Navigating parenthood is a complex journey, and for my mother, it was especially difficult given her young age of 16 and the burden of unresolved trauma she carried. At the peak of her own childhood, she was expected to raise a child herself. Looking back, I don’t have many memories from the time spent living with her but I remember disliking it. Why couldn't I have a 'real' mother, why couldn't I have an authoritative figure in my life? What kid had to ask for vegetables for dinner? Ultimately, I was removed from her care right before I was due to start kindergarten. Okay, gloomy I know. This is probably not the sequence of events you expected, and neither did I but trust me when I say it gets better. If one thing is true about living in Oakland, it’s that news spreads quickly. My Grandma had learned that my mother was living in her car and set out to find me. It was a swift transition, overnight I had my own bed to sleep in and meals that weren’t in a styrofoam cup. This was my Fresh Prince of Bel-Air moment! While the transition for me was easy, that wasn’t necessarily the case for my Grandmother. I believed that I had entered a world without struggles, but this was not the case. While fighting to secure custody of me and attending court hearings, she lost her job as a result of excessive absences. We were in the grocery store parking lot when she received the call. I recall the silence as I sat in the back seat, watching her through the rearview mirror, holding back her tears. We eventually had to leave that apartment complex and live with a family member, but despite the financial challenges,  she truly gave me the best life possible. She told me that we were a team and that we could work through anything together. After going through raising her own kids she never batted an eye raising me alone. She worked tirelessly to afford giving me the life that my mother couldn't provide. I am 22 now, and she is 22 years older, wearing her wrinkles beautifully, although she doesn't believe me when I say it. On bad days, I wonder if my Grandma will make it to the important occasions. If she isn't there to walk me down the aisle, who will? On good days, I am able to enjoy the time we spend together without thinking about it. When she says she'd go through every painful experience again if it meant she could raise me as her daughter, I remember the five-year-old me who couldn't believe she could be loved so deeply. My Grandma has not only raised me with love...she has raised me to be resilient, to advocate for myself and others, and to never back down from a challenge. She plays a big part in why I plan to continue my education. My journey toward earning my bachelor's degree has been anything but easy, from taking a gap year to work as a caregiver to working full-time in community college. The journey isn’t over yet but I am strong, and I can do this. And I have that confidence because of her. Thank you for this opportunity!