I remember it like it was yesterday. My father left me when I was only two months old and my mother left me when I was ten years old. I am only a kid and did not understand that my mom nor my dad would ever come back in my life. I sat by the window sill watching the cars zoom by hoping it was one of my parents' cars coming to pick me up and take me back home. I was always disappointed with the outcome. I guess that is why I have so many trust issues with people. Later on my maternal grandmother and her husband raised and adopted me. My grandparents barely paid any attention to me and I have never had a stable person to depend on. I remember feeling lonely sometimes. The only time me and my grandmother will have a full conversation is when we would cook together in the kitchen.

To live the way I did with my grandmother, I got called names and got picked on because of my large head. She did do anything about it. This morning she just gave me this lame speech about not letting them get to me. She never stayed on topic and if anything it made me feel worse. Even though I was home I could hear the laughs and the jokes the other kids would say about me. I felt their eyes staring at me with smiles on their faces. It also did not help that I was the darkest kid in my neighborhood. That afternoon I remember crying because I could not figure out how to do my homework. The teacher gave us a lesson in math today and no matter how hard I try to focus on what she is teaching, I just do not comprehend anything. I wish the numbers and letters would stick in my head like glue, but they just fell out like a waterfall. I asked my grandmother to help me but she told me to do it on my own. “Figure it out yourself. I got things to do.” She said sitting on the couch smoking a cigarette, not even moving an inch. Never once has she helped me with my homework or told me that she was proud of me. But as someone that has dyslexia, I was proud of myself. It is not like I do not try to focus. It is just that I can not comprehend anything the teacher is saying. My grandmother never had the money to get me a tutor, so she never bothered.

The thought of why my parents left still floats through my head as I try to finish my assignment. That is the only thing I could think of for a while. When I kicked the thought of them leaving out of my head, I told myself I was going to turn my life around completely. From my parents abandoning me and an emotionally abusive grandparents, to becoming a very successful person. So my life can become an inspiration to many people that are going through the same thing. Not to just Latinos, but to the whole world. “I can do this. I just have to believe.” I told myself.

As I thought of ways for the world to know my story, I went down stairs and turned on the television. I was flipping through each channel when I came across a man on a stage making people laugh. It was a Freddie Prinze comedy show. I watched a little of it and found him really funny. I never knew someone could be funny for a living. At that moment I knew that I wanted to be like Freddie Prinze. People would know me and it would be my chance to let the world know my story. I realized that the people in my life that did not pay attention to me, are going to feel sorry they did not spend more time with me and really get to know me.

I raced up to my room at the speed of lightning and got out some crayons and paper. I drew a picture of me on a stage like I was a real comedian. Then I drew a picture of me on my very own television show. I was so excited that my fingers were shaking and my palms were sweaty. I thought this could be a big thing for me.

As I was finishing what I would want my first ever show to be like, I noticed that even though I want nothing to do with my birth parents, I have to thank them. If it wasn’t for abandoning me being pulled into this rough childhood, I would not have come across such an amazing idea. In my opinion, no little kid or even adult should grow up without good parents. It is just not fair. We do not realise that some of the bad things in our life can turn out to help us. That just shows how much life can surprise us. I am not perfect, yes, that’s true, but I know I can encourage people to be the best version of themselves. “When things are bad, it’s the best time to reinvent yourself.”