Andy - Who Believed in Me When Nobody Else Did

I came from a family that didn’t really stress the need for higher education.  There were no college savings accounts or really any encouragement one way or another to go to college.  They didn’t really discourage me, but I was shy and insecure and needed encouragement to take such a bold step.  I had stayed at home after high school while all my friends went off to college.  I was working at a fast food restaurant and going nowhere fast when a letter came in the mail from my close friend and cousin.  Enclosed in the letter were assignments that we had done in the second grade.  My paper had a very high score with complimentary marks on my writing while my cousin’s paper was scored a little lower.  I opened the letter a bit confused on the contents and read, “See how smart you are?  You need to come to college!” Tears filled my eyes and I was so suprised that he would care enough to send those letters.  Just the fact that he really beleived in me, that I could go to college and I was smart enough to make it meant so much.  So go to college I did, as a matter of fact I graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science.  Thank you so much andy, I might never have taken that plunge without your encouragement.