College; A Huge Success in my family

The only person in my family that had successfully completed any college is my maternal Grandfather, my Papa. He has his bachelors in some sort of Forestry. No one else in my family has graduated from college, in fact a lot havent even completed highschool. My mom got her GED when I was about 7 and took most of her nursing classes but dropped out because my brother Dilyn was born, my Dad dropped out of highschool and never got a GED, my grandmother never finished highschool I think, my paternal grandparents either. My cousin went for like a semester of college and didnt finish. My siblings are all too young, all in elementary & middle school, which the exception of my half sister Tiara whos a freshman this year.

So it is a very big deal when someone in my family even GOES to college. I had sent an email to my Papa a while back when I first applied to GBCC. He called me a few weeks ago while on vacation to tell me how proud of me he was that I would be starting college in January. I told him my master plan and how much school I had to do and he told me, "Crystal, you can do it!", and I totally needed those encouraging words.

My Papa has been the "male" figure in my life. My father was 18 when I was born and took off, my mom was just 17. He has been there since the very moment I was born and all the things that have happened, he's just given me a hug, some words of encouragement and supported me. He is truley amazing, I owe so much to my Papa. I love him so much.