My divorced mother, who is a math teacher, and I decided to adopt our foster child 5 years ago. He, Marcus, had been our foster child since he was dropped off at our apartment at the age of six months. As he aged, though, we noticed an increasing level of improper conduct at home and in daycare/ Pre-K. After many appointments with doctors, one physician finally suggested getting Marcus tested for Autism. In March of 2020, Marcus was finally diagnosed with Level 2 Autism/ADHD/ODD/Speech, which explained so many of the issues he was having at school. This was also the same time that Covid-19 caused U.S. schools to convert to virtual learning. All of this could have caused me to digress in my school responsibilities and/or family responsibilities and/or community responsibilities, but I chose to progress in these areas. It has been a challenge to complete assignments and participate in virtual school due to Covid with a brother who can have a meltdown at any minute for apparently no reason. I am also the only male in his life on a daily basis, so I feel responsible for teaching him how to be a man. It has been extremely hard to maintain a high GPA and a positive attitude while dealing with my little brother. My mom had to stop teaching to homeschool Marcus while Covid was ravaging the country. This caused my financial status to change from comfortable to struggling. This change in financial status was one of the hardest changes to cope with, but we did it. I learned to budget my small allowance and wait for items I needed to go on sale. I swallowed my pride and rode the bus to school as a Senior in High School, knowing that just getting to school was important, rather than how I got to school. I now understand having to help raise younger siblings and siblings with "special powers", rather than special needs. I understand the impact I have on younger generations, which makes me want to become a teacher even more. There are so few black male teachers at the Middle and High School level that I know I can make a positive difference in many students' lives when I become a teacher. I also now understand living in a financially struggling household. I can help fellow college students overcome these obstacles. Once I graduate, I can help my students and their families overcome these obstacles too. If experience is the best teacher, then I can use my experiences with my 'special' brother and struggling mother to help others successfully get through school and life.