Claflin senior is ‘Sole Survivor’

Being an aneurysm survivor has not stopped Amber Dove from her dreams of being a certified public accountant. (Panther photo by NyQuasia Murray)

She begins her day by preparing for school and arrives at Claflin University on Tuesdays and Thursdays at about 8:30 a.m.

Being an off-campus student is easier for her because she only has classes on those two days, being that graduation is near.

She began her journey at Claflin a semester late because she is a “Sole Survivor.”

On March 17, 2013, Amber Dove blacked out because of a brain aneurysm. She went directly into emergency surgery.

She was paralyzed on the right side. She couldn’t speak, eat or walk. Her therapist started her off at a second-grade level.

Dove said, “I did not have a skull on my head after I was released from the hospital or even when I walked across the stage to receive my high school diploma.”

Being an aneurysm survivor does not stop her from her dreams of being a certified public accountant.

“After my aneurysm, college was difficult and I wanted to give up my freshman year,” Dove said. “It was very hard for me to comprehend.”

She always had a passion for business even before she fell sick. She was an active FBLA member and is now a current member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity Inc.

Dove has a passion for children, but she made it clear that teaching is not for her. She loves to shop, read and travel. And laughing is like a hobby.

 Her motto is: “I will never give up because the Lord never gave up on me.”

Seeing other people being successful motivates her, especially her family and friends. They provide that extra push that she needs in order to decrease her stress level.

After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school. She has multiple offers.

 “When I complete graduate school, I will take the exam to be a certified managerial accountant.”