I grew up on a sweet potato farm about ten miles from town. Our days started before sunrise, and vacations usually meant going to the county fair. My parents work hard—they always have dirt on their hands and more determination than anyone I know. I used to think that was enough for people to respect us.
Then I got accepted into a scholarship program at a private school in the city. It was supposed to be a great opportunity. But on my first day, I showed up in jeans that still smelled a bit like the barn. A girl with a perfect ponytail whispered, “Ew, do you live on a farm or something?”
I didn’t say anything. I just sat quietly and tried to ignore it. But the comments didn’t stop. People asked about my clothes, joked about my house not having WiFi, and even asked if I drove a tractor to school.
I stayed quiet, focused on my schoolwork, and never talked about where I came from. But deep down, I hated feeling embarrassed. Because back home, I’m not “that farm girl.” I’m Mele. I can fix a tire, handle chickens, and sell vegetables like a pro. My parents built something real with their hands. So why did I feel like I had to hide that?
The moment everything changed was at a school fundraiser. Everyone had to bring something from home to sell. Most of the students brought store-bought cookies or crafts their nannies helped them make. I brought sweet potato pie—my family’s special recipe. I made six pies, and they were all gone in twenty minutes.
That’s when Ms. Bell, the school counselor, pulled me aside to say something I’ll always remember. But before she could finish, someone walked up—someone I never thought would talk to me, let alone ask me a question.
It was Izan. Everyone liked him. Not because he was loud or trying to show off, but because he had this calm confidence. His dad was on the school board, his shoes were always clean, and he actually remembered people’s names. Even mine.
“Hey, Mele,” he said, glancing at the empty pie plates. “Did you really make those yourself?”
I nodded, not sure what he was thinking.
He smiled and said, “Do you think I could get one for my mom? She loves anything with sweet potato.”
I was a bit surprised but managed to say, “Uh, yeah, sure. I can bring one on Monday.”
Ms. Bell gave me a small smile, like she knew this would happen, and said, “I was just telling you—this pie? It’s part of who you are. You should be proud to share that.”
That night, I stayed up thinking—not about Izan, but about all the times I tried to hide where I came from, thinking it made me less. But what if it actually made me stronger?
So on Monday, I didn’t just bring another pie—I brought flyers too. I came up with a name: Mele’s Roots, and handed out notes that said, “Farm-to-table pies, fresh every Friday. Ask about seasonal flavors.” I thought maybe a few people would be interested.
By the end of lunch, I had twelve pre-orders—and a message from someone named Zuri asking if I could cater their grandma’s birthday party.
Things took off from there. Teachers wanted mini pies for their meetings. One girl even offered to trade a designer jacket for three pies. (I said no, politely—it was an ugly jacket.)
But the best part? Izan sent me a photo of his mom, mid-bite, looking amazed. The message said, She says this is better than her sister’s—and that’s saying something.
I laughed out loud. My dad looked at me and asked, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Very good,” I said. “I think we might need to grow this.”
Every Thursday after I finished my homework, my family and I started baking together. Sometimes we made pies, other times it was biscuits or bread. I ended up learning more about our family recipes than I ever had before. I even started using those stories in my school projects—talking about our farm, my grandparents, and how tough things got during dry seasons.
And slowly, people began to listen.
That girl with the shiny ponytail? She asked me for a recipe. I gave her a simple version—no way she’d use a wood-fired oven—but it still felt pretty great.
In senior year, we had to do a final project about something that shaped who we are. I made a short video about our farm. I filmed my mom washing carrots, my dad feeding crusts to our dogs, and ended it with a shot of me at the county fair next to my pie stand and our hand-painted sign.
When they showed it to the whole school, I was so nervous I couldn’t look up. But when it ended, people clapped—loudly. Some even stood up.
Afterwards, Izan came over and gave me a side hug. “Told you your story mattered,” he said.
I smiled. “It just took me a while to believe that.”
I used to think that if people knew where I came from, they wouldn’t respect me. But now I know—you show people how to see you. When you embrace your story, it becomes your strength, not something to be ashamed of.
So yeah—I’m a farmer’s daughter. And that doesn’t make me less.
It means I have strong roots.
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