In the world around me, I see and hear a lot of success stories particularly about girls and women that look like me. Each one was more captivating and devestating than the last. But what really got to me was that the African-American girls and women had very rough situations. Whether it was their families, their enviorment, or even themselves, they overcame it and became successful. That's my problem: I don't have dire circumstances.

My dad doesn't deal drugs and he's not in a gang. My mom didn't have me in her teen years and she doesn't have muiltiple baby daddies. There is nothing stereotypical about them. I live in great house with them and my brother. Yet culture norms suggest that my life must be in shambles, that I must be some kind of underdog. So I ask, "Why does my life have to be tragic in order for me to succeed?"