When You Least Expect It

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     You know, honestly I couldn't picture myself here. Never once laying on that rickety bed did I think I'd make it to college, and yet, here I am. Not only did I make it here, but on a scholarship? How could an orphan kid make it here. I will never be able to repay Paul for telling me about the chance to get a scholarship by just writing an essay. Ok, maybe not just writing an essay but I didn't do terrible in high school. If he hadn't gone to visit his family and read that article in the paper I wouldn't be here now.

     I knew my story would make for an interesting read, maybe a sympathetic push but I never expected to win. I wrote about how I didn't remember my birth family. How I was only five when I was dropped off at children's services. I wrote about being bounced from one foster home to the next, no one wanted a difficult five year old boy that was so scared he couldn't even tell you his own name. Eventually they shipped me off to a group home, they don't call them orphanages anymore.. too much of a negative connotation. I wrote about my dreams of owning my own business. I finished it off by telling them I didn't want anything more than to find my place in life. To look back on my time as an unwanted youth and realize that despite my difficult beginnings, I made it. To have a chance at a real life through hard work and determination. Maybe one day have a family of my own and learn what its like to have true, unconditional love. Once it was finished I debated even sending it in. But eventually I decided it couldn't hurt, I wouldn't be any worse off if I didn't win so what the heck.

     Honestly, I have no memory of my parents. I assume that is a good thing. I thank my lucky stars that the worst thing that happened to me was ending up in that group home, it sucked but I know many kids in the system who had it much worse than I did. I just kept a low profile and tried to get by until I turned 18. After that they kicked me out with a sack of clothes and basically said "good luck!"

     There were only a few months left before I graduated high school thankfully. I managed to get through with A's and B's. Still, I didn't bother to even apply to college because I knew I couldn't afford it. I didn't even have an address where I could get my mail. I couch surfed with some kids I knew from school until my boss offered me his basement for basically nothing. It wasn't much but it was something. I mean I had a place to lay my head and food in my belly. Paul even gave me a ride to work everyday. I couldn't ask for much more.

     That job and my boss, Paul, were good to me. I worked every chance I got in his restaurant as a bus boy, eventually he started to show me more of the cooking side of things, he taught me several recipes, let me help out every now and again chopping veggies and what not. For two years that basement was home to me, until Paul told me about a one in a million chance to win a full ride scholarship. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to better my life. It was a huge risk but when I got the call that I won I knew I had to jump on it. They even paid for a bus ride across the country. It was a long trip but I had nothing to lose. I am nervous, but I'm excited to see what my future holds. If I can do this, if I can make it through college and get my degree in business management, maybe I can finally be somebody. Maybe my past won't hold me back.

     I make it to Texas the day before classes are due to start. I meet with the sponsor of the scholarship and do all the interviews they had waiting for me. They feed me a steak dinner and drop me off at the dorm. Stepping out of the car I suck in a deep breath. I look up at the huge brick building in front of me. This is it I guess, the first day of the rest of my life. So, here goes nothing...