LM Preston, Author of the Explorer X series and The PackMy senior year ended with a bag. Several things went wrong and quite a few went right. I was supposed to go to Penn State University. But, crap happens. My plans for packing up and going to live on miles away from home were cut short due to a family catastrophe. With that catastrophe I had to grow up pretty fast. Let’s face it, as a product of a teen mom – I was used to it. I’d always thought about life by planning a plan A, B and C. At that point I had to do the below. Most high school graduates find themselves having to make similar choices.
GOT A JOB
Luckily at the time, Washington DC had a program for graduating seniors where they spent 4 weeks training you in job skills – and guess what else? They gave you a job afterwards and they paid you while you went. During that time I went to resume writing workshops, learned clerical job skills and took on my first student ‘stay in school job’. I was able to work 20hrs a week with pay at the end of the program. In addition I worked at a local drugstore in order to save money for Community College and pay rent in the room I was renting from a friend.
GO TO COLLEGE
At the time, since I had limited funds and didn’t know how to apply for scholarships or financial aid, I just applied to Community College. I took 5 classes while working my two part-time jobs. My other friends were at four-year colleges, partying it up and wasting their parents money. But for me, this was serious business. School, a degree, was a way for me to survive in the future and get out of the rooming house I lived in.
By chance I met another college student who asked me why I didn’t have a scholarship (my grades were a 4.0) and I told her I didn’t know how to apply or find them. She sat me down and taught me. She didn’t realize that she was my angel. After that, it was on to a 4-year university where I lived on campus and of course – still worked 2 part-time jobs. Why? Because I needed money to survive and I didn’t have a mom or dad to give it to me. I didn't stop there, I pursued my Master's degree and made sure it was a specialty that I would be able to make enough to take care of myself.
THINGS I LEARNED
Yeah, post High School was a struggle for me – but, I wouldn’t change it for a moment. Why? Because I grew up, learned to take care of myself, realized that partying, drinking, and drugging was a waste of my time. I, unlike my peers in college, had no where to go when break time came. I had no parents homes I packed up and went to. I learned through the school of hardnocks – to sink or swim, and I was determined to swim. You can too!
by: LM Preston, author of The Pack and Explorer X - Alpha, www.lmpreston.com, http://lmpreston.blogspot.com
Luckily at the time, Washington DC had a program for graduating seniors where they spent 4 weeks training you in job skills – and guess what else? They gave you a job afterwards and they paid you while you went. During that time I went to resume writing workshops, learned clerical job skills and took on my first student ‘stay in school job’. I was able to work 20hrs a week with pay at the end of the program. In addition I worked at a local drugstore in order to save money for Community College and pay rent in the room I was renting from a friend.
GO TO COLLEGE
At the time, since I had limited funds and didn’t know how to apply for scholarships or financial aid, I just applied to Community College. I took 5 classes while working my two part-time jobs. My other friends were at four-year colleges, partying it up and wasting their parents money. But for me, this was serious business. School, a degree, was a way for me to survive in the future and get out of the rooming house I lived in.
By chance I met another college student who asked me why I didn’t have a scholarship (my grades were a 4.0) and I told her I didn’t know how to apply or find them. She sat me down and taught me. She didn’t realize that she was my angel. After that, it was on to a 4-year university where I lived on campus and of course – still worked 2 part-time jobs. Why? Because I needed money to survive and I didn’t have a mom or dad to give it to me. I didn't stop there, I pursued my Master's degree and made sure it was a specialty that I would be able to make enough to take care of myself.
THINGS I LEARNED
Yeah, post High School was a struggle for me – but, I wouldn’t change it for a moment. Why? Because I grew up, learned to take care of myself, realized that partying, drinking, and drugging was a waste of my time. I, unlike my peers in college, had no where to go when break time came. I had no parents homes I packed up and went to. I learned through the school of hardnocks – to sink or swim, and I was determined to swim. You can too!
by: LM Preston, author of The Pack and Explorer X - Alpha, www.lmpreston.com, http://lmpreston.blogspot.com
~~~
You can read my review of LM's novel, Explorer X - Alpha, here. It's one for tweens who are into sci-fi.
Contest Time
Giveaway Item(s): A copy of Explorer X - Alpha with magnet and poster# of Winners: 1
Eligibility: International
Entries (Leave links if needed)
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15 comments:
HAH. I love the cover of this book. Enter plz?
+1 New follower.
kemendraugh at gmail dot com
Go Ms. Preston! Glad to see that you were able to pick yourself up and brush yourself off after that family catastrophe at such a young age! In a world where things seem to go from bad to worse, you chose the right path!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
new follower, please enter me
I just found your blog via La Femme Readers and have signed up as a Follower via GFC.
I have a nephew who would love to read the book, so please include me in the giveaway.
Thank you for opening it up to worldwide entries.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
young adults from priviledged background - certainly a whole 'nother breed of people. Never understood them. I came from poor families too. my parents were divorced during a time when it was really frowned on. I didn't go to any college until after I had all four of my kids. Still struggling - but that's the thing about life. Sometimes, even when you work really hard at it, things don't always work out. I've learned to try to enjoy what I have. Unfortunately, My husband doesn't think that way and the last few years have been pretty tough. Trying to stay positive with a negative man in your life is hard. But we've been married 30 years and I guess I'm still trying to make the best - although I'm not trying that hard anymore :). Now, I'm just trying to make sure I'm enjoying myself - even if it's just simply sitting down and reading a good book.
I'd love to participate, I've heard good reviews about this book-1
magabygc(@)gmail.com
New follower
wow, you had difficult times but you sure did everything right! I don't know if I would have done the same! Obviously your hard work made you a stronger person.
My senior year was great, and at this moment I'm a college student, but I don't waste time drinking and partying...mostly because my parents are doing an amazing effort for me to study. This December I'm finishing and by next year I'll be graduating!
this cover AND the author foto look fantastic!! congrats, LM!
I'd love to enter.
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Count me in please!
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I would love for my son to read this book.
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Count me in please!
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Count me, please.
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I'm a new follower and my children would love this book. I've read about this author before..good things.
Please count me in. Cheers.
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