Member-only story
Sometimes It’s Better Not to Listen to “Good Advice” (especially if it regards your own future)
When I was in Mrs. Watson’s Seventh Grade English we had an assignment where we were told to write a story about someone making a mistake that changed their lives. I wrote my story about a young girl who accidently called a pop culture star and it changed her life forever. No one believed her until they realized that what she was telling them was true.
The story idea became a series of short chapter books that I wrote on all during high school. The stories gave me something I enjoyed doing during study halls and even during boring classes. I loved writing and wanted to become an author. Sadly, the school counselors weren’t much help. Because of where I lived, they suggested that I work in the local factories like everyone else in town was expected to do.
I wasn’t any good at factory work. I hated it.
In addition, about the same time, I discovered organic gardening. I loved the idea of working in the garden and nurturing plants. I dreamed of having my own homestead. So what if I was a girl. I wanted to raise all my own fruits, vegetables and livestock. Because I was a girl, they told me I needed to have a man in my life to do what men did.