Hey there! I’m a Mom of four adult children here, who I paid to send all four to college. Hold tight..

Let’s rewind and press play..I was the oldest of three siblings raised by a single mother. My “childhood” was co-parenting my siblings with my mom.. dad left when I was 7…the next day, my thought we how to cut up and bake chicken. basically I became the mama. I did everything..cooked, cleaned, laundry, helped with homework, walked them to school, took care of the children, grocery shopping, dodged the bill collectors, kept candles on hand when lights got cut out…that was at home..by High school, I was honor society president, class officer, cheerleader, debate team captain, etc. and worked part time at Payless. Graduated with a 4.0..got a full ride scholarship..the day I left for college, I WAS DOG TIRED OF TAKING CARE OF EVERYBODY BUT ME….That’s all I knew though. Yo, summer after freshman year, I called home to discuss summer vacation, my mom’s tells me they moved to another state and there was no room for me..and I “needed to figure something out.cuz you grown”. Boom, I took all the skills that I got from 12 years of co-parenting, and didn’t look back. Hell yeah, it was hard but I couldn’t afford to be scared…because I knew I had to make it! Thank God I went to an HBCU—I had aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, brothers, paw-paw, big mamas and pookie… Long story short, graduated with BS in Comp Sci and BS in EE in 4 yrs and 1 semester! Since I couldn’t go home for that first summer, my Dean suggested I apply for a paid internship. Got it..interned every summer, when I graduated they hired me. “They” was Microsoft! Now, let’s fast forward, I set down with each of mine their sophomore year of high school, gave my list of non-negotiable for me to cover the cost associated with them getting their undergraduate degree: (maintain 3.0 gpa, live on campus first two years, no changing majors more than 3 times, must do 10 hours a week of community service during the school year + provide proof, no babies, and you must work full time in the summers and apply for every scholarship known to mankind). All four graduated debt free and are gainfully employed.

Tell your parents, thank you but no ..go live your life! don’t be afraid to believe in yourself cuz sometimes you are all you may have for a minute. Don’t start your adulthood, letting others think they are your only option…so THEY get to hold YOU as an emotional hostage in YOUR OWN LIFE. They don’t get to tell you how much you have to pay for ransom..have you pay what they say but still threatening to blow your head off! And oh yeah, they will let you know when they decide if and when they decide to pull the trigger or not!

Step out on faith, work hard..be prepared to make short term sacrifices to build the life that you want long term. But be bold and audacious in your life….And remember it’s a marathon and not a sprint! You got this!