ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknowledgments

I'd like to thank all my childhood friends growing up and their families who took me in and took care of me. You all showed me a lot of kindness and humility. The world wasn't such a scary place we had to navigate on our own because we had each other and we got to explore what it meant to be friends and family. Biira I will never forget learning and writing with you and our afternoons spent at yours and the rollercoasters of crushes we had.

To Sendelle, Sendie, Mom and Dad I wouldn't be where I am without all that you guys have shown me. Thank you Mom and Dad for getting mad at me and teaching me like I was one of your own and always including me. I am so grateful but I will never play another game of monopoly with Mom. I won. No rematches. To Sendie and Sendelle do I even know what I would be doing without sisters like you? Thanks for letting me be an Edmond without having to marry a cousin of yours.

Honestly to anyone that has made me think twice about something, thank you for challenging and rechallenging my views and stances.