The Home Stretch

After all the hustle and bustle of Christmas time and the closing  out of 2018, I spent most of New Year’s day reflecting on just how far I’ve come. Memory takes me back to a time when my oldest was preparing to go to college. The closer it got to that time, the more nervous I became. So many questions to be answered. Where would he go? Would he be accepted? How would I afford to send him?  I had known so many children to start college and never finish. It was important to me that they all go and they all finish. I think that college is important step in  growing up. It’s a time when you really start separating yourself from your family unit, and more importantly, begin to make decisions on your own, being truly responsible for yourself and the consequences of your decisions – good or bad. I think I worried the most about my son (probably because he’s the oldest and the only boy). Being a single parent made it that much harder. I can remember the day he got his first acceptance letter. I felt so accomplished. One of my life lessons is that I found out that you have to have money in order to get money. By now you know that that wasn’t us. We relied on the Lord for our provisions on a daily basis. Don’t ask how we did it, but the day came that Yamil was going to college – Tuskegee University. As we packed up everything and drove from Maryland to Alabama I became even more apprehensive. Upon returning home I kept wondering if I had done the right thing – after all, not everybody goes to college. It had taken loans and work study and a host of other things pieced together to be able to send him. Each time it was time to register I was a nervous wreck. Each time he left to go back I sent him with an “Important Papers” folder with everything you could imagine.  I can’t tell you the countless hours I spent on the phone just making sure everything was in place. My biggest fear was that he would get all the way back to Alabama and they wouldn’t let him register – well during the course of time, my worst fear came true! I got a call from Yamil saying that the registrar said he wouldn’t be able to register because he didn’t have enough money. I had gone over and over the paperwork and was sure we had everything covered. That day at work I proceeded to go into the back room where the shredder was located and began shredding every piece of paper all the while crying and sobbing, I mean ugly crying, wailing, hoping the sound of the shredder would drown out my cries. I just couldn’t seem to figure out what to do. Would I have to go and get him and bring him back home? My boss felt so sorry for me that she even offered to lend me the money. Well I can say the Lord heard my cries and by late that same afternoon, I was able to get in touch with my ex who paid the money owed and Yamil was able to register.

Things got even trickier when Maya went to school. The good news was that she was able to get an academic scholarship which helped a tremendous amount!!  Phew, I got through two of them going to college both graduated on time and now it was Nayda’s turn.  I was excited that she was able to qualify for a track scholarship which helped a lot; however, after one year, she decided that she didn’t want to go back.  She was attending Monmouth University in New Jersey and as it turned out – SHE ABSOLUTELY HATED IT!!! Well that meant we would have to find a way to finance her education in totality. It was suggested that she apply for a senatorial scholarship. Of course, like with all applications, she was required to write a letter as to why she should receive money for school. I kept reminding her to hurry and get it done. Well one day I came home from work to find a letter on the table. Apparently she sat down to write this compelling narrative about why she should get money….the following is the first draft of the letter….dated May, 2006 affectionately addressed to the then Maryland US senator Paul Sarbanes.

The letter started out “Dear Senator Sarbanes…” and then the salutation was crossed out and she began again…….

“Dear Mr. Money Bags,

 

I AM BROKE and I am a more than deserving student to receive a senatorial scholarship. This past school year I attended a school that I hated that was in New Jersey. I think I hate New Jersey now. This school is definitely not for me and is only for rich, white people that have only experienced black people on MTV’s music videos or experienced the “buff” black football players who are obsessed with white girls. I am delighted to leave that place!!!! Maryland is “tite” and Mommy is here so I want to be here. I’m looking for a school in Maryland that has more black people than I can count on my fingers and I need YOU to pay for it!!!! I am the youngest of three and Mommy is the only one who has a steady job and pays the bills. Fortunately Mommy has been able to celebrate the completion of undergraduate school for my two older siblings.  Unfortunately this was only made possible because she OK’d to mess up her credit for the education of her children.  Of course it wouldn’t be so bad if the children’s father (did I mention that he’s a surgeon), wasn’t so negligent – shall I say and if he didn’t act like he can’t write out his own checks every month.  So basically Mommy has put just as much into college as her children, even though she has already been there herself. I hope that my college aspirations do not burden her the same way it did when my siblings were attending school. I thank God everyday that I have a mother who is willing to sacrifice her personal wants for the betterment  of her children. So don’t be so insensitive after reading this letter and ask yourself,……”What would Jesus Do?” and do it now!!!!!

 

Sincerely,

The broke and needy

Nayda”

P.S. after some MAJOR changes in the letter, we sent it off and low and behold, she got the scholarship!!!!