How I Got From Home

I remember the first day I walked into my kindergarten class, I clenched my mother’s hand with all my might to prevent her from letting go. The kids around me, whom I supposed were my classmates, had long let go of their mother’s had and were playing together, and even as a five year old, at that point I felt like an outsider. I pleaded my mom to not leave but my attempts failed as I found myself alone yet surrounded by complete strangers. As I stood in the center of the room while pushing back my tears and eyeing my mother make her way out the door, I heard the teacher call my name. I timidly walked towards the spot on the yellow carpet she was signaling at for me to sit on. I heard Mrs. Ross’s soothing voice but no matter how much I concentrated

Since the day she was born everyone knew she was something special, but she didn’t know it herself. Annie had a pretty normal life for a 16 year-old girl. She was tall with hazel eyes and light brown hair that turned golden in the sunlight. Annie was extraordinarily smart, smarter than everyone in her grade. Growing up in New York City has tought her to be strong on the outside and hold your emotions on the inside, she lives with her mother, father, and her brother. As Annie took the subway home from her last day of Sophomore year she taught to herself about all the adventures Sophomore year had given her and all the academic challenges she had overcome. She got off the subway in a rush to get home and start planning her summer out but instead she saw her parents sitting cautiously on the couch as if

Unlike most people, I did not get to be a carefree child for long. Even though I always said that I could not wait to grow up, now I wish that it all did not happen so fast and early in my life. From eleven to twelve years old—that would be the period I describe as the time I had to put my big-girl pants on and face the real, cruel and unwelcoming adult world. In that time period, I can specifically pinpoint two major events that ended my childhood: my move from Russia to the United States and the birth of my baby sister Toma. To some those might not seem significant enough to change someone’s life to the extent that they changed mine; however those events molded me into the person I am today.

I walked silently, my converse crunching on the wet sidewalk. I zipped up my jacket and took a sip of my coffee. I slowly walked towards my school when someone's shoulder slammed in to me. My coffee flew out of my hands, the lid came of as it hit the ground, spilling all over the sidewalk. I stumbled as I tried to regain my balance. I hate this small town I thought to myself. When I returned home I arrived to both of my parents sitting at the table. I looked at them with a confused look, “Ava why don't you take a seat,” Father said “we have something to tell you.” I took a seat not saying a word just giving them a confused look. “Ava honey your father got a promotion,” Mother stated “and we are going to be moving to California!” Fireworks were going off in my head thinking of all of the new things I would get to experience.

The next day, I went straight home after school like my mother had said, she made me sit at the bench perched up on those hideous stools and do my homework until dinner time. She keeps telling me to respect our culture, and how if I were in Vietnam, I'd still be at school at this hour. Hearing about Asia frustrates me, it just reminds me that I don't belong anywhere. But I didn’t have a choice, I sat there alone in front of my open books. I was almost the queen of procrastination, so I found myself questioning why I let her dictate how I spent my afternoon and why those nasty girls at school

All I wanted was moments with my mom when I was nine; I did not get it. What about age ten, eleven, and twelve? My whole childhood was snatched out from under me, and I had to grow up way to fast. Don’t worry, I did not blame you. I blamed myself until I was fifteen. It was my fault my mother tried to drown my sisters and me. I saw signs and clues. I could tell she was not acting herself, but I said nothing. I didn’t go and ask another grownup for help. I put my sisters’ lives in danger, because I didn’t protect them.

Vinyl collected herself, wiped the tears from her face. “I love you, Dad. And I won’t worry. Not until we know more.”

"Hey dad. Yeah we're leaving now. Okay see you soon. Love you too, bye." She hung up. "Okay, they're leaving now, we should get

I didn’t know what I would do without Mother; she was my rock, the only thing that was constant in my life. She was my generous advisor, unmoving and strong. I pushed these thoughts away from my head; that was in the past, I couldn’t change it, and it could never be undone. Finally reaching my destination, I sprinted up the front steps, grabbed the brass knocker, and slammed it onto the giant wooden door. The door creaked open, and an annoyed voice spoke through the crack. “Adi, I’m busy right now, please come later.” The door was starting to close before I spoke, “Elle,” I said, my voice cracking, “please, Mother has died, and this act has been passed, and Father doesn’t know what to do, and I don’t know what to do.” The door flung open, and Elle started running in the direction of our house. I ran after her, and when we reached the house, Elle pushed the door open, and yelled, “Father? Father? I’m here!” When she finally found my father, sitting at the table, head in his hands, she embraced him from behind. “I’m here,” she whispered. “Girls, sit down, we have matters to discuss.” He

I realized that my parents will forever and always love me, and wouldn’t just leave me like they had always teased about. I now understood their constant worry and repetition of concerns, because the things they would confront me about could happen, especially with my tendency to get distracted. Most importantly, I saw for the first time in my life, the major effect that parents have on their child’s life. Without their knowledge and care, my situation in Chicago could have turned out way differently, and for that, I will be forever grateful for my mom and dad and for everything they do for

It really hit home. Having to grow up the only girl who always got compared to my brothers, made it hard for me. I found myself fighting for my mom’s love and affection. To this day, I feel she will never love and cherish me as

Your essay was truly wonderful. I like how your mother struggles give you strength to keep moving forward in your high school career. It takes a strong woman and or person to face many obstacles, some harder than others and still persevere to overcome them all as well as having the time to be a mother to you and your siblings. She made the time to make sure that all of you were situated and happy before continuing on with her life and honestly you are blessed to have a mother to do that for you and your siblings. No mother wants to see their child unsuccessful. I believe your mother push you to never give up because, she wanted you to see your full potential to become who you are meant to be in life. She wanted you to be independent so you

I always wanted my mom to be proud of me. I never wanted to let her down. She never wanted me to play hockey, she knew I would get hurt. I didn’t care. I did whatever I could to achieve my goal. As a girl, I was underestimated to play Hockey because girls can’t play Hockey. But everyday I tried harder and harder. Even though my mom didn’t approve I tried harder for her, to prove her wrong that I wouldn’t get hurt and I could achieve my goal. After school I went to the rink to practice. My game was coming up and I really wanted my mom to come. I knew she would never come, but it was worth a try to ask. After practice Garrett and I walked home together. He has always lived right next door to me for as long as I could remember. He was my world,

Towards the end of my junior year of high school my English teacher, Mr. Gomez, said some very important words to me. “Before you know it, you won’t be seeing me anymore. It’s time to figure out what your next move will be. Are you prepared to grow up?’ He made me realize that the upcoming summer would be my last summer as a child and the next summer would be my first summer as an actual adult. To be quite honest, I agreed and continued on with my day. It didn’t hit me until weeks passed by that everything was happening so fast and as I thought back to what he said, it actually shook me. Throughout my life I have always been reliant on my mother. Without her, I literally would not have a thing and the more I depend on her, the longer I perceive myself as a child; a label I no longer wish to have. After all, adults are

It was late May, and summer was approaching. No more teachers, no more chalk scratching against chalkboards, and no more school lunch. It was the last day of school and I had a hard decision to make. Before I left my home, mother asked me to if I wanted finish the rest of my school years with my father or continue staying in Texas with her. When she first said it, it didn’t click right away, but then I instantly started thinking “Wow mom, you’re willing to send your youngest baby girl off to Connecticut for nine years?”