My Experience In My Life

You never know when something might happen. An ordinary day can turn into a tragedy. November 8, 2016, was that kind of day. My dad was deer hunting so that afternoon it was just me and my mom.I was getting ready for gymnastics practice when my mom got a call. The caller ID read “Community Memorial”. I could hear the fear in my mom's voice as she picked up the phone. “H-hello?” she said. I waited nervously as my mom spoke to the hospital. Five minutes later she hung up the phone. “Your dad fell 13 feet out of his tree stand while he was hunting. He called 9-1-1 and is at Community Memorial right now” my mom said. At that point I didn’t know how serious the injuries were. “Is he ok?” I asked.

We witnessed the destruction left by the earthquake in the Enrique Rebsamen School, which killed at least 22 students and 4 adults (according to the Telegraph News). Also, in the middle of a busy road, there was an altar in honor of those who passed away during the earthquake, followed by a list of people missing and hospitalized. I encountered people sheltering in the parks with tents made out of clothing and blankets. As we arrived to the piazza, people prayed in circles asking for their loved ones eternal peace and other’s quick recovery as rained poured over their heads. My immediate reaction to these encounters was to cry. I cried because although I was expecting all this, I wasn’t prepared for it. Encountering these situations made me value what I have at home and every opportunity that is offered to

The morning dew was still on the ground from the steady drizzle the night before as I glanced outside to inspect the weather. I woke up as usual that morning around three o’clock threw my sweatshirt on, stuffed my bag with a dry towel and suit, grabbed some breakfast, and headed off. I didn't rush this time frantically trying to make it there on time. Instead I walked to my car step by step as my mind slowly turned to mush from the feeling of my life slipping away. I knew that as an millennial older generations saw me as an sheltered child, coddled through all my problems. If only this was true I thought, oh how life would be different. I was being crushed by an ever growing pressure to remain swimming on an national level, but still obtain and function within my two jobs. On top of all of this school was to be my primary focus, but I was unable to effectively operate in my school work because of this consuming monster. To them though it's only two jobs, it's only swimming morning and afternoon, it's only school. To them we aren't teens or young adults but children who are given everything.

In April of 2012, I was ten years old and living in a loving, happy household in Southern Maryland. My family consisted of my mother, and my two older sisters, Rachel and Lauren. I was of course like every other typical ten year old; I loved to watch Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, hanging out with my friends, and to spend time with my family. I did not think much about boys the way my sisters usually did, but I knew that one day that I was to marry a boy because that is what seemed to be the only option growing up.

Out of all of my adventurous youthful years one event sticks out to me even to this day. Even though now it seems not particularly interesting or more important than anything else it still somehow persists within my memory. The event of which I am referring to happened around when I was 7, or maybe I was 6. My parents and I were going on a trip down to bennett springs state park, near Lebanon Missouri, to camp for a weekend.

I am ordinary. I have lived in amongst poverty and on the edges of war, but I am ordinary. But let me sit you down and share some extraordinary things that I feel have happened in my life.

In 2014 my life changed drastically, and I have not been the same person that I was that short time ago. It all began with my big secret coming out and continued to roll into a giant snowball, up until I finally found the sun to melt it away. I went through a long depressive phase and then along my journey I found peace again.

First, there was a whale, then a scream, and then complete silence. It all started seven years ago when my family and I were all sitting down at a restaurant. My mom had just gotten back from helping deliver babies in Haiti because they had just been hit by a massive hurricane that devastated villages all over the country. We were all sitting down chatting and catching up when my mom said, “Liam, Julian, I have something to tell you guys!” Our heads whipped towards her, our eyes gleaming with wonder, “what could it be?” We both thought, our minds flipping through all the possibilities as if we were searching through a book for the most logical possibility. “Are we moving? No, that can’t be it...getting a new car! No, wait, I got it! We’re going on a trip...yeah a trip that must be it!” “What is it!” My brother and I both shouted in unison. All the heads in the room slowly turned towards us but we payed no attention, we were too curious and impatient to care. We leaned forward in our seats bracing ourselves for the upcoming news. I looked at my mom's lips, searching for the words that would momentarily be formed from them. The world around me froze for an instant that seemed like an eternity. I heard, “I’m having...” I did not need to hear any more. The walls began to close in on me, my heart started to pound on me as if it were knocking on it so I would let it out. I was confused but excited, scared, but amazed, my face was shifting between emotions as if it was made of clay

It was the 2000s. I had been without a job for at least a couple of weeks and was finding it extremely hard to carry out my life in my village in Veracruz, Mexico. I used to own a farm but when the temperature began to rise and the soil was less fertile, I had to put an end to it because I was unable to plant or harvest any crops. In the past, this had been my main source of income but as the time went by, I could not sustain this lifestyle anymore. Furthermore, I couldn’t supply my family of 4 with the items they needed to be alive. After having a long talk with my wife, Emilia, I decided to begin to consider many different options. We searched all of the village and even in nearby towns trying to find a place that would hire me. We didn’t find anything but did see a flyer on a pole that was interesting. It said, “Go to America. You’ll get hired for sure.” Me and my wife were overjoyed when we saw this. We immediately began to plan our move up North.

Life. Have you ever mistaken a test a life or death situation? I have in 6th grade. I thought I’d do horrific in a science test, but who knew it would make me feel successful. It was the year 2015. Little 8 year old me would be amazed. After watching the movie 2012, I was wondering why hasn’t the world ended since 2012 went by. Now that it’s 2015, I wish that was true. It was 1st period science class. The sun had not yet raised up and high in the wonderful black and cloudy sky. All around me I could hear classmates bickering and yelling. I mean, that’s what kids do. I see people hanging out with their friends; I also see boyfriend and girlfriend hugging. The bell had rung like it was a siren for a war call, super loud. All the kids jolted to their seats; the teacher strolled in.

My entire life has been full of three of me. My brother, my sister, and myself. I say three of me because my siblings and I are the same age. We were all born on the third of June in nineteen ninety-nine. It has always been this way – the three of us. We are the musketeers, always by each other’s side. We have been through ups and downs and everything in between. For the past eighteen years, all I have known was my siblings and the comfort that they bring. Not only are they the other two-thirds to my life, but they are my best friends. Jaelyn and Dakota (my sister and brother, respectively) are my guidance, security, and sanity.

Life is a series of tests. The test varies by person and it all comes down to how well you take the test that you were given and chose to take. I was given the test of being the first in my family to ever apply for a college education because both my parents never had the opportunity and privilege to attend college due to their family obligations. Finally, I chose to undertake the only sport that could ever emulate the spirit of rugby, swimming, basketball, and wrestling in one: water polo.

My life before everything was pretty normal, before in a way I was forced to mature at a young age and face that the world does have its problems.i lived in a pretty big house, or at least it was big when I was 7. Me and my two sisters always played and had fun. I played soccer, did cub Scouts and raced soap box derby cars. One of my favorite games to play with my sisters were either rolling an egg or a soda down the driveway, we would then drink it, The soda not the egg. We went to a gifted and talented school and had a bunch of friends. My life was good. But my parents fought

I was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala. I like to think that I’ve been blessed to experience so many different cultures, lifestyle, and diversity in Guatemala City amongst its people spending the first 6 years of my life and then moving to Belize. The change from only speaking and hearing Spanish every day to learning English after moving to Belize was a struggle. A struggle that I am so thankful I went through now because that made my transition much easier as I got to further my education to where I am now; a proud graduate and Alumni from the University of North Florida.

It was the summer before my eighth-grade year. I was thirteen years old and so excited for the upcoming school year. I earned a position on both the mixed and girls select choirs. I loved my school, I had a great group of friends, and life was good; or so I thought. On a muggy 100 degree July afternoon, my dad took my little sister and me on an “outing”. We walked to the nearby Zip- Trip gas station for finger freezing milkshakes. Once we purchased our chilly beverages, we proceeded to walk to Brentwood Park. We sat at a wooden picnic table held together by rusty nails and worn down by time. Etchings of hearts with initials inside covered the table like wrapping paper. The three of us chatted about our vacation to Portland and asked “get-to-know-you” questions. After about half an hour, there was a lull in the conversation and all that could be heard was the slurping of the last drops of cookies ‘n cream milkshakes. That’s when dad said he had some news. He announced that he received a job offer as the dentist on an army base, which was fantastic because he had been wanting to find a new position. Then the bomb dropped. The job was on Kwajalein in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and I had no clue where that was. We had 2 months to pack up, say our goodbyes, and leave. September 19th, 2013, we embarked on our new adventure. We flew from Washington to Colorado to Hawaii and on the 21st we arrived at Kwajalein. As soon as we stepped off the plane, we were bombarded by