7 First Step Towards My Goal

At 8th grade, I live life for a single purpose.

I focus myself.

No distractions.

No nothing.

Not even my craving for my parents affection.

I steeled myself to focus in my goal.

That year trained me to be goal-oriented, and prepared me for the future.

As I walk my life towards my goal, Elsa, my older sister, graduated from high school. During her graduation, she wasn't given any awards.

She was part of the average students. Well, the school was a breeding ground for the elites, so I can't say she did bad. In contrast, she did good, she's just not part of the overly intelligent group.

After graduation, she decided New Mexico is to small and backward for her. And were could you find much better ground for the overly ambitious females like her? Of course, Hollywood!

So, she has forced herself to go to California. Even with her average status in high school she forced herself to be admitted in a Private College in Berkeley. And I don't mean the well known and prestigious colleges in Berkeley, they wouldn't even look at her.

And I said forced, because my parents have to donate a large sum of money in order for her to be admitted. And she was forced to attend that Private School which was very far from Hollywood, because no school would accept her around Los Angeles area. Don't even mention community college, she would rather wear off-season dress that attending community college, even if its in LA. So, she spent her college years around San Francisco to console herself.

As for me, life goes on. Aside from studying, I continued learning the piano and painting, then I continued to practice my languages and also my cooking.

Time pass by very fast, at 17 years old I graduated from High School. At my graduation my parents wasn't present, and I was fine with it. I'm used to it. And I already accepted what they cant be with me.

Chef Greco stand in as my parent. It was also his farewell gift for me. He was called back in Italy due to family reasons. His father, who was also a chef, is sick and no one was able to replace him in their family run restaurant. So, he was leaving us for Italy.

It saddened me that a love one is leaving me again, but he told me," EmmaBella, I think its God given timing. You are going to college and leave the mansion. What will I do in this horrible a casa."

Even sad, I cant help but laugh at what he said. He was right, I was leaving this house and the probability of me coming back is nil.

So, I just enjoyed the remaining time I have with him and further my knowlege about cooking and the Italian language. I also promised him I will visit his Ristorante di Italiano in Tuscany.

So, as a farewell gift he stood as my parent in my graduation. I belong in the Top 4 in my grade, and he was so happy for me he was smilling from ear to ear proudly. As, I look at him I cant help but think, if Nanny Natalia was here she would also smile proudly like Chef Greco. I was elated but at the same time somber.

Chef Greco left before I went to college. Before going back home he left me with these words,

"EmmaBella, you did good. Your Nanny Natalia would have been very proud of you. Be strong tesoro, I know you would reach high places. Places you never even dreamt of."

And with that he left. But while looking at the plane he was riding, I subcontiously smiled, 'I will never forget you uncle Adelmo, never...'

Days passed and I was ready for the new chapter of my life.

College here I come!