Remember when cruising State Line was the thing, making the turn arounds at Taco Bell and the Goodwill parking lots? We had music playing and our windows rolled down, cruising up and down the road to fill our summer nights. Obviously, these were the good ole days when gas prices did not stop you in your tracks. These are some great memories from my teenage years. It is how we met up with people. … We did not have cell phones, so, back then, you just had to guess where the crowd may be, but nine times out of ten, cruising State Line was a sure bet.
Some say high school was the best four years of their lives, and in a way, it was for me, too. Being the youngest of three siblings, I believed I had all the insight needed to begin my high school journey. I watched my brother and sister navigate their way through Arkansas High School. However, my high school experience was quite different.
No Regrets... Like the great Dr. Seuss says, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” I have never been one to stop and dwell in a valley. When it’s time, it’s time. I never tried to rush to the end before I got to experience what phase I was in presently. Each phase had its own purpose and joy.
Life comes at you fast, and time only seems to move faster as you grow older. This is a concept that I have been exposed to my entire life, but it has taken 18 years for me to finally realize the terrifying truth behind those words.
I have visited many schools during my fourteen-year journey, and it is my friends and teachers that I must thank for helping me understand the meaning of success. Those who cared to watch me grow were able to give words of encouragement from the heart and not just from muscle memory. With their kind support, I pushed my way to the top of what I thought was the entire world, hoping to make them proud.
