Every child has a unique background that shapes their individuality. They must face and conquer the obstacles they encounter in their personal lives to secure a brighter future.
I come from a family of immigrants who came to this country with the aim of providing a brighter future for their children. Education held great importance in my parents’ eyes since early on, as they desired all four of us to surpass junior high school and achieve college degrees. Sadly, due to their immigrant status, they held low-paying jobs that couldn’t sufficiently sustain our family. As a result, sacrifices were inevitable, including the inability to afford higher education for my siblings.
As a young child, I witnessed the unpredictable behavior of my father due to his financial stress, which led him to become an alcoholic. Whether I would encounter a loving father or a terrifying monster who violently attacked my mother remained unknown. Unfortunately, despite my mother’s wish to escape with us children, she was unable to do so because she lacked the necessary financial resources for independent support. Consequently, she felt trapped in this abusive relationship.
During a span of six years, I endured abuse from my uncle who had come to America to provide financial assistance for my family. The additional income alleviated my father’s concerns, resulting in an end to his drinking problem. With my mother no longer in danger from the man she married to protect us, I endured a life of silence to ensure her safety.
At around the age of ten, the circumstances in which I existed underwent a transformation. Anorexia and depression introduced me to an altered environment. Now, my surroundings primarily comprised mental health institutions, where I found myself surrounded by those who shared similar struggles. Being admitted to the hospital provided a certain amount of relief, as it allowed me to escape from the person who had been abusing me.
Despite the challenges I faced in my upbringing, such as having an alcoholic father and abusive uncle, as well as being surrounded by mentally ill individuals in hospitals, I am now a resident of Girls Hope. This organization has provided me with comprehensive treatment that helped me overcome personal struggles like anorexia, depression, and the abuse from my uncle. Alongside healing, Girls Hope has given me many opportunities including a nurturing home environment, a four-year scholarship to Rosary High School, and financial aid for college. Despite the difficulties of my past worlds, they have ultimately shaped me into a resilient individual. My greatest aspiration is to be the first person in my family to attend college – a dream made possible by the unwavering support of Girls Hope. I cannot express enough gratitude for all that they have done for me.
Throughout life, everyone faces challenges in academics or sports. In my earlier years, my main struggle was maintaining focus. I had difficulty concentrating on one activity for a long time, like reading a book. Now, this challenge persists but with a different emphasis. While I can now immerse myself in reading without distractions for hours, focusing on my schoolwork is hard for me. When given a task, I either rush to complete it before losing interest or procrastinate until the last minute. During class discussions on familiar topics, I tend to mentally drift away into my own thoughts. Additionally, when faced with a difficult assignment, I briefly consider it but if no immediate solution comes to mind, surrendering and shifting focus becomes my default response.
When given an assignment, I have two approaches. Either I complete it quickly to avoid getting bored, or I leave it unfinished until the last minute. I struggle to focus on one task because I prefer doing other things first. For example, if I have a new movie and an assignment due the next day, I find it hard to concentrate on my school work without feeling tempted to watch the movie.
As a result, I often end up completing the assignment right before going to bed. Moreover, if someone is nearby, I tend to procrastinate on my task and engage in conversation with them instead. Additionally, if the assignment’s subject is particularly dull, I often catch myself daydreaming or postpone it until I feel motivated enough to tackle it.
My mind tends to wander and become absorbed in my own thoughts when a topic that I already know about is being discussed in class. This happens, for instance, when we are learning about multiplying exponents in math; I may find myself daydreaming or doodling on a piece of paper. Furthermore, if the teacher goes off-topic or talks extensively about unrelated subjects, I also tend to mentally disengage.
In conclusion, individuals have their own personal issues. However, successfully overcoming these obstacles is a significant accomplishment. It provides individuals with the confidence and self-esteem needed to conquer future challenges.
