I never in a million years pictured myself attending college once again at the age of twenty-six. My goal was to be completed with my Bachelors degree by the age of twenty-five and headed in the direction of a nice career (that I actually enjoy)! But as we all know too well, life changes and goals need to be adjusted.
My name is Carrie Nichole Kelley. I was born on February 24, 1986, in Quincy, Illinois, to Shirley Kelley-Miller and David Kelley. I was the only child until the age of four when my brother, Cory, came along in January 1990. Shortly after Cory was born my parents separated and eventually divorced. We ended up moving in with my grandparents so my mother could have help caring for us. I can’t say I remember a lot of my childhood, but from watching home videos that my grandparents kept, I was a happy little girl. I was really into baby dolls and Barbie’s and following Grandpa around everywhere he went. Grandpa was my role-model. I looked up to everything he said and did. I don’t recall my father, David, really being a part of my life. Grandpa was more of my father-figure; attending all school functions, extra-curricular activities, and taking me anywhere and everywhere I wanted to go. There was never a time Grandpa was not there for me. About a year after moving in with my grandparents, my mother bought a mobile home and moved our little family of three. It was a perfect neighborhood, with other kids my age and from the same school. I had instant friends at my new home. I was about seven years old when my mother married Dana Miller. At the time, Dana had no children and completely accepted my brother and me as a package deal. About a year after their marriage my half-sister, Danielle, was born in June 1993. And then in September 1994, my other half-sister, Dakota, was born. Growing up, I was never close to any of my siblings.