I wrote this for a college short answer prompt, but it's something that's been running around in my mind for a while, really.

I never had quite the talent for getting my feelings across in words, but I hope a bit of how this touched me can still communicate with you, as the reader.

This story is completely true, and it affected me pretty deeply. I was supposed to keep it around 250 words, but it's already topped 330. I probably could have made this my long essay, but then I wouldn't know what to write for my short one. It doesn't really matter. I'll try to cut it down, but this is how it was when I put my hands to the keyboard and just let it come out:

I have a friend who probably won’t be attending college next year. It’s because he’s going to be pretty busy: he has a daughter to take care of now.

It truly was a reality check when I first found out that this guy I’d known since middle school had gotten his girlfriend pregnant. He had been in my Latin class for years; last year he scored the same as me on the National Latin Exam. Both of us enjoyed art, and went to the eighth period art enrichment class in middle school. I could hardly imagine that such a thing had happened to someone I knew so well.

Yet from the start I marked well a few facts I’d heard. First off, he hadn’t left his girlfriend. In fact, I was told that his girlfriend’s parents were so angry that they’d kicked her out of the house—and he took her in. Later I found out that he’d gotten a job to help cover expenses.

This year he isn’t taking Latin, so I don’t see him much, but all the while another, rather morally strict friend of mine has been pestering him. Finally that friend got him to join us at lunch one day, to discuss the issue.

What did he say?

He said that his plans for the future hadn’t changed. He said he’s still going to college, still pursuing his dreams; just not now. He said that he’s still going to be sticking to his goals, that this is only a delay, not the end, and that he loves his daughter with all his heart.

While this did not satisfy my other friend, it certainly earned him my respect. He believes he can still do it, and I believe he can do it. He’s a smart kid who made a mistake, but he’s handling it more responsibly than I could ever have imagined.

His little girl has a bright future; I know her dad will make sure of it.

That's where I ended it. It's still not quite all that I have to say, since while writing it I was forcing myself to be concise. At first I was worried I wouldn't make the word count, but it turned out I had a lot more to say than I thought I did.

Just a little testament that maybe it's not too late to believe in humans again. The conversation I mentioned happened perhaps several weeks ago? And just hearing him talk... he was completely sincere, completely realistic, but he hadn't given up hope and he hadn't given in to despair. He was dealing with the hand life had dealt him, and doing it remarkably well. I really respect him for that.

Like I said, he hadn't given up on any of his dreams. They're simply going to wait a little, but he still plans on attaining them.

I truly believe he will.