Personal Narrative: Closed Blind

I have lost my grandpa and have not gotten over the idea of it. When I was in the sixth grade, my grandfather was very sick; he could barely walk. While my grandmother and some other family members went uptown for some household things, food, and medication, I was told to take care of him. Yet, I wanted to play with my friends outside. He told me to go ahead and play, but for some reason I just got mad and slammed the door and left. Around nighttime, I seen an ambulance pull up to my grandparents’ house.

Growing up with a father in the military, you move around a lot more than you would like to. I was born just east of St. Louis in a city called Shiloh in Illinois. When I was two years old my dad got the assignment to move to Hawaii. We spent seven great years in Hawaii, we had one of the greatest churches I have ever been to name New Hope. New Hope was a lot like Olivet's atmosphere, the people were always friendly and there always something to keep someone busy. I used to dance at church, I did hip-hop and interpretive dance, but you could never tell that from the way I look now.

Put the gun down! Put the gun down! Pow Pow Pow. The gun shots cracked into the air as loud as thunder. One after another. We live day by day not knowing our end. In the blink of an eye our lives can be changed forever. Its life, yet even in knowing this we never expect tragedy to find us. We never expect it to affect our lives and the people we know and love. I’m going to share with you the day tragedy found my life.

        She murmured, “I know it’s been hard on all three of you kids. I've missed so many days of work that my boss has begun to treat me more like a temp than an employee. I know that, although I'm the most senior IC nursing supervisor at St. Ben’s, I'll soon be in danger of being laid off.

I never thought I would be labeled an outsider, a misfit even. As I trudged my way through the halls of my small town high school, I would endure the gazing pairs of eyes, that belonged to my peers, followed by whispering and often times some laughter. I always used zone out during those repetitive speeches and commercials about the effects of gossiping and rumors; never did I imagine that one day I would be on the receiving end of of the everyday potshot. Growing up I was always the center of attention, the one everyone yearned to be friends with, never was I the antisocial child in the corner with nowhere to turn… not until high school. They say high school changes you. They say high school accounts for some of the greatest years of

lost a lot of blood.” “Oh my gosh, she’s that bad?” ask Pam. “Yes, I’m afraid to tell you that she was sexually assaulted multiple times and badly beaten, looking at her wounds, she’s been out in the woods for days because she’s very dehydrated, whoever did this probably thought she was dead, but when she was brought in to us she still had a pulse.” “So, is she going to make it?” “At this time like I said, she’s very critical, we’re doing everything we can to save her, but we have to just pray.” “I can’t believe this, who would do this.” “Well Maam, if you have any concerns or if you need to ask me any questions ask the nurse to page me.” “Thank you Doctor.” “You’re quite welcome.” The Doctor got up and walked away. After the Doctor walked

“She’s going to be mad, I really hope you know what you’re doing girl.” said Lisa. “I do.” Lisa and the crew left. Angelica sat in the waiting room, praying that Nine is okay. Hours had passed, Angelica dosed off, while sleeping the Doctor and the police walked up to her and said, “Excuse me Ma'am, Are you related to the deceased?” “Deceased.” said Angelica. The police said, “Maam, Are you related to her?” “No I’m not, I’m just a friend.” “Well, Maam it was brought to our attention that the deceased was brought in by you and other females, Where are the rest of the females who brought her in?” ask the police. “They left.” answered Angelica. “Maam, Come with us, we need to ask you a couple of questions.” said the officer. “I can’t, I have to get home.” said Angelica. “Please, come with us now, if you refused to come with us and answer a couple of questions we’ll be forced to hold you for 24 hours.” Angelica got up and followed the police officer to the

My whole life I’ve felt like an outsider. When I was younger dealing with a learning disability, I have had a hard time making and keeping friends even to this day. I struggle with being a follower instead of a leader. My own adoptive father verbally abused me growing up and I also had kids in fifth-sixth grade who constantly bullied me. I still am reminded of an instance when the first day of fifth grade approached: I got on the bus and these older girls started making fun of my pants saying, “She’s wearing high-waters.” I was humiliated in front of my peers every day since than during those two years. After being bullied for so long I made a vow to myself to never forget the pain inflicted upon me on a daily basis.

I am the outsider. I attended beginner sailing camp with my brother, Kent. I had never stepped foot on a sailboat while my brother had sailed since the previous fall. He knew all the instructors because they were fellow high school sailors. I was in a whole different world: the sailing world. New terms like “line” instead of “rope” was being drilling into my head. All instructors and Kent continuously said, “There is no rope on a boat, only line.” The bonding of Kent and the high school instructors made me jealous and envious of their relationship. At that time I was the outsider, who knew nothing about sailing.

“I felt like I was on death row and had just been granted clemency, only to find out that a mistake had been made and I was to be executed as planned,” she

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. [NASB Col 1:13-14]

I never thought that I would ever have to fight a gummy bear at a tender age of thirteen. However, as surprising as it might sound I did. How is that possible? I am a Type one diabetic, and since my diagnosis, my life had a 360-degree change. I had to learn how to tame my diabetes little monster which over time became a teacher of patience, time management, and goal setting. After a while, it also taught me to be confident and never take anything for granted in life.

The air was brisk and bit at the windows of the bus. I gazed at the Peruvian landscape and the dilapidated houses as they whizzed by, suddenly I came back to reality. I was exhausted from the early start of the day’s travels. The roar of the bus and my exhaustion caused me to slip back into a daze. I kept gazing at the rows and rows of unfinished, drab, neglected houses. I then turned my attention to the people milling around.

A blurred figure is in my direct vision, as hushed prayers and frequent sobs filled the silence. The mood has faltered from the days early on that were so full of cheerfulness and life. Unlike that day, it was falling negatively towards an everlasting sleep for someone whom I deeply cared about. Safoe Watson Jr was lying against a hospital bed that had been planted within his own home more than a couple of days before that day, breathing slower and slower every few minutes. I stood there, next to my younger sibling, reminiscing in memories to past the time. Not only did those memories overwhelm me, but the gut punching feeling of guilty and regret hit me, feeling as if it knocked me out of breath. The regret lingers, thinking of my young years whilst in my grandpa’s long, well-lived life. My thumbs fumbled and played together as time continued to pass, and as I continued to drown myself in unwelcomed self-pity, I remember.

Europe was the first occasion I truly spent time out of the country. I must have heard two dozen different languages while in 13 different cities, across 6 different countries. There were people from all over the world in the places I stayed. Everyday was new experience, even if I had a plan, something would pop up and I'd have to change direction. This happened mostly when I met knew people. When you're alone in a foreign country it's important to find common ground with others.