I wrote this poem in May of 2016.

I didn’t think this day would come so soon

I wasn’t prepared for the emotions I would feel

“doomed to be another “statistic” “when I had you at 17
they said

And when at 4, when the diagnosis of autism came
“Good luck to him to becoming a productive member of society
they sai

“No way, will you succeed ,brown autistic boy,
son of a teenage mom”
they said

Yet here you are –
proving THEM wrong

Here is where you belong

not yet graduated from high school
but starting your first college classes
Tonight

Here is where you belong

despite the obstacles,the haters, society
trying to diminish your light for being different

here is where you belong
-on the start of a journey to success

and here I am beaming with pride
And love for you, my beautiful brown boy

defying odds and statistics,
and everyone who ever stood in your way.
as you write your own David and Goliath story