12 years old, a boy...a boy who's up to that point been pampered senseless, given every toy he want and every game he wanted yet for some reason still finding himself a slave to those who came before him. I remember asking my mom why I had to go to church every Sunday, my baptist church has 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th sundays of the month and every 1st and 3rd sunday is children's church where you're able to learn about the lord with other kids but 2nd and 4th you're forced to sing with the choir, EVERY SUNDAY i was forced to wake up at 7 in the morning take a shower and dress up in tuxes and button ups like a lawyer, UGH I HATED IT. At this time in my life I learned there were other religions out there because growing up in any culture you're never exposed to the other cultural religions around you until a older age. I told my mom, “What if I want to be a Buddhist?” And I can't forget the look she gave me, I call it a mom look because only moms turn their heads quick enough and precise enough to stare you dead in the eyes and not say a word but penetrate your soul to the point where you realize the only way to get out of the conversation alive is to shut up. She said, “Then you can go to a Buddhist family, this house is a Christian home not just on certain sundays matter of fact not just on sundays at all, this is a Christian CVS, 24/7 no stops so as long as you live here get your ass up get that tie from aisle 3 and get the hell out the door.” Yep, I lost that fight but at the end the day my statement still resonates in my head, where do I belong? what do I believe in? I never have the answer maybe because I don't wanna have an answer or maybe because there isn't one but either way one these days I'll ‘raid’ my head and find the ‘lost ark’.

This experience made me realize this college thing isn't a choice. It isn't a yes or no thing, I was born into an environment where I was taught and given the tools to succeed so why on god’s green earth would I not use them. Though my irritation was prompted by a silly hatred toward wearing ties and and tuxes, it still stands to this day. I don't know who I am right now in my life and I probably never will but I know my names DeAndre Walters and that last name claims me to a life of trials and tribulations, a road sprinkled with littered remnants of success and work. I don't know what I believe in and that's ok because I know that belief doesn't make me or break me it sparks my questions and curiosity. It tempts me to take the step forward that wades the red seas apart as I walk to the other side. It's the drive that maybe I can be great if I just put forth the effort ,like Zeus’s drive to have affairs even when Hera hurts the mothers and children of his obsession, that keeps me going not the need for a greater being watching over me.
 

 12 years old, a boy...a boy who's up to that point been pampered senseless, given every toy he want and every game he wanted yet for some reason still finding himself a slave to those who came before him. I remember asking my mom why I had to go to church every Sunday, my baptist church has 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th sundays of the month and every 1st and 3rd sunday is children's church where you're able to learn about the lord with other kids but 2nd and 4th you're forced to sing with the choir, EVERY SUNDAY i was forced to wake up at 7 in the morning take a shower and dress up in tuxes and button ups like a lawyer, UGH I HATED IT. At this time in my life I learned there were other religions out there because growing up in any culture you're never exposed to the other cultural religions around you until a older age. I told my mom, “What if I want to be a Buddhist?” And I can't forget the look she gave me, I call it a mom look because only moms turn their heads quick enough and precise enough to stare you dead in the eyes and not say a word but penetrate your soul to the point where you realize the only way to get out of the conversation alive is to shut up. She said, “Then you can go to a Buddhist family, this house is a Christian home not just on certain sundays matter of fact not just on sundays at all, this is a Christian CVS, 24/7 no stops so as long as you live here get your ass up get that tie from aisle 3 and get the hell out the door.” Yep, I lost that fight but at the end the day my statement still resonates in my head, where do I belong? what do I believe in? I never have the answer maybe because I don't wanna have an answer or maybe because there isn't one but either way one these days I'll ‘raid’ my head and find the ‘lost ark’.

This experience made me realize this college thing isn't a choice. It isn't a yes or no thing, I was born into an environment where I was taught and given the tools to succeed so why on god’s green earth would I not use them. Though my irritation was prompted by a silly hatred toward wearing ties and and tuxes, it still stands to this day. I don't know who I am right now in my life and I probably never will but I know my names DeAndre Walters and that last name claims me to a life of trials and tribulations, a road sprinkled with littered remnants of success and work. I don't know what I believe in and that's ok because I know that belief doesn't make me or break me it sparks my questions and curiosity. It tempts me to take the step forward that wades the red seas apart as I walk to the other side. It's the drive that maybe I can be great if I just put forth the effort ,like Zeus’s drive to have affairs even when Hera hurts the mothers and children of his obsession, that keeps me going not the need for a greater being watching over me.