My Mama always said, “Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.”

That is what Tom Hanks said when he played Forest Gump. I could never agree with him more. I feel like life’s always throwin’ so many decisions at me. Oh, and I am not talkin’ ‘bout what cereal to choose at the local grocer. Oh no, these are big life changin’ decisions man. The kind of thin’s that could be the difference between me goin’ to college or bein’ a bus mechanic the rest of my life at Maggie’s Garage. I have always wanted to make somethin’ of myself and go live in the Big Apple as the rich folk sometimes call it. This has been my dream hoping that one of those chocolates I pick lead me to my dream city. Livin’ in a small Midwest town seems like I am shooting for Mars with my dream. New York was cross country. But “life is like a box of chocolate, you never know which one you’re gonna get.” I wanted life to give me the good chocolate, the expensive Unshelled Chocolate-covered Peanuts.

When I was ‘bout sixteen my mama and papa told me “You needed to keep hopin’ Frank. You can’t stop workin’ real hard in school and go to college if ya can.” My town, even though it ain’t on a map really, was lucky enough to have a high school that had classy teachers. One teacher even came from Boise, Mr. Snickett. He was my science teacher for two years. He always encouraged his students, wanted all us to feel real smart. I’ll never forget somethin’ he said to me in tech club one day after school, “You have a knack for building these complex machines Frank, you should consider pursuing this as a career. You really have a talent in math and science.”

I took this encouragement as my favorite piece of chocolate, life had given me a Chocolate Vermont Nut truffle, the kind I only get at Christmas time. I then began to get my hands on whatever mechanics I could, I didn’t want to just fix things; I wanted to be able to create new and improved things. I asked Mr. Snickett if I could have special lessons, and I would help with house chores or somethin’. 

Mr. Snickett helped me improve my skills. I got really good as before I graduated, and I won a competition for the most efficient remote control car design, at the National Level.  My teacher was helping me to pick the best chocolates. My parents were so proud and were supportin’ me the whole way through. I was so happy. 

Things were good for me, and I was on my way to college. I applied to ITT Technical Institute and Idaho University in Boise, Idaho hoping I could get a scholarship or Financial Aid or something. I waited and waited for what the schools would say when they replied. I didn’t think I had a chance to get into ITT but I wanted to try get there, so I could learn anything I could about science engineering and mechanics, and have the best education.  Mr. Snickett had seen something in me, when I didn’t know I had the ability to work. 

I got into ITT. How? I don’ know. It is beyond my undestandin’. I think Mr. Snickett helped have hand in that somehow. He went there too. 

I got a job in my dream city after graduating, working as an engineer for some of the most advanced weapon companies of the world. I never knew that could happen. Life is like a box of chocolates; Forest Gump’s mother was very right. I had been given the best chocolate, I had chosen it: Vermont Nut Fudge, and Unshelled Chocolate-covered Peanuts.