As I walked up the driveway, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. My stepmother, Kelly, had always made it clear that she didn’t want me around. But I had to come home; I was waiting for my college acceptance letter. Little did I know, Kelly had other plans.
As I entered the house, I was hit with a wave of heat. The fireplace was roaring, and Kelly was kneeling beside it, a sly smile spreading across her face. “Don’t worry, dear,” she said, “I just thought you should see your college dreams go up in flames.”
My heart sank as I realized what she had done. She had burned my acceptance letter. I felt like my whole world was crashing down around me. But then, the doorbell rang.
It was Mr. Robertson, the Dean of Admissions at the college. He had come to deliver the news in person. But what he said next changed everything. He told me that my mother had been a student at the college, and he had known her. She had always spoken about me with love and hope for my future.
Mr. Robertson handed me a copy of my acceptance letter and offered me a summer internship at the college. I was stunned. Kelly, on the other hand, was furious. But I knew I had to stand up for myself. I told her that I was going to college, no matter what she did.
With Mr. Robertson’s help, I was able to start my new life. I moved out of Kelly’s house and went to live with my friend Sarah and her parents. I started my internship and eventually began college. It wasn’t easy, but I knew I had to fight for my dreams.
Years later, I look back on that day and realize that it was a turning point in my life. I learned that I had the strength to stand up for myself and fight for what I wanted. And I knew that my mother was always with me, guiding me and pushing me to be my best self.
I also learned that there will always be people who try to bring you down, but you can’t let them. You have to rise above and shine brightly. That’s what I did, and it’s what I’ll always do.
