After Perfect
Page 31
A very special thank-you to Sarah Fenske at LA Weekly for publishing my article “An Open Letter to the Makers of The Wolf of Wall Street and the Wolf Himself,” and Hillel Aron, for passing it along. When my article went viral I received thousands of emails of love and support from across the globe. I read every single one. I’d like to thank all of those who wrote to me, and whose stories and words of kindness became my engine on the days I felt like giving up.
I’d like to thank my high school history teacher, Alex Haight, for being the first person to teach me how to construct an argument and write an essay.
To my little Havanese, Zelda Fitzgerald, who slept underneath my desk while I wrote most of these pages, and who always knew when I needed a good walk.
Lastly, I would like to thank my mom and my sisters, who are survivors of their own individual journeys. The pain on these pages belongs not only to me but also to them. I thank them for their bravery in encouraging me to “get it out, Christina, get it out,” so that what was left inside of me could find its place to live. Thank you.
CHRISTINA McDOWELL teaches creative writing with InsideOUT Writers, a nonprofit for currently and formerly incarcerated youth. Originally from McLean, Virginia, she lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Zelda Fitzgerald.
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Certain names and identifying characteristics have been changed, whether or not so noted in the text. The timeline for certain events has been reordered or compressed.
Copyright © 2015 by Christina McDowell
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First Gallery Books hardcover edition June 2015
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Interior design by Jaime Putorti
Jacket design by Regina Starace
Jacket image courtesy of Christina McDoweel; airplane by Getty Images
Author photograph by Elisabeth Caren
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McDowell, Christina.
After perfect : a memoir / by Christina McDowell.
pages cm
1. McDowell, Christina. 2. McDowell, Christina—Childhood and youth. 3. Prousalis, Tom. 4. Fathers and daughters—Biography. 5. Securities fraud—United States. 6. Securities industry—United States. I. Title.
CT275.M465358A3 2015
306.874'2—dc23
2014039144
ISBN 978-1-4767-8532-5
ISBN 978-1-4767-8542-4 (ebook)