Afro-American Me is a literary collection of my poems and essays written while pursuing an associate's degree in mental health/chemical dependency at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I used to think writing papers about self-inventory and awareness was a way of inducing a severe headache. Boy, was I wrong! I learned so much more about myself than I could ever imagine. Attending college has been more than just a higher education; it's been a journey of discovering my true purpose and creative talents. All my college instructors brought out the best in me. One instructor told me, "Always write what you know about." That advice grew with me, and it's never failed me. My poetry teacher always challenged me to go deeper with my poems. That advice motivated me to rewrite and revise my poems until they become masterpieces. I will never forget the last thing my poetry teacher said to me: "When you write your book, I'd like to have a copy." Every poem and essay I've written has a personal connection-something I know about, a personal experience, how I feel, or my opinion about something.