Microphone checked. Lights dimmed. Curtains closed. Murmurs of voices filled my ears like an endless buzz. Once the curtains opened, I stared into the distance and a bright light blinded my eyes. In those couple of seconds before the time of my life, I began to reminisce about the long journey that brought me to where I was standing. It feels like just yesterday I was eight years old going to church for the first time on Saturday at two...

Chose a school where...