How To Punish Your Inborn Drive

Annika’s natural propensity towards academic success has always placed me in a position of comparison; though three years younger, I would strive to excel as she did. Even if I couldn’t reach her level, the pressure motivated me to do my best, and her assuring and calm demeanor would remind me that there’s always another shot. Learning from her habits and attitude gave me the guidance to succeed on my own and be proud of my accomplishments; my inductance into National Honor Society proved to me that the pressure of having someone to look up to can be a supportive force rather than a debilitating grievance. Similarly, Jaineel’s natural athletic ability in every sport he pursued from basketball to karate pushed me to perform my best in tennis. His determination to live by a schedule in order to see progress gave me the foresight to not give up when I wanted to throw in the towel, and his love for sports reminds me of why I continue to play tennis even today.  Living with 8 other perspectives to a situation is a true blessing. If there is ever a dilemma in my life, everyone will share his or her opinion but support me no matter which direction I choose. Growing up with my family has definitely been a unique experience, but I would never change it for the world. My home gives me strength, assurance, stability, laughter, and love as I wake up to 8 people banging on my bedroom door every morning ready to

Being a part of a family that couldn’t afford the things that we needed, it was a necessity to learn how to survive in this chaotic world. I didn’t choose to do things the hard way, I didn’t choose to barely make ends meet, and I didn’t choose to live the life I was given. I just worked with what was given to me. Living with my family has never been the easiest, but it has taught me to thrive when the bare minimum was given to me. To face this chaotic world with the knowledge that nothing is too hard to figure

Even as my older brothers were failing their classes and disrespecting my parents, I continued to set and achieve my goals while still being a pillar for my family. Even though I didn't have the same opportunities as my peers, I still enrolled and excelled at some of the hardest courses throughout middle school and high school. Even though we have introduced and gave home to two younger boys to our family and have shifted the balance once again, I still managed to maintain an aire of normalcy and maintain my grades. Even with three older siblings who have barely passed high school and one who didn’t finish at all, I am still going to be the first go to college and I do have lofty ambitions which I do plan to accomplish. Even though nobody could probably fathom or understand what I’ve been through, what I’ve seen, what I’ve felt, I am determined to not let that hinder me, and to make a future for myself without

From the moment I walked across the graduation stage to the last moment in DeMolay, life had leaded me on a culmination of experiences. I had a profound revelation that because of all the poor circumstances I had learned to overcome. I was stronger and more prepared for the next era as an adult, and a leader who had empathy for those who didn’t have certain privileges. School was simply not easy, I didn’t not have positive role model that I could look to when conflicted with moral decisions. Kids of course looked at how I dressed and the length of my hair to judge my character. I paid no mind as I saw my future in the lyrics of each uplifting song I would play in the morning. Expression and empowerment were the culmination of a resilience and

Asking for an outfit that I could wear for my 13th birthday, I saw my parents with a dreadful look, as if their backs were hard to uphold, as if their brown eyes were ripping apart with sadness and discontent, as if they were disappointed in themselves, not being able to provide me with a gift that I deserved. Growing up in a household with parents that only had high school diplomas, had low paying jobs, and five children running around the house, I encountered countless obstacles that threatened to set me back in life. Or, as Oprah Winfrey puts it, “The struggle of my life created empathy- I could relate to pain, being abandoned, having people not love me.” Each obstacle and failure that I encountered led me to be the person I am today, the

I finally understood why my mom was nagging me to do all these things . The slight change in mindset would eventually completely change my school career. It wasn’t easy though, I struggled a lot at the beginning, but then sure enough, I was talking with my friend and I brought up the point I had just that I put together. After I told him he disagreed, he said that some people are smart and some aren't, but once I explained that if the stupidest most popular person in the world decided that instead of being popular decided they would be smart, If they worked hard they’d be just fine. Yet did I know that this would changed The way I thought about everything forever. And there we were sipping on our cans of ginger ale, the two of us would never think the same, but at the time we cared much more about what kind of bug just flew into one of our cans or why our teacher had not given back our assignments for a month. At first it felt like nothing but soon it began to trickle in our bodies that we had completely changed the complexion of our thinking, when me and my friend had finally understood how we could be smart and have other qualities and not be judged in school. From then on my me and him both got better grades and had what I’d say was a successful year. Everybody has a genius , it just depends on how you use it. Whatever life throws next, I’m

The article also relates too many of the experiences I go through in my life. For example, it talks about the need of individuals receiving recognition. As a young child I always felt more satisfied when my parents let me knew that they were proud of me and they made sure I knew that. It could’ve been the smallest of things such as learning how to tie my shoes and the enthusiasm they had for that made me feel I could do anything. Also when I was young I wouldn’t do well on my math tests even though I would study very hard for them. When I would come home sometimes I would be scared to see the reaction of my parents. However, even though it wasn’t the mark they necessarily wanted they realized that I worked hard for it and knew it would come eventually and let me know firmly that the end result must be good. So the ability of being recognized made me feel really good and kept me away from the negative thinking. As well the article talks about being a professional and not letting emotions getting the better of you. As a young child, I used to act on my emotions rather than thinking about it first. I let people’s words get in my head and that made me feel a certain way about myself. However, as I got older I got stronger mentally

Towards the end of the year we started a book that I frequently re-read to this day, Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. The book follows the Buddha in his adolescence and is a classical coming of age story. Everyone in the class fervently hated the book and for whatever reason I didn’t; I didn’t exactly know why I liked it but nevertheless I did. Once we finished the book our teacher said something that stuck with me: “One day you kids will come to appreciate this book.” That summer I went into a mild depression because, well, I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. Was I going to go to college because that’s just what you do? I used to play pick-up basketball on a court next to a library to pass the time and not think, because that would sadden me. One afternoon I went into the library to fill up a jug with tap-water, and to my surprise the library was having a sale on some of the books. The very first book I saw was Siddhartha, it was on sale for $3 and I bought it without thinking twice. When I got home that night I started reading and didn’t put the book down until I was done, and when I was done I took to the internet. I read reviews, analysis’, discussions and watch videos. The more I understood the book the more I understood why I liked it so much, the book was an allegory for what I had been going through the last year of my life. It was the greatest feeling to know that I wasn’t the only

The story of my thirteen-year-old-self offered readers a glimpse of the lowest point of my life; However, it was not the only time I felt discouragement. In Fall 2014, my mother ended up losing her job due to disability. We had to move into a dangerous neighborhood. All our lives, my mother worked hard to prevent us from residing in neighborhoods that could potentially harm us. I can recall the face she wore when she realized moving to a lower-class area was the only solution to our problems. She did not say it, but I can tell that she felt like she failed us. I patted her back the entire ride to our new home for reassurance. When we reached our destination, my stomach tied up in knots. There were dozens of people around the neighborhood

THE FIRE WITHIN For many years, I have had a desire to pursue a degree in psychology and counseling, and as a Christian I see the need for counselors with not only a worldview but also a biblical one. Ever since my first job as a Day Camp Aid with the Latrobe Parks and Recreation Board, I have been compelled to work with students; to be someone they could go to when they don’t think their parents would understand. The reason I haven’t pursued my desire until now can be summed up with two words; timing and distractions. Sitting here on my back porch, I am reminded of how God can take something so plain and turn it into something great. Throughout my life I have had many jobs but none as fulfilling as the part time youth director position I now

When God gave me the title for this book I was completely and totally dumbfounded. I was just about to return to work after a three month hiatus, which was used as a period of recuperation from a total knee replacement. My son was graduating from College, my aging parents were all having health issues and I was just started the process of allowing God to birth Speak Life Christian Ministries through me. My time was limited at best, if I am honest, I really had no time to begin the journey of becoming a published author. To be more direct and to the point I really had no desire to become a published author at all. It was as if I was being punished. I did not want to open some of the areas that this book would require me to open. I did not want to revisit my past, not because I am ashamed, but

The obstacle of my parents divorcing will always try to hinder my life, whether that be while I'm young or when I grow old. But I know it will always make me who I am - a writer, a loving sister, daughter, and hopefully, one day, a doctor. I will forever be the girl standing on the wing of a plane in my dreams, but I know my brothers will always hold my hand along the way, for no one obstacle will ever break that bond, because it’s who we are, the kids who save ourselves.

Overall, this is a brilliantly written book. It tackles a very difficult subject matter head on and in an uncompromising fashion, but without ever trying to preach, which makes its message all the more powerful. Despite this, it is incredibly easy to read, with short, focused chapters which always leave you wanting more. If you haven't already, you really ought to read this

Every man and woman strive to achieve successes, it’s what our parents teaches us at birth, but what a lot of people don’t realize, success comes with a lot of failures. I’m not going to lie, I thought life would be easy. I graduate from high school, never got in trouble, and was a promising basketball star. During high school, things were handed to me, and I never really thought about my future. When the time came for the real world, I didn’t know what the struggle and grind of life was, and growing up in the urban part of the bay area, which life a bit harder. My life was changing and I didn’t have a direction, and I kept sinking lower, until I couldn’t sink no more. With some major set in my, I set out to make change for not just me

I have reached a point in my life where I felt like I had fallen between the cracks. I wasn't aware of where life would take me or if I was following the correct path. What about which college I will go to or what career I will aim for? I have many questions followed by many unknown answers. Frustration got a hold of me. However, mid-way through my high school years, I began to reflect on my life. I gave time and thought into what my aspirations were and who I was as a person. Me being a self-conscious girl at a loss, began to reach from beneath the rocks and made a breakthrough with the help of two important people, my parents.