The Night Everything Changed

“The night I was being taken away from my mother, it’s clear I was more concerned with being taken away from my one constant in life – T.A. Sims Elementary. I, fortunately was able to stay with my brother, and I made it clear I was not going to be taken away from him. With him by my side, I still had the same goal of becoming something and escaping with my brother.

To be clear, I had no idea what that something would be, but in foster care, I remember clear conversations with my foster parents of when I could begin working, and I had a solid collection of used car magazines stored in my room. I had made a promise that I was not going to leave him alone, in foster care or after.

The Report: A Snapshot of My Life

The night we were taken into foster care, a report from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services described me this way:

“Michael seems to be very well spoken and intelligent. He was concerned about being able to return to his school. He inquired if he would still get to be in talented and gifted classes at his new school.”

Reading this now, I clearly recall how worried I was about losing my one constant—school.

This quote above was taken from a TX Department of Family and Protective Services report written about myself and my brother the night we were taken into foster care. I lived a turbulent life that was filled with instability, whether that was food and housing insecurity or general concerns about my brother, James, and my own safety. I knew I had one constant in my life – school. Going into foster care was taking away something I knew I had, and sent me into uncertainty. School was important to me because I knew it was my way out of my current situation, even at such a young age.

School as a Safe Haven

T.A. Sims Elementary was my safe space. The place where I could consistently get two meals a day. The place where I could feel safe. The place where I worked toward my goals of becoming something and escaping with my brother. I had pride in being a GT student, in getting good grades and in being a class favorite. I had many awards and student of the month papers to show off, but none of which made it on the fridge at home. I tried to be the best at everything, but there were moments when my circumstances at home were obvious at school.

The Harry Potter Costume: Proud Yet Embarrassed

Our school had a dress up day that had the theme of book characters. I had only one true choice – Harry Potter. That night, I was running around the house because I knew that the best dressed students would be awarded. I collected items and the next day showed up to school with glasses that I had found, a black trash bag that I made a hole in to wear as a cape, and a stick. That morning a teacher used a brown marker to make the famous Harry Potter scar. I was excited to show up to school, but soon I was filled with anxiety once I was around my peers. I was asked why I was wearing a trash bag or who I was supposed to be. Being in the winners picture made me proud and embarrassed at the same time. I began to notice that even though I tried my hardest to hide my home circumstances from others, they were noticing, which made me feel uncomfortable because my one safe place was being invaded.

Caretaking and Struggles at Home

At home, I was a caretaker of my brother. I walked him to school everyday – making myself late almost everyday. I would ask for money and sell items at school to get him food over the weekends, but any money I got, I had to ensure was hidden from my mom. Our meals over the weekend were chicken sandwiches at Church’s Chicken. Nothing at home was safe from being taken or sold.

I received a guitar at a Christmas give away, and I was so excited for this gift. The first week I had it, I would play it late into the night. I did not know what I was doing, but I was excited about learning. One day, I came back home to find that my guitar was gone. While my mom told me that it was stolen, another person living in our home told me that my mom had sold it that day.

A New Beginning: Adoption and Stability

My brother and I being adopted was the best thing that could have ever happened to us, and it solidified a future for us. While I was able to live a more relaxed and stable life, this never changed my goal driven personality. I remember there was a day that my parents sat me down and had a conversation that I no longer had to be a parent to James, but I could be a kid. This happened at the age of 13.

I was relieved, because now I could do things that I always wanted to do. I joined sports, UIL, bands, and continued in school. I felt that my parents did their best to fit an entire childhood into the five years that I had before moving off to college. James and I got to travel, and I was able to experience the world. I was able to visit 6 different countries, take part in summer camps, and try sports and experiences that I never had the opportunity to do as a kid.

My Teachers and Parents: Influences and Inspirations

I now attribute my success to the experiences that I lived through and the dedication of my parents. Their love and support pushed me to really achieve things I never saw in my future. I was also influenced by my teachers at T.A. Sims and, later, Poetry Community Christian School to become a teacher and now assistant principal. My greatest teachers would always be my parents, as they pushed me past any expectation I ever had for myself. They taught me how effort and honesty would get me far.

I once wrote a last minute essay for class, and my mom found the paper on my desk with a 100 written across the top. My mom took that essay back to school the next day and asked the teacher to lower my grade because she expected more and knew my capabilities. These were the lessons that made me who I am.

Giving Back: Shaping the Future of My Students

I have now spent my entire education career in Title 1 schools showing students the type of future that they could achieve. I have had so many students who I could relate to because of my life experiences, and over lunch or in the hallway, small conversations showed I cared about what was happening in their life, and I cared about their future. I hope to continue to have an impact on the lives of students, and in the future, I hope my scope of influence can continue to grow.”

This story was written for Love What Matters by Michael Hartsfield. Have a story of love, kindness, or healing to share? Visit our submissions portal and submit today.