SS continued to the month of graduation (and then he left for the Marine Corps – a whole OTHER story there).

So check on the possibility of an extension depending on the birthday vs graduation date.

What an amazing story…..

The family that took me in was also very large – 7 kids.

It’s amazing that givers…just keep giving.

I so appreciate you sharing your story.

My parents divorced when i was 6 and after that my mom moved us around quite a bit. At one point, my father kidnpapped us and we went to live with his parents for a few months until my mother got us back, thru the courts. In my senior year of high school, i lived the whole year with my best friend’s family becus my mother was getting remarried and moving to another town. I desperately wanted to stay in the same town with all my friends, and i got my wish thru the incredible generosity of this family with 5 kids already of their own. I can honestly say that was the happiest year of my life.

You might say my childhood was unstable. So buying a home was always very important to me, becus it represented security. I lived in the basement of my sister’s house for a few years, saving my money, and was able to put down 45% on a $209,900 house 14 years ago, where i still live today.

I have remained single and so financial security has always been very important to me becus, well, it all rests on me.

Life experiences definitely impact the way we view money.

I really appreciate you sharing your story. I’m very sorry about what happened to your hand but I am inspired by the way you turned it into an opportunity.

You are a true Wealth Pilgrim!

My story of overcoming adversity came my senior year in high school. My friend and I were on our way home from a football game and it was very foggy. We were on a back country road and we hit a fog patch and he drove straight through the curve off a 40 foot drop. Luckily we both survived and climbed out of the car just before it blew up, but my hand had gone through the window and was pretty much just hanging there.

I was a pretty big tennis player at the time and when the doctors told me I would likely never play again I was pretty devastated. But I told them I would play within two months, win first singles that spring and play in college. I did all three and won athlete of the year at my school this year.

Not near as inspirational as your story, but it changed my life for the better and it has been a great story in interviews ever sense (they seem to love to ask the “tell me a time you overcame adversity” question). I my hand is still deformed and doesn’t work quite right, but I wouldn’t trade what happened for anything.

Keep up the great posts!

I find it difficult to know how to deal with money, college, and raising my sons. Fortunately, they seem to have been born with a better sense of money than their dad, but thanks to Wealth Pilgirm, I’m learning!

Chuck

Your experiences have obviously shaped you very much.

I love these posts that let us know more about you.