Looking Back At The Beginning Of Last Year, Life Was Not

I wanted to do better, until I get the most unexpected news ever. It was happening again, but this time wasn't just another house down the road, it was back to Maine. Even though I grew up here I honestly didn't want to come back. I felt I was doing great but really I was comfortable. I complained but in the end I had to face it. This unexpected move took two weeks for us to leave and get to Maine. We stayed with my aunt for about six months, then moved right back to the same old house in Alfred. I'm glad to be back, but I wonder what it would be like if I stayed but what matters it what happened and what it did. I thought through those three years that my life was ruined and my future was ruined, but in a way, it's helped. I hate to admit it, but it showed, because I now have more confidence and passion than ever.

I felt intimidated and uneasy while I was introducing myself to the group because I did not get a reaction from them, thus, I was unsure if they were uncomfortable with my presence. Although, I perceived that they seemed to be a quiet group because when I initially entered no one was mingling,

I felt a genuine and intense passion in the epidemiology field, especially in the infectious diseases department, and I felt sure of where things were going. And then I met a man. For the next three years I held on to an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. Throughout my freshmen, sophomore, and junior year I lied about my wellbeing, I sacrificed my studies, I cut off ties with friends that were my only support system, and I made several excuses for a person who did not deserve second chances. I finally found the courage to leave the unhealthy relationship. Unfortunately, I suffered chronic depression during my senior year as a result. There were several days I did not have the energy or willpower to get out of bed. I struggled with an overwhelming guilt of giving up on a person who needed more help than I did. I struggled with my self-esteem, and many days I lost motivation to push myself. I grew quite angry that I wasted years my family sacrificed for. I let them down and I could not forgive myself for that. But slowly I started to realize that the person I let down the most was myself. I was once a person with ambition, and goals and somewhere between trying to make someone else happy I lost myself. I wish I could say that i pulled myself together, that I suddenly became happy, or that I pulled all my grades up but I had rough days, weeks, and sometimes bad months. Luckily

My mind was racing with thoughts about how I hated my major and never wanted to study history in the first place, how I didn’t feel I was smart enough for the school or scholarships I had earned and how I just really wanted to leave and go back to Holland because I did not love the school I thought I loved. The next day I met my mom at Aquinas College and after even more tears I explained how I wanted to drop out. After filling out paperwork and packing my things I left with my mom to Holland feeling like a failure because I dropped out of college not even forty- eight hours after moving in. When we got home my mom made a big dinner to cheer me up and said these words that still give me so much hope, “Today is the start of your new life”. After that day I truly began my new life, since I had so much time on my hands I started volunteering at Herrick District Library, a place that I have always loved, once a week, began learning how to drive and found a major that I am truly passionate about. Ultimately, I started doing what made me happy and it has turned a situation that looked sad, confusing and hopeless into a land of new

A few months ago, I was just beginning the second semester of my junior year and I felt like I was living the life. I had a reliable car, a loving family, and a great group of friends who had my back. However, in late January of that year, my little brother suffered a medical emergency that tested me and my strength as well as that of

cowering over in self-pity, fear, and anger, I vowed to live life to the fullest. I threw myself into my studies and I have lived life day by day constantly reminding myself that everything is temporary; emotions, thoughts, people, and scenery. As time marches on, I realize that my attitude and mindset throughout this hiccup in my life has defined me as a strong, positive, and passionate young adult. As Shakespeare said, "The world is an oyster", it's up to me to make the most out of life in any situation and I am doing just

Due to the economic instability, it was extremely difficult for my father to find another job. So, he decided to take a huge risk and invest in a family business of stationery materials. The long hours and stress weighed down my father, and greatly affected my family. Consequently, I had to work even harder to ensure the security of our family income. While my friends were sleeping, I would wake up at six in the morning to open and set up the shop. Also, since my family couldn’t afford basic transportation, I had to walk to and from school daily. After returning from school, I would work at the shop while attempting to finish schoolwork until closing. While my peers were enjoying their childhood, I was being crushed by the responsibilities of my demanding family business and my overwhelming heap of schoolwork. However, facing such adversity gave me a strong sense of perseverance and diligence that I will always cherish, respect, and retain. I was fortunate enough to immigrate to the United States and start my life over. Even though moving to a completely new country at the

It finally hit me that so much had just happened in such a short amount of time. Here I am, a newly married man who left home for the first time and is already about to be a father. At first I was extremely nervous but it quickly calmed down. I knew it was time to grow up because I was about to become a father after only being a husband for a short time. This caused me to truly think about what it is I want to do in life. Where do I want to be in five, ten, or fifteen years from now? How to give my family a good life? I am not trying to discourage anyone or even talk down to anyone, but I did not want to end up like some of the people I had known from working at my past jobs. Some of them were struggling to make rent and living paycheck to paycheck. I understand you have to start somewhere, but I want to start in a good position. My family deserves nothing but the best and rewarding life full of comfort, security, and success. I want to be successful. I want to have a rewarding comfortable life in Arizona The guy with the beautiful house and the sharp car. The guy who gets his family anything they want and does not live paycheck to

One thing that did not go so well was my use of hesitant language. I find that I am struggling with the use of silence so I am jumping into

I had just gotten my driver’s license. I felt I had everything perfectly made. I was on the high school basketball team, led the praise band at church, had great friends, and had just gotten a car. Then one day, my dad came in and surprised us with news. “I am being transferred to North Carolina

On the 23 of October, my family experienced a house fire that rendered our family with a 95% loss of all of our possessions. The fire damaged most of our living room and smoke engulfed the house. We lost not only 17 years of memories, possessions, and a house, we lost a member of our family. My best friend, my dog Mercy, who was a part of our lives for 5 years, he died from smoke inhalation, which means he died while falling asleep which was a relief. The fire and the loss of my dog sent me into a depression and state of isolation. I struggled finishing the rest of the first semester of my junior year in high school but through self-assessment and help from my parents, friends, and loved ones, I overcame and regained my grades that semester and finished the school year confident. My family and I lived from hotel to hotel, for about three months. Because the hotels were in different cities than my school district, I worked hard to get as much school work and homework done at school. The stress caused so much conflict in my home; we had divided powers among parents and the

Everything in my life seemed to have returned to a healthy course as there was balance. For the first time in life there was stability, family, friends and most importantly, my fiancé, but times like these are the most opportune moments for reality to creep up on you, when you’re in an absolute state of bliss. Nothing good ever lasts forever. There’s no such thing as paradise on earth just short lived projections of it that give the false illusion of security.

A year ago, I was hired for my first real job with consistent hours and biweekly paydays. I had expected this job to simply be my source of income and where I’d spend every other weekend along with select weekdays after school. What I did not expect was for my job to shape my opinions on life and influence how I want my future to be.

I've been focused on my education, work and getting to know the city I'm living in. New York is an extraordinary city, where everything a person can dream and hope for, can be accomplish. In my experience one dream can lead you to so many others. However, to fulfil  any dream or goal a person has to go through many struggles and work with determination. Everything regarding to my success and happiness wasn't easy. I had to work hard everyday. I was an stranger in a big city like a fish when it migrates  to new waters in order to survived. Until today I'm still fighting and working hard for what I want, even though I got caught up  in things that I didn't planned like any other

There’s a lot we can learn from the stories of our past – if we tell them in such way that enables us to hear what they really have to say. This holds true with me and my life. To put it simply, the life I’ve lived up to this point has been nothing short of a beautiful (and bumpy) roller coaster ride! As I have grown up there have been many factors that have influenced me to take on or do certain things. These things, plus some of my individual choices, have contributed into what’s made me who I am today. And with that, I’m happy to say for this moment in time, I’m satisfied with the person I am and the path I’m taking.