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An Ode To The Street I Grew Up On

Thank you for the memories. Thank you for teaching me the American Dream.

Shakira Cross

Jan 08, 2019

University of Missouri

339

Photo by Hans M on Unsplash

Sexton and Worley

Garth and Ash

This house

Front yard

White picket fence

A driveway that leads to an open garage

Garden

Steps

Living the American dream

Backyard

Caged

Wild stray cats

And crazy neighbors who were drunk just like my stepfather

Sexton and Worley

Garth and Ash

This house

Walking distance from education

We were

Walking school buses

House to house

Yelling "Let's go!"

When we were really yelling

"Let's prove them wrong because we know they don't want to see black children in classroom seats, they'd rather see black children in class six streets"

But our elementary school minds weren't that deep

That was the first time

I had ever seen a bird ran over

Death

Wasn't the first time I experienced it

Sexton and Worley

Garth and Ash

Next door neighbors

Filled with kids

You would think it was a foster home for the loud

I was taught how to fight

I was taught that life throws punches way before the age of sixteen

I was taught to duck when one is coming fast

Sexton and Worley

Garth and Ash

Beer bottles

Brown

With condensation still left on it

White

Pulled out of refrigerators from seven year old hands because

Stepfather needed it

Barbershops

Where you learned that people who need a haircut the most talks the most smack

And back ends of sorority house kitchens where I did first grade homework

And where you learned that the food is frozen before cooked

Janitors and drug deal corners

Ambulance sirens

Gunshots

Fireworks

Police sirens

Red, white, and blue

Oh yes, we were living the American dream

Sexton and Worley

Garth and Ash

Progressive

Church

Right up the street from our house

Praises being sung so loud I could hear it through my bedroom window

Ebonics

And mom's rich Arabic accent

Like the cakes she use to bake

Hoping to see the day

That these streets will be more in movies

Instead of sitting on couches in the

Front yard

White picket fence

With eight year old eyes looking back thinking that

Sexton and Worley

Garth and Ash

Was my American dream

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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An Ode To The Street I Grew Up On

Thank you for the memories. Thank you for teaching me the American Dream.

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Actually, Kylie Jenner, 2018 is the year of realizing things.

Waking Up Early in College is So Much Harder

You Have to Get Used to Walking Everywhere

Fuzzy Socks are the Cure to All Problems

Take Every Opportunity to Get Free Food

It's Okay to Gain the "Freshman Fifteen"

Invest in Vitamins and Supplements

Making Time to Clean is Essential

Drinking Water is Actually Important

Cs get degrees!

1. Me after every class

2. If you really care about your grades

3. When you get a new homework assignment

4. When people ask what you're going to do after college

5. When you see people who don't study and get good grades

6. We're all broke here

7. FREE FOOD IS FREE FOOD!

8. When it seems like everyone in class is smart - EXCEPT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP PROJECT!!

Other than knowledge and all those important things

How to take stairs.

Caffeine is your friend.

How to study.

Finding free food.

How to take a nap anywhere.

How to appreciate sleep.

How to procrastinate productively.

Surprise: This is not on the syllabus

1. As a freshman, one does get to be called “freshman” by upperclassmen when they walk to parties in a mob of people.

2. Some of the best stories happen after 2 a.m.

3. Upperclassmen live for meal swipes from freshman because they are poor and need free food.

4. People are struggling just as much as you are so you're not alone.

5. You will never take privacy or personal space for granted ever again.

6. You are not the only one who has slept on the community bathroom floor after a night out.

7. Skipping class for Netflix is a valid excuse.

8. It’s totally acceptable to bring a pot of coffee, a sleeping bag and a pillow to the library.

9. Having class with a friend is the best because you can trade off days on who goes to class.

10. When you are a senior, you take the easiest classes to boost your GPA.

11. How to pull an all-nighter.

12. How to handle drunk people.

13. The drunk you does not look out for sober you about 90 percent of the time.

14. How to deal with a hangover.

15. How to interact with people very different from you.

16. The perfect amount to procrastinate on every assignment.

17. How to pass a class without paying for the textbook that was "required."

18. How to calculate your grades to see what you need on every test in order to maintain a passing grade.

19. How to hook-up with someone without getting emotions involved (but we all know that doesn’t happen).

20. How to handle your roommate when you want to strangle them.

21. That you miss your parent’s every day.

22. How to get into a bar when you aren’t 21.

23. How to BS on assignments, out loud and on your resume.

24. That theme parties are the greatest.

25. How to find free events that have free food.

26. That when there are puppies on campus it will be the greatest day of your life.

27. Alarms are necessary and you must set like seven of them in order to wake up in time for class.

28. Greek parties are exactly how they are in movies.

29. Care packages are treated like Christmas presents.

30. The friends you meet in college will become your bridesmaids and groomsmen.

31. That printers only break when you need them the most.

32. Cereal, ramen noodles, Easy Mac and microwavable pancakes can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

33. That classes before 8 a.m. should be illegal.

34. Changing your major is OK.

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

"You should know exactly what career is right for your future by the time you're 18."

"Save all your money."

"Get plenty of sleep and adjust to a regular sleep schedule."

"Make sure to eat healthy, balanced meals. Don't forget those fruits and vegetables."

"Surround yourself with good, moral people."

"Don't do anything stupid."

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