My mother loved to write stories and read books. I had no interest in either. When I needed a paper for school, my mother wrote it. I would copy it in my handwriting and turn it in. Only thing I ever got A’s on were her papers. This same pattern of cheating continued into college. My mother knew what I didn’t, that I would learn to write and read better this way. I got good grades and was proud of them anyway. Although I considered it cheating, she didn’t. I was learning subconsciously. Then came the college Jr. English Exam. To pass the Jr English exam, you had to write a paper in class. My mother could not help me this time. I was scared, anxious, and afraid I would be embarrassed. My mothers words “you can do anything you put your mind to” never left me. I was put in an auditorium with desks and two hundred plus other students. Six fresh sharpened #2 pencils and a folder of lined blank paper were provided each student. I was the last person in the room to finish and turn in my paper. I wrote about my summer baseball season. The ups and downs. The victories and heartbreaking defeats. How I was the last batter of the season. My last season of baseball. The pitch I hit over the fence just barely foul that would have sent us to the championship game. And struck out swinging the next pitch. I gave it my best shot. I’m gonna give writing my best shot. Maybe I come up short again. But if I don’t try, I’ll never know.