Personal Experience In My Life

We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors helped you to grow? (800)

Life was hard during my early childhood. My mother and I sometimes had to sleep in motels or at a family member’s home, and even sometimes ate the same thing for days at a time because we did not have the money, but she was and still is an amazing woman who I am proud to call mom. She always made sure I had a roof over my head, food in my stomach, and clothes on my back. What I’ve been through makes me appreciate the little things in life. In 2006 at the young age of five we then moved to Las Vegas Nevada. I trusted my mother’s boyfriend at the time to take me swimming, but he purposely drowned me. I learned that trusting people was going to be the ultimate challenge for me in life, and still is today. We then moved to Elk City Oklahoma. I remember looking out the bus window and seeing cows for the first time in complete awe. In 2009 my mom married my stepfather and showed me what it felt like to have my own bed and never want for anything. He helped make life ideal in the eyes of a seven year old girl who thought life

Suddenly, I was awakened and violently thrown towards the front of the airplane. My eyes shot open and I blinked three or four times to adjust my dry, out of place contact lenses. The light bothered my sensitive eyes but I was too nervous to even think about shutting them. I spread my arms and legs creating a human starfish, contracted my stiff muscles, and let out a tiny grunt. I stood up from the same seat I was acquainted with for nine hours. When I rose to my feet, something felt strange, something felt different, something felt out of the ordinary. I quickly realized, I was standing at the London Heathrow Airport about to embark on, what I originally thought would be, the most miserable trip of my life.

Well, where do i start? The environment i grew up in was not a fun one. I was born in San Antonio and lived in Boerne until i was about 7-8 months old. My grandparents then bought a 15 acre property in Harper. We then lived there, and still live there today. I started school in Harper Elementary. Mrs. Payne was my Pre-k teacher. She helped me alot in that year. She sent me home with books because i was already reading. Throughout my elementary years i was a good smart kid. I had a few bad times but i was a good kid. I played baseball with a lot of kids that still go to this school. Baseball was my life. I loves playing it. I still do. Around my 1st grade year is when my parents started having problems. When i was 8 years old, the summer before my 2nd grade year, my parents got divorced. Elizabeth, my mother, took me and my sister chloe and we lived in Heritage Oaks in Ingram. Elizabeth met a man named Daniel Franz. Daniel moved in with us and married Elizabeth. Daniel was a good guy. He loved Chloe and me a lot. The summer before my 4th grade year we moved to Helotes. I attended Kuentz Elementary for two years. My best friend there was Jeremy Leal. He lived down the street and we played basketball everyday after school. I attended Garcia Middle school for my 6th grade year. I was in percussion and most of my friends were too so i always had fun. I was usually 2nd or 3rd chair after Preston and Alana. Elizabeth and Daniel wanted to buy a house so we moved to Laurel Canyon.

I was in first grade, so eager to learn. It was the middle of class. All the students were putting away the glue sticks that had no tops, the blue and red scissors that every kid fought for. As we sat down for what we called “circle time”, I was called into the office. As I walked down the halls, I thought nothing of what was going to happen. I was too young to understand what had happen. I open the door to see my mom dressed in all black.

My past few years of education were, I think, the best couple of years of my school experience of my life. Teachers and friends affected how I acted, learned and studied in school.

Recently I found myself without a reason to live anymore. I’m not sure when it all started, but four months ago in the room of a hotel, I found myself sitting in a desk, writing a suicidal letter. I didn’t really want to end my life, I simply wanted to get rid of this pain. It was more of an agony what I was dealing with. I had no dreams. I had no ambitions. And I knew that what I was about to do was going to hurt. My future shrank down to this day, these last couple of hours in this hotel room in the middle of nowhere. At this point I didn’t really care, I was living a life that didn’t even belong to me anymore.

Volunteering is an important part of my life, so Tulane’s emphasis on community engagement is one reason we’re a good fit. I actually had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans in the summer of 2016 through the Rustic Pathways organization to help rebuild the city from Hurricane Katrina. Even though I technically spent two weeks aiding others, the experience helped me more than I ever imagined it would. Not only did I immerse myself in the vibrant culture of New Orleans, but I learned firsthand about other lifestyles by meeting new people from all around the globe. We celebrated Bastille Day with Romane from Paris, and comforted her and Thomas when the Nice attack shook their nation. As we mudded the walls of ‘our house’ in the Lower 9th Ward, I shared stories about celebrity sightings with Emma from Rochester, and learned from Aidan that the stereotype of rain in Seattle is true. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to meet people who would become some of my closest friends while helping those that have been displaced. I was moved by the sense of connectedness that has emerged in New Orleans since the natural disaster. We worked with the Saint Bernard’s Project to bring families back home after ten years. The organization holds welcome home parties for the families once their house is finished, and our group attended the festivities for an older couple that had been living with their adult children since the disaster. Enjoying cake and conversing with the

Unfortunately, it started Tuesday, May 10th, 2011, usually I go by my parent’s house before work and have coffee and donuts with my mother while we chit-chat about current events about our lives, but, I was running late for work that day.  Afterward, at 10:45 a.m. I started calling my mother’s cell phone but she never answered. At noon, my phone rang and I assumed it was her, but, it was my father. The minute I answered the phone I knew something was wrong. He uttered, “your mother and sister had an accident and the police officer said we must arrive at the hospital right away.” I could feel my gut at that very moment, my life just fell apart. I abandoned work and met up with my father at his house and we rode together, soon after we arrived a Florida Highway Patrol called us inside a small room and asked if we could identify the driver license. Regrettably, it was my mother, I could feel the tears flowing down my cheeks forming streams, my breathing was rapid and the walls were closing. The officer then stood up and gave us his sincere apologies. He indicated that my mother was pronounced dead at arrival and that my sister was inside the trauma part inside the hospital that the doctors were working with her now. I began screaming no and felt my father wrap his arms around my shoulders. Nonetheless, he did his best staying calm and strong for us. Next, we asked if we could visit my sister, but, he said he would ask the doctor and left the room. However, moments went by, I

Growing up I aspired to be everything my parents wanted me to be, successful, intelligent, and stable. They were big examples in my life of what hard work can achieve. My dad would put work above anything else, and wanted me to learn the same work ethic. However, work and making money was not everything to me. Everyone was trying to direct my destiny, but deep down I know my own personal legend and how I am supposed to fulfill it. Similar to Santiago, I sometimes battle with my own conscience whether to trust someone or even myself.

Living with my foster family made me happy because they showed me how strong I can be, they showed me that i’m stronger than anything, they helped me get a therapists and a doctor to get me depression pills they helped me through everything and I am very thankful to have had someone like that in my life yes it was hard but they were always by my side they were always there for me when I needed them. I went through so much things in my life and never left my side they took me in and raised me as there own and helped me get through all the lies, pain, and hurtful things I been through so much but i appreciate each and everything they do for me.

I worked hard at my studies, homework and research and I put my education above everything else. If I was going to pass this tough course with good grades, or pass it at all, my studies had come first, above everyone and everything else which wasn 't going to be easy, but it had to be done. I took my computer, notes and books on every vacation, starting off every day and ending every night working diligently on my dissertation.

I was born in Pakistan but I have lived in the U.S most of my life. When I came to the United States I was two years old. I have gone back to Pakistan only a few times, but my most recent visit was in 2012 when I had just finished 8th grade.

My friends had motorcycles before I got my hands on one and it was probably on one of these machines eventually the idea of helping my parents clouded over. In Pakistan, gas prices are high, so having a small displacement motorcycle sure cut down on money and time provided you can keep your ego aside from riding basically a modest means of transport. My motorcycle that my parents got me a little after my twelfth birthday was a great experience for me. Not only did it help me keep burdens of transport off my parents, save time and money, but also gave me an unprecedented feeling of independence. The new freedom was my next big step to growing up, however, I know it was kind of risky and I was not an expert to ride a bike by myself, but used to ask my dad to teach me when I had to go alone somewhere with him.

I was 14 years old, Grade 9 at High School living with my mum and younger sister Rose, in a rundown top floor of a house in a place called Norman Park. We shared our living space with many different international students who would come and go for weeks at a time of which I resented. The only thing good things about living in that place was that my maternal grandmother ‘Nan’ was in walking distance just down the road, and my sister and I enjoyed the lush green park across the street. The park housed probably the only outdoor half basketball court in the Eastern suburbs of Brisbane. I spent many hours over there finessing my shooting game and playing defence against imaginary oppositional players. When I wasn’t at the park I was at home spending the remaining hours being defiant and arguing with my mum often accusing her of trying to nag me to death, about unfinished homework, not coming home on time and grades that weren’t good enough. I was a teenager, struggling to find my place with my teachers and peers at school and in my community. I viewed my mum as an imposition and someone who was a real pain in the neck. I would close the door in her face and tell her to go away. Mum and I would clash at a glance.