred to the illustrious North Carolina A&T State University. There was no more football. I had bigger dreams.

Over the next four years, I applied to Cisco over 15 times for different positions and was turned down every time. I certainly had my doubts that perhaps this wasn’t the company for me, that maybe Cisco was just too far outside my reach. But during my senior year of college, I thought I’d apply just one last time – and I made it to Cisco Day but folded under the pressure.

I was trying so hard to be what I thought Cisco wanted me to be – that I failed to realize what Cisco wanted was me.

January 2021, I received an email inviting me to apply for another role at Cisco. I said to myself, “I know this isn’t going to work, but let me try this one last time.”

This time, I committed to being my authentic self, knowing that if they could not accept that – then this just wasn’t the company for me. I made it to Cisco Day again, and when I saw the date, I panicked a bit as I was going to be traveling on that day! But I made it work, and at the end of the day, I knew I had given it my all and showed up as the one and only Kirkland.

On March 19, 2021, my mother’s birthday, I received the email I had been waiting for – Congratulations, you are now a Cisconian!

At that moment, another goal was achieved. It took me four years to achieve my goal of landing a football scholarship, and it took me four years to achieve my goal in becoming a Cisconian. I knew right then and there that, no matter what you are doing in life, no matter how long it takes you – you can achieve whatever it is you put your mind to! And, yes, it is okay for your goals and dreams to change – because that is how you wind up exactly where the world needs you most.

Ready to join our teams? Check out our careers.

Subscribe to the We Are Cisco Blog

Share: