I was in there ninth grade, it was there last class in the school I attended. I was worried " will I complete school?"
"Will I ever be able to finish high school?" My parents cannot even afford our daily meals, will they be able to afford my senior high school fees. In Liberia senior high tuition is higher than elementary and junior high tuition.
I was so afraid that junior high would be the end of my education. I cried myself to sleep when we were nearing the end of the academic year.
I did all that I could. I was the top first in my class but because of the discrimination between females and males they would always make Michael Anderson the first. Whenever I asked, they would say because his last name starts with an "A" and yours is "P."
I hated it! Sometimes I wished my last name started with "A" but I couldn't change it. During that time, I learned that you cannot choose there family you're born in, your religion, color or race and country; because it has already been decided by God before you were born.
I studied hard and smart because I wanted a scholarship. I knew that was the only way I could continue my studies. I didn't want to end up like my parents who didn't graduate high School. I didn't want to turn like my elder sister who became a teenage mother.
I wanted a change! I wanted to see a change so I decided to be there change as Mohamed Gandhi quoted.
I focused on my studies and avoided boys like a disease. I couldn't afford to get in a relationship, beside I believe that I was too young for that and it is against God's will to have pre martial sex.
My mind was fixed! There was no space in my life for failure. There was no space in my life for boyfriends, party and activities that won't benefit my future.
I valued my time. I believed that my time is my worth and I should live each day chasing success to change my family lives.
I wasn't happy with the fact that we lived in zinc house. I wasn't happy with the fact that my parents had to begged people in the United States before we have our basis needs.
I wasn't happy wearing a faded up green jumper that had turned white to school.
I wasn't happy with the life of going to school on an empty stomach. I wasn't happy studying with candles light. I wasn't happy eating white rice with small palm oil with out pepper for half a month.
I didn't want that life forever. I didn't want my little brother growing up and suffering like me in high school.