The Greatest Promise

Abstract

In introducing his original series of memoirs, the author writes that “while college has given me an important academic understanding of the world, more importantly, it has helped me to understand myself in relation to the world. It has provided a myriad of lenses with which to examine myself that I never would have found otherwise. I began examining my life through these lenses. After doing so, it seemed a miracle that I had even made to college. So, I had to ask myself: How did I get here? The answer to which is simple: my great grandmother, Nanny. My SIP is comprised of short glimpses into my life and how Nanny steered me in the direction of college and success. What you will read here shows only moments out of the fifteen years Nanny spent ensuring that I did not end up in the cycle of poverty and addiction that so many around me were trapped in. So, it was settled, my SIP would be about Nanny, one of the most influential people I've had in my life.” In response to his parents’ concern that he was airing “dirty laundry,” “why can’t you remember the good stuff too?” The author says "I do remember the good stuff. I jus' have to write about some of the bad stuff in order to talk about the good stuff."