Both my mother and father were incarcerated during impactful times in my life. My father was incarcerated for nine years during my ages of six to fifteen. Growing up in elementary and middle school with no father by my side impacted me more than anything I have or will go through. During my younger ages, my mother suffered with drug and alcohol addiction which caused her to be incarcerated twice, which I witnessed those arrests. During the times both of my parents were incarcerated I had to live with my grandmother, or with random strangers. During all of these times I was still doing excellent in school. I was always making good grades, as well as being part of my school’s honor society. I was bullied in school for having absent parents. I didn’t have very many friends, most children were scared of me and chose not to associate themselves with the girl who had drug addicts for parents. Through my journey of school, I managed to have straight A’s all years of elementary to middle school. Neither of my parents gained a college degree. While still loving my parents with my whole heart, my goal was to be what they were not. I know that I will gain a college education and have an outstanding career. With both of my parents being incarcerated, and my father being incarcerated for majority of my time in school, I gained an great deal of independency. I have learned through all of those years that I will not gain something that I do not work hard for. A college education will be the first of my family. The reason for me wanting to go into education is because my teachers were some of the only sources I had in school. They were aware of the situation I was put in. They helped me. That is who I want to be for the kids that go through the same or similar. I want to education, enlighten, and strengthen children who are not fortunate enough to have their parents guidance and support through school. My goal is to break the generational curse in my family, and be extraordinary.