Before playing football, I didn't fit in anywhere. My parents didn't have a lot of money, which they spent on our education to send us to Catholic private school in Oakland, mostly black. The other kids had more money than I did. I started school early; I was young. So I'd come back to my hood and read.
This quote highlights themes of identity, socio-economic challenges, and resilience. It illustrates how the speaker navigated feeling out of place due to economic disparities and early maturity, yet found solace in reading and personal growth within their community. The juxtaposition between private school and the neighborhood underscores struggles with social belonging and the search for self-understanding amidst adversity.
