Living Out a Dream To Live Out a Dream

I was a boy who loved to read, write, and daydream. Everyday I cherished going to school and my mother never had a hard time waking me up because I knew that one day I would be able to take care of her and my family. My father passed away when I was 12 and he would always tell me that a smart man will opt to use with his brain before his back, and that I could do anything I put my mind to. He was a strong believer in these notions and in my ability, the oldest of 4 children.

It all began when I was 15 years old. Having no option, I needed to work. Everyday after school I would run home and do the necessary chores so my mother would not have to worry. After, I would ride my bicycle to Mr. Caruso's...

This continued for many years. I lived my life to help my family. We got by and I was always proud of that. There, however, was not a day that went by that I didn't wish to have had the chance to go to University or College. Years past and that dream of attaining even a minor academic achievement seemed just a distant childhood memory. Soon enough I had a family, I had a steady career in the Marine Corps, built a house, and created a comfortable life for my family.
One recent Thanksgiving dinner my sister mentioned to me about her getting a job at The University of British Columbia. That resonated strong within my soul. She encouraged me to explore the options of academia after my career in…