September dropzone 2013 pdf

“I knew I’d have to let you go eventually, but I just wasn’t expecting it to be this soon,” she said. “I guess I should have known, though. You’ve been ready to go since the day you were born.” When she’d said that, I couldn’t help but laugh. She was right. I’d started that trend early with my three-month-premature arrival into the world. Then I’d tried to convince my mom to let me skip two grades in elementary school when I was offered the chance, but she’d refused. I had gone to my first career day as the President of the United States, and now, I was leaving home two years sooner than expected.

I’d grown up in the small town of Kershaw, South Carolina with one baby sister, Rachel. My parents went through a very messy divorce when I was six and, although I was very young at the time, I remember the fighting, the power struggles, the child advocates and the negative accusations on both sides. Eventually my parents settled on joint custody. My mom became a full-time college student and worked 40 hour weekends, so she was always busy. My dad moved in with our grandparents and began struggling with alcoholism and behavioral issues. As a result, Rachel and I spent a lot of time with our grandparents and our aunt and uncle. Rachel was only three, and eventually, I became her role model and her sole confidant. Because I took this role so seriously, I grew up a lot faster than most children.

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