Wow, Joelbear, you're a dynamo!
I still consider myself an underachiever, but I have surpassed anyone else in my family by a long shot. My mother was only 16 when I was born. I had a physical handicap, and my mother, who really judges people on their looks, had a lot of issues with it. Fortunately, she gave me to my grandparents for the most part until I was 11 years old.
Unfortunately, when I was in 6th grade, I had to go live with my parents in another state, away from my grandparents who really did love and nurture me. I went from a relatively secure, happy situation to a violent, scary one -- from rural life to city slum life, from a quiet and gentle household to a noisy, drinking, up-all-night card-playing, cursing household. My sister, brother and I were beaten with a leather belt if we inconvenienced our "parents" (sperm and egg donor) in any way (e.g., stepping in front of them while they were watching TV, breaking a glass, etc.)
My mother had a sort of rivalry relationship with me. In high school, I won the top student awards in French and in Shorthand, not because I put special effort into these things, but because I was gifted in them. There was no studying in that contentious, brawling excuse for a home.
I became a JW "publisher" at age 15, and was baptized senior year (age 17). As a senior, I was pretty much making the honor roll consistently. I was the first in my family to graduate from high school except for a couple of cousins.
My parents wanted me to go to college because they thought I was too ugly to get married. My sister is very bright, but college was not encouraged for her. I did go to college for 2 years, but my academic record was patchy because I had trouble concentrating and a lot of guilt about being in college.
I left the JW's in 1979. I took a low-paying clerical job and have gradually obtained my college degree and have a pretty good job now. I intend to get a master's degree in library science. I am going to night school to become a court reporter as well. I am going to seminars at the local university toward a certificate in public management.
My boss tells me that a promotion is on the horizon, so life is good.
BTW, I have been married twice, the first time to a JW (basically not a bad guy, though I consider him borderline developmentally delayed / seriously mentally challenged). After I had been free of dubdom for about 4 years, I married a very handsome, charming Phi Beta Kappa. It was great except for the fact that he was an alcoholic and over the 9 years we were together, the progression of that disease along with his refusal to get help made it impossible for us to stay together. We're still on friendly terms.
As I learn more about myself and others, and as I learn different attitudes, life gets so much better every day.
Regards,
Mum