"My mom was into alcohol and drugs real bad and had never been there for us, so my grandma raised us. She was old-fashioned, old school. I had a brother who was in and out, but it was mostly just my grandma, my older sister, and me. We stayed in south Memphis, and I was in the optional program at Rozelle Elementary. I was real smart. And I was a majorette too. My grandma tried to raise us right. She always told us we’d never have anybody else like her in our lives, anybody who took care of us the way she did. I didn’t like for her to say that, but when she died, it seemed like that’s what happened, like what she said came true. Everything went topsy-turvy. I was 15 years old then. After she died, I didn’t have anywhere to lay my head anymore; I didn’t have any family. I dropped out of school and learned early how to get by. I had dreamed of being a teacher when I grew up because I could spell real well and I liked reading and writing, but I left that dream behind. I felt bad, like there was no hope anymore. I've been homeless ever since my grandma passed. I’ve been thinking about going back and getting my GED, but I know it won’t be easy. I can read real good but I have trouble with comprehension and trouble with math. All that algebra and those x’s and y’s. I started a program and then had to drop out, but I’m thinking of trying again because I can’t get anywhere without an education. I know I can do the work, but sometimes I don’t feel like I can. When people talk down about me, it feels like I can’t. I want to be an independent woman one day and not have to depend on a man to take care of me."
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