May 15, 1970

On May 15, 1970 I thought my world had come to an end. All that I held dear was past and gone. What was left in life to look forward to ? You see, I had just graduated from the eighth grade. Now what did I have to look forward to? I went to my room or corner of the room that was mine and cried tears of despondency as I looked at the desolate future stretching out before me. Years of drudgery without the welcome break of books and learning. I found a pen and paper and sorted out my feelings till I reached a conclusion. Of course, what was I thinking ? I would teach school. How could I have momentarily forgotten that goal I'd set for myself soon after I started going to school? From that moment on I set my face towards the goal of becoming the youngest school teacher allowed in the school room. Where was the despair and despondency of just moments before? Oh, the resiliency of youth! Now I had the challenge of a whole life time ahead of me. Bring on the future!