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One Girl, Two Sides
dymond phillips • May 23, 2017
Everyone knows I'm the only child, but surprisingly I have a huge family. My parents had me at a young age and were never married. My two sides of family are so different it's crazy. Honestly like night and day. I'm closer to my mom's family; I see them more and was more so raised by my mom. Turley/Fenderson is my mom side and Phillips is my dad. My Phillips side is less united, my Turley side is closer in my opinion. Both sides have their problems, but they both support me in whatever I do. One of the major differences between my two sides is education. For my father's side education is a choice...a couple graduated highschool. BUT I'm the only one in college. My father did some college but never finished. For
my mother's side education is a expectation. Growing up I can't count all the high school or college graduations we drove or flew to for my family.
My mothers side is full of college grads even my mom went to college and law school with a 4 year old on her side. Growing up, my Turley side always motivated me to push for the top. Every year there is at least one graduation that we go to. My Turley side consists of teachers, dentists, lawyers, preachers and more. With all this success, you can only imagine the pressure I had on my back. Senior year my family members always asked me, "so what school you going to?" It was never a question if I was graduating high school and going to college or not. On the other hand, sending out my graduation invitations to my Phillips side they were overly excited to see me walk across stage. Don't get me wrong my Turley side supported and were excited that I graduated high school but it was never a doubt in their mind that I would.
My Phillips side had a couple high school dropouts for different reasons. They were happy to see me succeed because it's not their norm. Then when I told them I was going to school in Atlanta at Clark, they were even more shocked. I was the only person on my dad's side to go away to college. With that pressure, it's hard because I know I have to finish for them. I have little cousins on that side looking up to me because it's something they've never experienced. It's more pressure on my Turley side to do well and finish college and go on to get my masters because I can't be the odd ball to not finish. I know all of those who came before me so I can't let them down. Both sides motivate me because on one end I know I have to keep the legacy going and on the other side I know I have to keep breaking the bars for generations to come. My family always have my back and support me and I will give back to them soon as I make it. "Y'all will never understand why I grind like I do, my family the reason why I do what I do!"
