My name is Nichole and I am 16 years old.

I grew up on the rough side of town. My parents didn't care what happened to me or my six brothers. I would always be the one to see that everyone was presentable if we ever went anywhere.

I would cook and clean day in and day out. To me it was like I was the mommy and daddy, with all the responsibility I had. My oldest brother Jeffrey was 26 and he knew what I was doing but he would just go out to wild parties and have fun.

One day when I came home from school, there was a note from our parents, saying that they would not be able to stay with us anymore. At first I was furious but then I thought I would have to quit school and get a job. That was really going to mess up my future because I really wanted to become a lawyer.

The next day I went out into the job market. Every place I went I was told that they did not need anyone.

It was a week of searching until a lady suggested I go to Marvey's Grocery.

The next day I arrived there and there were about 20 other people waiting in line. There were people from both races black and white applying for the same position. When the manager came out to select the students, I wandered why he only picked the white children.

"What about me?'' I said to myself. "I'm just as hardworking as they are.'' We ran out of food and I didn't have a red cent to my name. That evening a new face showed up in town, and the word was around that he was looking for someone to come to his multi-million bank association.

Of course, almost the whole town showed up for this opportunity, even me.

Once again he only wanted white folk. But before the day was out, my luck changed.

My rich aunt showed up, she said she came to take us away to Alabama with her.

She also said that if I agreed to go there, and I was still interested in becoming a lawyer, a space was waiting for a 16 year old at a college near to her home.

I gladly accepted, and that night we packed our bags and off to Alabama we went.

NICHOLE TUCKER Primary 7, Prospect Primary.