### Chapter 2
The graduation ceremony felt surreal. Anna sat among 127 other seniors in rented caps and gowns, listening to the principal's speech about "reaching for the stars." Easy words when you weren't counting quarters for gas money. She spotted her mother in the bleachers, wearing her one good dress and beaming with pride.
"Anna Walters," the principal called. She walked across the stage, accepting her diploma with steady hands despite her racing heart. The paper felt weightless, yet it carried the weight of every sacrifice her mother had made.
After the ceremony, they celebrated at the local diner where her mother worked. The cook surprised them with a small cake decorated with "Congratulations Anna" in shaky blue frosting. As her mother's coworkers gathered around, patting Anna's shoulders and sharing their own children's stories, Anna realized something profound: she wasn't just escaping poverty—she was carrying their hopes with her.