Destiny Nelson-Miles

Destiny’s Story

Who says you can’t grow roses in concrete? Throughout my life, I have seen things grow in the most unlikely places. Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF) is a non-profit organization in Birmingham that uses urban farming to teach students about science, health, and business. My time at JVTF started in elementary school, and during my junior year of high school I was offered an internship position at their Woodlawn High School site. From preparing soil on the acre of land behind my inner-city high school to harvesting the produce to be donated to local food drives, JVTF is where my roots began to grow strong and where I became aware of the adversities I had been fighting all along.
Before JVTF, the concrete around me was so overbearing that it seemed there was only darkness. I am the youngest of five children, and with only my mom on whom to rely, resources in our family became strained. Ever since I was a young child, my mother struggled to financially support each of our interests and hobbies. This pushed me to focus on academics and make a quiet promise to never add to the financial burdens already weighing heavily on my mom. Working hard in school was a fulfilling pursuit that not only helped me grow intellectually, but also provided a cost-free sense of stability and accomplishment.
When I became involved with JVTF at age 11, it was like endless sidewalks that surrounded me opened up, revealing a new world. I remember the exact moment I was transformed—our class was putting on our protective gear to go outside and learn about plant reproduction and the roles of pollinators. Seeing how the natural world around me worked amazed me so much that I joined JVTF after-school activities.  Learning how to cultivate foundations for the growth of the seeds I sowed taught me that hard work and patience allows life to prosper.
Experiencing the growth that was possible on the farm allowed the sunlight to fill my spirit and warm my life. The promise I made to myself and to my mom fed my drive and was reflected in my academics. As my academics became more advanced, my access to the internet, which my family could not afford, became an obstacle. So, I stayed after school each day, using the school’s Wi-Fi to complete my homework. The lack of this new necessity became more prominent when I was admitted into the Early College Program at my high school. Taking courses at the University of Alabama at Birmingham not only required more of my time, but an increase in my commitment to my education.
Working at JVTF has been a life-changing experience, but of all the duties and jobs on the farm, the most challenging for me is the public speaking that comes with giving tours. One day, the CEO of Alabama Peanut Company visited our site, and I was selected to give the tour. That experience alone has made me into the farmer I am today. Now in my senior year of high school, I am a Senior Farmer who teaches the new interns how to be effective employees. I am the person leading tours for most newcomers. I have become the person who shares her knowledge of farming, furthering the purpose of JVTF.
Like the rose growing through the cracks in the sidewalk, I, too, have great strength within me. I know that I cannot alter or change the circumstances that once overshadowed me, but I can give them credit for providing the perfect conditions for my growth. My family’s situation has given me strength, and my promise drives me forward. Like the rose in the sidewalk, I will continue to flourish in the face of adversities in every form. I have learned that being patient and trusting the process of growth can make something develop from nothing, into something beautiful.

Education

School: Woodlawn High School

Expected Graduation: May 2021

GPA: 4.17