Former Midland College student reflects on obstacles she conquered while obtaining degree

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Brycie Tamayo | Midland College

Midland College student Brycie Tamayo has experienced significant challenges on her path to higher education. Her journey was marked by experimentation with ADHD medications, marijuana, and methamphetamines during her youth in Morton County.

According to a Midland College news release, Tamayo faced a critical turning point when she discovered she was pregnant at 15 and unsure of the father's identity. "When I discovered that I was pregnant, I stopped the drugs and alcohol briefly, but as soon as my son was born, I went right back to the abuse," Tamayo said. "However, that wasn’t the low point of my life."

Tamayo lost custody of her son by the time she turned 20 and was arrested for a second-degree felony. "I had several opportunities to get my life back on the right track, but I guess I didn’t want to be helped at the time," she said. "I was in two psychiatric hospitals—one in Fort Worth and one in Wichita Falls. There was also a nice lady named Sylvia Silva who owned a real estate company in Fort Worth. I’m not sure what she saw in me. She took me to her home and wanted to help me, but I panicked and left. I was homeless once again, and I hung out with a guy named Squiggy on the streets of Fort Worth. At one point, I was living in an abandoned house and dealing drugs."

According to the news release, Fair Havens, a local organization, assisted Tamayo in regaining custody of her son and supported her attendance at Midland College. There, she discovered a talent for creative writing and earned an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice. In April, her autobiographical short story "How Did I Get Here," detailing her experience of homelessness in Fort Worth, won second place at the Sigma Tau Delta National English Honors Convention.

"I loved having Brycie in my creative writing class," Stacy Egan, Midland College English professor, said. "Her enthusiasm for fiction writing and the supportive feedback she gave her peers made the class such a close-knit community and a joy to teach. I have traveled with Brycie to conventions in Atlanta, Denver and St. Louis, and watched her share autobiographical work that has inspired so many people."