There’s a lot there to say. Domestic abuse was rampant and I have plenty to say that’d break anyone’s heart. I don’t talk about it usually because I feel like people put you in a damaged diminutive box.

Long story short, I was a kid that grew up way too fast. After a few years of homelessness we got back to quasi-normal but I ended up dropping out of high school (around 9th grade) to help pay bills as a dishwasher. Spent my twenties as a complete wild child making up for lost time. My thirties have been nothing but productive. I’m working on some degrees (currently computer science and neuroscience) and taking the ultimate long shot hopefully towards becoming a doctor. I like medicine and high stakes problem solving. It’s a good fit.

Because fuck it, why not?

The best part about doing all of this now, and with a tattered history is I have the confidence to accomplish it all with a foundation of humility.

All of that being said, those sweet natured kids you were speaking of had a strong learned lesson in resiliency, which is one of the most important lessons in life. I have this disgusting delusion from time to time where I dream of what kind of manufactured hardship I can create for my child. I want to give him everything but I want him to be able to take on the world without me.