Now living in the White-centric community of Whittier, a change in image and attitude was a must. To avoid some of the previous pitfalls with both White and Mexican American students, I altered my countenance by cutting off my oversized Afro. The hair that remained was too short to even wave. I removed my beard, leaving only a short goatee, and hardly recognized myself afterward. The transformation was astounding, and my new image not only opened previously closed doors, but the Whittier police stopped harassing me for Walking While Black. To prepare for fall enrollment, I took a few remedial English courses at the local junior college. It was there that I met Juanita, an EOP program counsellor. Because I was a high school dropout, I struggled with college-level courses. Concerned with my lack of scholastic progress, Juanita helped me obtain work in the construction trade. I remember her saying, “Maybe college isn’t
right for you at present. You can always take evening courses when you’re ready.” She was much wiser than I, and I later sought her advice on numerous occasions, particularly after we were married.