I was always told that grades mattered the most in my life. It was like grabbing a Sharpie and writing a number on your head, and now it represented you as a person. My parents always cared so much about it. It was like opening a locked door without the key for me.

It weighed me down most of my life; like carrying textbooks with blank pages. I tried not to let it get past me. But it did. All the what ifs, I should’ve, and I was, were all medicine that only lasted.

Today was graduation. I had my cap, gown, and diploma in hand as I walked off the stage. It was nothing fancy, just the plain old standard gown that most of us seniors had. Others like the valedictorian had “special” colors with multiple accessories draping down their necks to their knees. 

I felt a sense of relief walking back towards my seat. Sitting next to the president of the school and the vice president of the “Count for Kids” club. As time came, we were all in the same seat as before. Now focus more on who you are rather than what you have. It’s easier to breathe that way.

First Job

The seasons were turning, as the leaves from the trees started to ripen. Me, my friend, and my friend’s friend, all lived within walking distance from each other which caused us to hang out often. We were young and had no money, no responsibilities, and no worry in life while it was still summer. But finding a job was still on our number one list. 

Mama came home one day after working nonstop at her corporation, dirt covered the white car, and a white bird pooped brought it all together. It sparked our thoughts together as we started up BPK Car Washing Services. We ravaged through our parent’s garage finding microfiber washcloths, and car washing soap to create our slow-moving business. We made cards and advertised throughout the day hoping for one ring to hit the phone. Word grew throughout the neighborhood and we started washing car after car rolling our handheld vacuum through the streets.

By the end of the week, we had washed over 50+ cars and had burned ourselves out. As the next week rolled around, we became too tired to even walk which caused the crash of our company and clientele. School was starting soon, and we had just finished shopping for school and just as school started. BPK Car Washing Services was over before it started.