The College Years

This is a skipped chapter

No, I did not have support.

In the 90s, I was living on my own in the projects

Early 95, the family completed their move to North Carolina

The two last siblings were left, abandoned, in New York

We stook together with Marisol

The first graduation and the second, no one there

No older siblings there to help

85 the house at Mckinley avenue

After the birth, Mckinley Avenue was abandoned, foreclosure

The banana boat went to North Carolina and broke down along the way

Strangers had to help my family and two youngest siblings make it the rest of the way

97, the guest with me were Liz, Johnny, Manny, and my dad Pablo.  I had to take custody of him, that was my graduation

We were happy, but I had no support to get through college.  

I worked in the campus library in the Periodicals Processing Department

Then the loans. Loans for the first car, loans for all the cars, loans to make it through college

Over $185,000 in loans because no family members were there

They left us abandoned to fend for ourselves.

I am proud of you, you are my daughter.  

You are making it

You are making your way in life

Stay strong, you have some support

You have more that I ever had

I am helping in my limited capacity, but remember, I made with less than you, God blessed

This was my college years.  You have more than I did, you can make it, just remember your upbringing

God Bless and Stay Strong and Focus and do not depart from the way

I got married at the age of 36, I went places and had fun

This was my college years, lobbying and helping others as I continue to do.

I didn't want to go to college, nope, no sir.

I rode the blue city bus near the Glenwood Houses Projects and was asked by the driver, "You get your check right"

That infuriated me.  I was supposed to be happy with a check, below human living.

I barely graduated from High School, with one of the lowest GPA's ever.

The bus passed the Armed Forces Recruiting area office on Flatbush Avenue.

I went in "to serve", that is what I wanted to do above all.

The officer took about his big book, asked me to name some of my disabilities.

I said, "scoliosis", and that was a rap, "sorry, you cannot serve with that disability", he thought I went in for veterans disability benefits, go figure.  

Gone, done so.  I still want to serve.

College was the only option then, or become a criminal and we already had too many of those in our family.

The option to get out of poverty turned into a nightmare even with a master's degree.  The disability was never overcome as I am blacklisted in this state, Go Figure, never file a workmen's compensation claim.  

God Bless.