When I was conceived my mother couldn’t take me out the hospital so my great grandmother came and got me. My Great grandmother decided to raise me as her own and I stayed with her. Throughout the years, my Great grandmother showed what unconditional love looked like. I remember one day I asked my Great grandmother why she slept on the couch and let me sleep on her bed, her response was because I was a growing kid. When I was older enough to assist my grandmother with her daily duties, she taught me how to garden. She went through the whole process and in time I was able to assist her in doing the garden every summer. That became our thing. I knew when the spring came it was time to go to Home Depot and pick up supplies. I didn’t know that my grandmother was teaching me how to create success while we maintained the garden. We did every year. To be honest, growing up with my great grandmother was one of the best experiences of my life. I made friends in Queens, that are still my family to this very day. I went away to camp, I played outside with my friends. My grandmother took me to Disney world, twice. We had family barbecues and celebrated each other. I had an amazing childhood and I am extremely grateful for that.

When my great grandmother was asleep, I would to watch her breathe. It might sound weird, but I wanted to make sure she was alive. You see having my great grandmother in my life was like having an Angel by my side. I didn’t have a worry or a fear, as long as, my grandmother was alive. I knew that as long as she was in my corner everything would be OK. My great grandmother passed away on October 3rd 2002, it was the worse day of my life. I felt like I loss a piece of my peace. I felt a pain in my chest, as I thought about her transitioning to the next stage of her life. It was selfish of me, but I wanted and needed her to stay with me. While my great grandmother was alive, I never really questioned why I couldn’t live with my mother and father. I was comfortable where I was at and I didn’t want to go anywhere. When I became a teenager, I had to move to Brooklyn and live with my grandfather, who was my great grandmother’s son. I started to become a handful for his mother, so being that I was his daughter’s son, he decided to move me to Brooklyn. 

My grandfather taught me how to be a man and for that I’m eternally grateful. I would stay with my great grandmother every weekend and every summer. On the weekends, when I would leave to go back to Brooklyn, she would always walk me to the door. She would give me a kiss on the cheek and she would watch me walk down the block, until she couldn’t see me anymore. The love my grandparents gave me is the reason I turned out to be a good man. I was 17 years old when my great grandmother passed away. I was 27 when my grandfather passed away. Not having them around has been a struggle but I know they are both watching over me. It’s not easy doing this without them. I remember one day I was laying in bed watching TV with my grandmother and she told me that she wanted me to do something worthwhile with my life. I promised her that I would. 

At 33, I have graduated from two colleges and I’m currently working on my Masters of Science in Social work. I started my business four years ago and my goal is to inspire and uplift people all over the world. I graduated from my last college with honors and I will do the same at my current college. I have made many mistakes in my 33 years of living. I have learned through experience to believe in myself under all circumstances. I have also learned through experience that you can do anything you put your mind to as long as you believe so. I had two of the most important people in my existence for a total of 27 years. In those 27 years, my grandparents help mold me into something divine. As a social worker in the making, I understand the importance of having a good family structure. Without my grandparents I would have ended up another statistic. I was able to care of both my grandparents before they passed away. It was a blessing to be to give back to my grandparents but I would never be able to repay them for what they did for me. I plan on changing the world for the better. I will be one of the best fathers the world has ever seen. My goal is to inspire people all over the world to be their best self. I would not have the audacity to feel like I could actually change the world if it was not for my grandparents. 

So to Grandma: I miss you and I think about you all the time. I work hard and smart everyday to make sure I make you proud. I know how important it was for you to look after family. So I’m going to create wealth for our family and I will take care of everyone. 

What’s up Popo, I miss you and I hope I’m making you proud as well. I wish you could of stayed a little longer but I know you missed your mother and father. I know you wanted to see your wife again, so I understand. Thank you for taking me in, thanking you for being my hero. I will continue to make you proud. I remember I told you one day that I would be a millionaire, you told me to think logically because that would never happen. Do you remember my response? I told you that I would be a millionaire, because I could do anything I put my mind to. I didn’t make the million yet but I will. I wish you could be here to see it. Thank you so much for never giving up on me. The universe has been so good to me and I will forever be grateful. Grandma continues to watch over me and give me hugs even when you think I don’t feel them. I do and I know you and Popo never left my side. I just wanted you both to know that I appreciate what you did for me. I use think that I had bad luck, I didn’t grow up with my mother or father. I was diagnosed with lupus and I dealt with a lot of adversity growing up. As I got older I realized that God and the universe have been preparing me for greatness. I realize that the universe has always had my best interest in mind. I never had bad days, I had learning days that made me into a better person. The pain I experienced was necessary because it forced me to look within. All the pain I experienced in my life has eventually created joy and more blessings. See you soon, just not too soon but you know what I mean.