“In the rainy season, the river would rise by as much as fifteen feet. During one very wet year, my sister, my cousin, and I missed months of classes because it was impossible to cross the river to get to school.”
“My mother was one of eleven children born to a single mom. They had a system worked out: Each of the older siblings would be responsible for the expenses of one of the younger ones—paying for their food, buying them shoes.”
“The problem with my town is that even if you graduate from high school, the most you can hope for is to work as a small farmer or a chance to own a small store.”
“When I was six, my mother left. At eleven, my father died and I rented a room for six dollars a month. My sister gave me a bed and a dresser but, beyond that, I was on my own.”
“One year, I was in the hospital for five months. . . . My teachers came to give me my lessons bedside and my classmates brought me school supplies and letters of encouragement.”
“When I turned twelve, I had a very difficult year. My grandfather died and a few months later, my parents divorced. The next year Hurricane Mitch devastated our town and my mother lost her job.”