Angels, Aliens, and Crazy Mom

The author reflects on their dysfunctional family upbringing and how they, along with their sisters, had to hide their situation from others due to cultural norms and assumptions made by educators and others that kids from dysfunctional homes are less likely to be academically successful. They emphasize that children in such situations do not necessarily need family support to succeed but rather need the opportunity to build skills to be successful. They encourage educators and school counselors to challenge and rigorously educate high-performing students regardless of their home situation and for people from dysfunctional homes to recognize that things can come out okay for them in the long run. They note that a lot more people have grown up in dysfunctional households than previously realized, and many have learned to navigate toxic environments and become successful in life.