Growing up in Houston I could see a business man full of success and then I would move my eyes away from him, to see a homeless man barely making it by all on the same street. It is sad that in order to live you have to focus on gaining a green piece of paper.…
In 1752 I was a seventeen year old destitute living in Scotland, Ireland. I had no real skill-trade or education, but with high ambitions to learn and become a collective dependant I would earn a stable lively-hood in one of the New World colonies. I suffered losses of loved who fell sick and died with only a few remaining that were as impoverished as myself. I feared there would be no prospect of a better life in Scotland and contracted myself as an indentured servant for passage to the New World colonies. Along with many others I boarded a New World merchant ship that specialized in the trade of textiles and clothing. In exchange for travel, food, and decent health, I was sold for profit to proprietors in the New World. The voyage to New…
From what I recall, the day was heated, as were most days living on the top floor of a run down, income based apartment complex. Our second hand wall air conditioner sucked, and we were miserable. While annoyingly listening to the foreign toddlers run up and down the hallway in their diapers, I made the decision; it was time to move.…
I can’t seem to wrap my head around how drastically things can change in a short amount of time. It seemed as if I was in El Salvador a few months ago, when in reality it’s been two years. I can still remember every single detail of my trip. From getting coconut water when first arriving to saying goodbye to family before heading to the airport. All I can picture is the beautiful green fields and the little corner shops. I can still hear the sound of kids playing in the streets and the ringing bells of ice cream carts. The image I have of El Salvador is completely different to what it is like now.…
Growing up in Massachusetts, meant there were plenty of beautiful places to explore each summer. You could go North to Maine, Vermont, or New Hampshire., or maybe South to Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard. While I did vacation in all of those places, my favorite place was in Maine, Pemaquid Point.…
Growing up in a very horrid environment can often be too influential to the point where it drives much of the youth, like myself, to ignore their dreams. However, I am an exception of this situation. I have primarily grown up in the urban area of Detroit, Michigan with many negative influences surrounding myself and others. Constant violence and crimes being committed was becoming normal for the east side of Detroit, in which I was living. It is clear to see that no child would be able to have a positive, effective future being near all of that commotion. Fortunately, my family and I were able to escape those particular troubles and move to a place where the community was more welcoming and beneficial. Aside from the general living conditions,…
I always keep this poem and picture in my wallet. I take it everywhere with me because it means quite a lot to me in two very different ways. One of those ways is because it holds sentimental value. When I was younger I learned to read very late in life and I was always so embarrassed of that. My father knew that I was struggling and bought me the book, Where the Sidewalk Ends. It is a book full of poems and little pictures written by Shel Silverstein. I remember opening the book to ta random page, and it was the page with this poem. I then remember my dad asking me to read it to him. I was so uncomfortable, even thought I was just going to be reading to my dad. He gave me some words of encouragement, and even thought I was not able to read…
My family environment has influenced me a lot especially when my siblings were born. I am the oldest out of five, so I'm always look up to. I always had to make a good example and never show that I was scared. When my mom and stepdad had to work, I would take care of them until they came back while getting my schoolwork and practicing my instrument done too. I never really had a chance to be a kid, I always had to be a mother to my siblings. I would always wish for more time in the day for myself, Although watching them grow up from when they were small and started school for the first time made up for that loss time. I live up to a quote, "Be the master of your future, not the slave of your problems." My senior year I had to stop being…
My first home for many years. This land comes rarer to me as the day…
Tears fell while hiding in the bathroom stall at a small town middle school. Fear and anxiety were two objects in life that I could never get a grasp of. They controlled every aspect of who I was. These emotions determined when I would talk to my best friend or when I would eat. I had no control of myself once any thought of worries entered my head.…
I grew up in a school district composed of small farming communities. When I was younger, I didn’t enjoy living in a small town. I dreamed of living in a large city filled with many attractions, big malls, and fancy restaurants. However, my perspective changed in high school, especially after earning my driver’s license. I spent more times with my friends. In addition, I went to more sporting events, and I participated in school activities and organizations. I got a job. Most importantly, I understood that I only have authority over what I’m able to control. I learned how to appreciate the small commodities in life. It’s satisfying saying hello and good morning in the halls, doing the little finger wave as you drive by someone, and enjoying…
Fitting into an unfamiliar place was quite the task. Due to the feeling of being out of place I started to socialize with the wrong crowd. Suddenly my mentality started changing rapidly, the more I spent time with those people the more I had become like them while attaining their fixed mindset. Than it came to me that I couldn't accomplish anything, I wasn't good at any subject in school. All of my grades started plummeting completely I had such terrible grades my first semester. My mother scolded me tremendously due to this. Than all of a sudden it hit me, I realized that I wasn't around the right kind of people. My views on my academic ability, had to change I need to start believing I had the potential to do good. Sadly, it didn't work out as great as I would've liked that semester, I failed to accomplish…
I would consider my family and I to be in the working class status, which is also defined to be under as a lower-class group. My family has worked extremely hard from having absolutely nothing to something. They migrated from Mexico to the United States for better opportunities, since in Mexico there were insufficient jobs for my parents to even have a home or food. My parents first moved to Florida where I was eventually born. We then moved to North Carolina when I was about a year old. I honestly never knew there was such a thing as social classes and the meaning of it each class. Since, I can always remember my family have shared similar characteristics to that of a lower-class family.…
Reminiscing back four years ago to my first year as a freshman at Northridge Academy High School, I’ve learned and realized that I have truly matured as a person morally and as an intellectual individual as well. As a freshman to a high school, I stepped into a new learning environment not knowing what to expect from my classmates nor my academics, but it would only be the beginning of a life changing experience. I came to school with an empty mind of thoughts and I only truly cared about having my friends around me and having them for my classes as well. Throughout the years at NAHS, I gladly accepted to become a bit less social and become much more serious mentally and emotionally as well, instead of focusing on little unimportant situations in life. Soon I came to realize that high school was an important part of my journey towards learning and acquiring new knowledge and skills that will come in handy towards pursuing my career. These past three years have taught me that hard work pays off, that I will always have an open mind towards learning and differences, and that I will always maintain a positive attitude within myself so I can achieve and be a successful person.…
Growing up in poverty was the best was the best thing that ever happened to me. Living in a house full of 5 siblings, and having to share everything I have with all of them, sure did take a toll on me. Especially while being the youngest sibling, I have to do all the chores in the house, by myself. All of my siblings were always worried about themselves, so every time I had a fight in school, I had to deal with the person I’m fighting and their older brother, by myself. I had to deal with my own problems, and survive by myself, at such a young age.…