Education Freed Me

Poor, no role models, surrounded by bad influences, barely graduated high school, and married at 19. The path to nowhere was before me but I refused to take it.

Since I was a child I had the deep rooted belief that education was the key to a better life. Perhaps it was manifested by all the adults around me who told me so: teachers, parents, administrators. The biggest influences on my quest for education, however, were the books I read. I was an avid reader I often times read of people who were successful because of their education. I knew neither of my parents went to college, my mom never even graduated high school, but I was still fascinated by it. I liked going to school and thought I would go forever if I could.

High school came and things changed for me. My classes didn’t come as easy and my work ethic began to lessen. My 9th grade English teacher had “Knowledge is Power” written in graffiti on the brick wall in his classroom. I still believed this maxim, but it seemed so far away now.

By my sophomore year I was working because I had to, not because I wanted to. I had to earn money to buy the little things like makeup, shampoo and conditioner, and clothes. I had to take the public bus from my high school to my job and would get home late. Homework didn’t seem as important and I probably hadn’t read a book that year; there just wasn’t enough time.

My independence grew my junior year and I began to skip school, missing more days than I attended. I had always been good in school, trustworthy, and reliable. My parents assumed I was going to school and doing well. Reality kicked in when I received no credit for half of my classes and had to make them up in summer school and during my senior year. Luckily, I made up my credits and with the final grade and signature of my biology teacher (C-) I graduated with the class of 2001.

I decided to take a year off from school as I continued to work at a local grocery store. My SAT scores were abysmal and college seemed so far away. My co-workers who were journeymen – “lifers” they liked to call themselves – saw my potential and told me to go back to school. They said money isn’t important, but being happy in your work is. Knowledge is power found itself back into my life. I enrolled in the local community college the following year and thought I was on my way.

Love has a way of side tracking us and so I got married at 19 and took a semester away from school. Let’s just say I was forced to due to abusive instances in my young marriage. School took the back burner but that relationship taught me something – I was happiest when I was learning! Even math and science became fascinating and my love for the written word was rekindled.

I believe education freed me from that unhealthy relationship and kept me going when I thought I couldn’t. When I was at school my worries disappeared and I felt safe and secure around others who also valued education. I left that marriage, transferred to the university and graduated in 2010, nine years after I graduated high school. It took me longer than I expected but I did it. I now teach high school English and try to lead by example, showing my students that even when times get tough, the tough get going. Knowledge is power and through it wonderful things can be accomplished, lives can be saved, and freedom found. This, I believe!