The First

May 5, 2017 was one of the most unforgettable days in my life.

I woke up that morning to a black and blue graduation gown, a black cap and honor regalia staring at me along with an almost empty dorm room that signified the ending of a chapter.

It was really real. The morning classes, all nighters, extracurricular activities and late night Cook Out runs were over.

I remember sitting in the gym as the graduation ceremony started and seeing my parents, brother and Nana in the stands to my right. A few tears streamed down my face because it took a lot to get me to that point.

The journey to my college graduation is a reminder that your beginning doesn’t dictate your ending. Elementary school was a bit of a struggle for me. So much so that my parents were advised to put me in special needs classes.

That news was heavy on my parents, but they decided to keep me in my day-to-day classes. I continued to struggle in middle school until I got my first progress report in seventh grade. I remember my seventh period math teacher putting the white envelope on my desk and thinking “I wonder what my parents are taking away this time.”

I had already prepared myself to be on punishment and without my television for a month or so before I opened the tri-fold paper. After unfolding the paper, I had to check the name at the top of it a few times to make sure it was the right Caleb Britt like there were two of us in the same class.

My eyes saw A’s, B’s and one C. I couldn’t believe it. Although it wasn’t a total honor roll progress report, those were the best grades that I had seen on a progress report or report card at that time.

Something clicked in that moment, and I finally realized that I was capable of doing well in school.

I went home and waited to show my parents after dinner. Of course, I had to add some drama in it before I revealed what felt like the golden ticket.

“So I got my progress report today,” I said in a gloomy tone.

“Let’s see it,” my parents said.

Both of my parents’ eyes lit up in disbelief. They always told me that I was smart and capable of doing well, but I had to apply myself and put forth the effort. I finally understood.

There was no stopping me after that. I made honor roll the remainder of my middle school career and went on to graduate from high school with honors.

Becoming a college graduate was something I didn’t see for myself for a long time, so looking over and seeing my family with smiles and tears was something I didn’t take lightly.

Not only was I about to become an honors college graduate, but I would also be the first person in my immediate family to earn a college degree. There were many times in college that I questioned myself like I did in elementary and middle school, but my family was always there to encourage me just like they did before.

I walked across the stage and received my degree knowing that it wasn’t only for myself but for my family and generations to come.