Whatever the challenge may be, don’t give up!

It was my senior year in high school, and at the time I was going to be a credit short of graduating with my class. I had slacked off pretty much my whole freshmen and sophomore year, and my grades paid the price. After a lot of pleading to my mom she was convinced enough to move me to the school across town so that I could concentrate on my school work and not be In such a bad environment. I felt at that point that I may have a chance of actually graduating high school and going to college one day. Yet on the other hand I knew of all the work I had to do to get there. Since neither of my parents graduated from high school it was very important, especially to my dad, that I do this.

Not only did my parents get me a tutor, but I had to attend two straight years of summer school to catch up with the rest of my class. I was doing everything in my power to pass my classes. I spoke with my father every day almost, listening tell me how important it was for me to pass my classes and graduate high school so that I could make something of my self one day.

During my senior year I found out that I would come up a few credits short and there may be nothing I could do about it but graduate during the summer. When the thought sank in , I broke out in tears. I knew I had worked too hard for this, not to be able to walk with my friends that I had grown up with. But there was that someone in my head that kept pushing me harder and harder to achieve that goal. It was my dad. I knew if nothing at this point I had to do it for my dad. I sat down with my counselor and we found a program called 7th period at a school near by that I would have to go once a week to this class my final semester to walk with my friends.

Needless to say the hard work and many hours of studying, and hours of lecturing by my parents finally paid off. The day I was supposed to walk I didn’t know if I had passed, until they called my name out at the pre-graduation ceremony. My heart sank again for a moment, but this time in happiness. After I graduated and drove home that night I met my dad waiting for me in the driveway. As I handed him my diploma his eyes filled up with tears. He looked at me and total me that he loved me and was so very proud of me. That was the moment that I found out that he had never received a diploma himself, and with his encouragement made sure that his son would.