i am the oldest of 3 kids raised by my single parent mother. although we were poor and living in an underprivelegd situation, my mom encouraged my natural creative drawing ability and taught me to read by age 4, so when i entered kindergarten i was considered a gifted child in the 99th percentile. adults would often give me a classic book or an encyclopedia and ask me to read which i would do with ease, or they’d ask me to draw something which i would do with pleasure. the respect and approval i got from others gave me great self confidence from a very young age. during my childhood school years i was a straight A student, winning many scholastic awards.
