Wells Crew Blog

Justin 

Just sitting back listening to the music and enjoying the weather at my going away party. Everybody from the neighborhood, my friends and family came out to show mad love on this Saturday. My Moms had the grill going as she stood and laughed and joked with her friends. I could hear her saying, “My son made it y’all, he’s going to college!” I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about the long road to get to this day and to just think that in less then 48 hours my two best friends and I were leaving the rough streets of New York behind and traveling to Georgia to college to make something of ourselves. Myself, Sammie, and Dove all made a vow that no matter what we would graduate college and become the best men that we could. Growing up in the neighborhood that we did, you didn’t see black boys going to college too often, so you could only imagine how excited everyone was once they found out that we all had made it. 

“Don’t forget about me man, I’m proud of you man!”  I turned as I seen Dove’s cousin Boo shout to him as he headed my way. “What’s up Dove, my man!”, I stated. He looked at me with a grin on his face and said ” Yoo, you see how Tasha looking over there, mannn.”  I couldn’t help but laugh. He was the one out of the group that chased the ladies the most. ” You thinking about Tasha when we are on our way to college. Bigger and better things bro.”  I told him still laughing. He shook his head and started walking towards Tasha. 

My Mom started to yell for everyone to move towards the porch because she had an announcement to make. I started to walk towards the porch as my eyes connected with my mother’s. I knew she was proud of me but I also knew she was more proud of herself. And she deserved to be. After having me at a young age and working hard to provide for me, she had been told more times to count that she could not raise a boy by herself and that she was not in the position to give me a proper life. So, I knew how she felt now that she had raised me to become the man I am today and is getting ready to send me off to college, when everyone had thought that it was impossible. 

I seen my other best friend Sammie, and his girlfriend Rachel sitting off to the side not looking too happy. I knew that with him going away to college it had caused some tension between them and I hoped that they would figure it out because I like them together. They had been together since freshman year of high school and I knew that they loved each other.  

My mother called me up to stand next to her as she addressed everyone at my party with tears in her eyes. By the time she finished telling everyone how proud she was of me and about the hard road that lead to this very moment, there was not a dry eye around us. Even I shed a few tears.  

**Thanks everyone for reading the first part of this story. Be on the lookout for Part 2 coming next Sunday. Also, remember to comment so that I can interact with you all. Until next time… 

-Toya