It would take about two days to reach my mother, a small sacrifice for being there in her time of need.

Coming from an area where many are illiterate, we had no idea what the virus truly was or how deadly it was. All we knew was that it was

To understand my story, you must know a bit of my mom’s. Sherry, my mom, was only 16 when she had me, and while my father continued

Have you ever seen a potter while he’s at work? The exposure to the right intensity of heat for the perfect amount of time turns...

My parents married really young and had a total of 12 kids. Sadly, eight died in infancy, leaving them only four to raise...

I used to ask, “What is the purpose of educating young girls? What are they good for? Why would I ever want a daughter...

Each time we visited the hospital with the fear that this would be the time, the moment life would leave my father...

From a young age I dreamed of distant lands. Adventures in exotic places filled my head as I made my long walk...

Even now I’m still stunned when I think of the way it all went so fantastically to hell in front of my eyes...

...In that time, race was a pretty big issue, with African Americans having spent the past decade fighting for their civil rights...

But it is also known for being smack in the middle of the Bible Belt, where children say “yes, ma’am,” and “no, sir,”...

Despite our town’s lack of resources, my father always tried to provide us with the best of every opportunity, and my mother supported him..

“We have to move, baby,” my mom’s voice was tense. “Get packing.” I did as I was told; it was routine...

For as long as I can remember, it was always a constant battle for survival...hunger was our close friend...

My story began before I was even born, when the traditional values of the Pakistani culture sunk into the hearts and minds of my parents...

...Lagos, Nigeria, a sparsely over-populated city with a mix of lifestyles and cultures. It was like the America of Nigeria...

You see, I was born to be a free bird. Starting from a very young age, I was fond of traveling, socializing with others, and exploring...

We would grow up, and things from our childhood would start making sense. But some things are always going to be beyond our comprehension...

Maybe it would have been a lot different if life had stayed peaceful and carefree like when I first came into this world...

We had many adventures and shenanigans together. Unfortunately, both Stephen and I were influenced easily by peers...