I was born on May 20, 1975 to a father who didn't finish the 8th grade and a mother who was mentally ill. My formative years were turbulent at best. Diagnosed with a speech impediment and classified as a slow learner, I found solace, from the teasing and mocking of other kids, through books. My insatiable appetite for reading inadvertently equipped me with an ability to write well. I became the chief writer and editor of The BTW Eagles newspaper during high school. I want to write for AAN&I