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i left for college in 2003...well, i shouldnt say left...my parents and big bro drove me down to spelman and helped me unload my stuff...it was fun..my and my bro were in his car trailing behind our parents all the way from michigan to atlanta...my bro had already been down there at morehouse for two years so he knew the drive well...my bro and i really bonded that trip..i think he was beginning to see that i was growing up...but he was still big bro and couldnt resist torturing me for a little while longer...my bro was BIG into Wu-Tang at the time...so while he was driving that was a lot of what we listened too...here's the catch...as we were driving my bro taught me all the members of Wu-Tang and as each song played would point out who was rapping each part on whatever song....then he had me do it...but every time i forgot a member or couldnt pick them out in each song he slugged me in the shoulder...i was sore by the time we got to campus...lol...why did i let slug me? and why did i entertain this "game?" to this day i really have no clue...i was just a little sister hanging on to each and every word of her big brother...even if it was only about wu-tang...he would never try that now...i punch back...

but anyway, we got to school, found my dorm, started cleaning and getting the room pretty, met my roomie and her family...and then it was time for my parents to leave for their hotel and drive back to michigan...they were both teachers and school started for them soon after they got back..so they had no time to really hang out with me...my bro was there to show me the ropes...but even he made his way back to his apartment...so i was on my own...after some freshman O stuff my roomie and i eventually started talking and realized we had more in common that we origianlly thought...and to this day she is one of my best friends, in a way we grew up together and i know i can go to her for anything...

all that said...before my mama left she gave me a hug and said "dont let nobody give you no wooden nickels." that little piece of advice carried me through college...and although i got duped a couple times...it kinda became a little mantra in my head...sometimes i think thats my mama's way of speaking to me from michigan...her voice popping up in my head like that...kinda like the little angel on my shoulder...what was some of the best advice you have received?