My family certainly wasn't one to deny that education was important. They just never stressed the fact that it was. I will be the first person in my family to have a college degree. (I think I may have one cousin on my dad's side to graduate from college....maybe) My dad has been a coal miner for all of my life and most of his. Although my dad is very intelligent I really never asked for help from him or my mom. My mom stayed home with my sister and I (until the divorce). I don't remember her ever helping me with my school work or even talking about it. I do remember one thing about my dad helping my sister. He was trying to teach my sister how to tell time. She just couldn't get it! I did though. I think I was like four. I remember his frustration, and mine after hearing him tell her a hundred times. I finally caught on and tried to teach her myself. I think the same thing happened when he tried to teach her to tie her shoes. Anyway, my parents really didn't stress the importance of an education. I just did what everyone else was doing at the time of the ACT's. I took it because everyone else did. I certainly didn't stress because I didn't get the importance of it. I went on to college like everyone else.The only thing I didn't do was keep going.

I have since discovered the importance of an education. I intend to pass this new found attitude on to my children. I think now I can look back and see how the difference might have impacted my life. Now I do things alot differently. I study hard and think about the outcome of my determination. I am glad that, somewhere in the heavens, someone was looking out for me and guided me. Otherwise I may not be where I am today. I could have been somewhere struggling to make ends meet. Instead, fate (most likely...GOD) lead me here.

Michelle