I never thought I’d be sitting in a college classroom at my age, but here I am—Nikki Parker, notebook in hand, glittery pen ready, and a heart full of dreams I thought were buried twenty years ago. When I got pregnant with Kim, I had to let go of my future. Now, as she starts Santa Monica College, I’m right beside her—same campus, same drama, different generation.

Today, I walked into the wrong lecture hall and ended up giving an impromptu speech on ‘The Importance of Self-Worth’ to a room full of stunned freshmen. Kim was mortified. Later, she snapped, ‘Mom, I’m trying to make friends, not become campus gossip!’

I just smiled. She’ll get it one day.

Now, Professor Oglevee’s staring at me like I’m a science experiment gone wrong. Kim’s avoiding eye contact. And Stevie? She’s filming the whole thing on her phone.

I can either play it cool and apologize, turn it into a teachable moment, or double down and ask Oglevee if he’s ever been afraid to chase his dreams.