Personal Narrative: Du Due To My Biological Father

Throughout life I’ve experienced a rather unpleasant childhood with the absence of my guiding figures: my parents. Seeing them rush in and out of the house to go to the hospital with my younger brother shaped me in a way nothing else could have. It made me who I am today, as well as aspired me towards what I want to be one day.

That day I realized I wasn’t as special as I thought I was. I was an accident, a big mistake. I soon realized my mom never graduated from High School and that she could be sent back to Mexico at any moment. My dad, on the other hand, graduated from high school and after I was born he got his associates degree in some type of engineering. My dad’s degree was my families advantage. Even with his degree, my mom is still my idol. She is the toughest person I know. She worked two 8 hour shifts when my dad went to school, she never cared what might happen to her as long as my siblings and I were happy. She walks with honor and pride even when people tried to bring her down, and trust me they tried. They used me as the trigger. I am the reason she never made it to

My mother grew up on a street consumed with abandoned houses, needles and filth. She was born into a lifestyle with limited luck. From the very beginning, she was the older of three siblings, two sisters and one brother forced into responsibility—just her luck. She was given a mother, which this is okay, but of course her mom had to be strung out on drugs and alcohol—just her luck again. I could go on and on about the misfortunes in my mother’s life but then I wouldn’t be able to drain you all with the despairs in my dad’s life. He on the other hand had nine brothers and three baby sisters him being the eldest as well that’s just his luck, he grew up with a strong southern minded mom, but no dad and that’s just his luck. From the dangers of the neighborhoods they grew up in to the exposure they got from walking on the streets they figured they had the worst deck of cards.

From the time I was born until the age of twelve, my family struggled with the basic necessities of life. My father worked endless hours in a factory, and yet somehow came home with a smile on his face. As a young kid, I never knew we were struggling. The thought had never occurred to me. As I got older I started to realize that my single father was working his life away to care and provide for his two little girls. He completely put aside his well-being because as long as his girls were cared for, nothing else mattered. Life was never easy, but as a young adult today, I have come to accept that my background has been a prerequisite for greatness, for it is our backgrounds that define who we are. The way we are raised, the way we are taught to believe, and the way we are taught to act, make us who we are today.

From a very early age my Dad had taught me resilience. I didn’t even know what that word was as a little girl, but I knew exactly what it meant. Never giving up. The way your character grows, the different perspective you see things, and the content feeling of accomplishment. My Dad inspires me to go above and beyond expectations, and has always told me to set a goal and go for it. I give him a lot of credit for my academic, and athletic achievements due to him always displaying his hard work ethic, and his involvement in my life.

My parent’s struggles taught me to never accept defeat because there are endless possibilities for those who don’t give up. Their perseverance for a better life sparked a sense of determination in me that ignited a fuel for prosperity, and an optimism for bigger and better opportunities not only for me, but for my

Both my parents are high school teachers so my house is always filled with stacks of lesson plans, school supplies, and the quick wit that only comes from being around teenagers twenty-four-seven. Being both supportive teachers and amazing parents, my mom and dad have consistently inspired me to work my very hardest and to keep learning no mater what. They also are my biggest cheerleaders whether I am last in the race at cross country, preforming my best on stage, kicking butt and taking name in karate, or getting my butt kicked trying to bathe an angry bull. Next is my sister, who has been my Player 2 in this wacky game we call life and rivals my parents in encouraging me. Even though each of my family members plays a different role in my life, when they are together supporting me I can preform at my very best. The best example of their support is when I tested for my black belt. For the test I fought for nearly an hour-and-a-half against multiple well-trained fighters, without hardly any breaks. Even though I had been training for years, I would have not been able to keep fighting if my family hadn’t been there giving me water and telling me to keep going and try harder. This is one example out of many of how my family has been there for me through it all, telling that I am above and not beneath and proving that

As the oldest of three siblings, I have had to do many things for myself that my younger brother and sister had done for them. For example, I had to fend for myself in attempting to obtain a driver’s license even paying someone to teach me to drive and take me to the exam, while my siblings had help from my mother in all aspects of the process. Also, the loss of my father has resulted in conflicts with the remaining parent, my mother. These conflicts were the result of economic struggle and disagreements about how to spend the monetary benefits left from my father’s passing. The position in my family as first‐born combined with the conflicts in my family, have led to life‐changing decisions such where to live, and what careers to pursue.

Having a father that couldn’t take of himself, let alone me lead to me growing up fast. I was always labeled as the loving friend. My youth pastor had nicknamed me “mama bird” for the way I take care

Arthur is a16 year old Hispanic male who was recently enrolled at Morris Academy for Collaborative Studies. He and his older sister were raised in a single parent household with their biological mother who has a drug dependency. Arthur states that he has never met his biological father. He and his sister were removed from the mothers care by ACS as a result of both physical and verbal abuse rendered by her. Arthur was placed with his biological aunt at age four, while his sister age six was placed in a separate foster home. He currently resides with the maternal aunt and he refers to her as mom. Arthur has a classification of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Along with anger management issues. Medication was prescribed for his ADHD;

Like many little girls, I grew up worshiping my dad. A small shy girl, hiding behind him, using him as my protection from the world, by his side every possible chance. I wanted to be whoever he wanted to be, wanted to do everything he wanted me to do. I did everything to make my dad proud of me, for years, trying to do my best in everything…all for him, yet somehow, it was never enough. The summer going into my sophomore year, when my dad was, as he usually was, drunk, told me that he was ashamed to have me as a daughter. This was the ultimate turning point that marked my transition from childhood into adulthood.

With my father is still strong as I used to be. The only difference now is the fact that the roles are almost flipped. I am not teaching my father to be a good person, but I am protecting him for other things in life. Not literally protecting him, but looking out for his well being and his safety. He comes to me when he needs

Watching my mother live from pay check to pay check when I was young was difficult. It was always hard for my mom to keep up with other parents but, she still somehow managed to get me everything I wanted, and more. Even though I was too young to understand, I could feel the stress, and the struggles my mom faced every day. She was only 20 years old when I was born and, because of that she had no choice but to grow up fast. At such a young age, I saw the effects of being a single parent, and the ways it changed my mom. She not only had to be a young mother but, she had to find a way to replace the void of a father, or a father figure in my life. My mom was strong, independent and courageous. Growing up watching her live her dreams under all the circumstances she faced, made me want to strive for a better life for myself. Seeing how hard is was to live and to have enough

Growing up with a father that was never around and a father figure that also left was hard, but it taught me that I don’t need a father to rely on. I have myself and my mom, and as long as I don’t forget who I am I

When I was an adolescent, I considered myself to be a shy, introverted person. Growing up, I had always admired my father’s adaptability through obstacles, but it wasn’t until high school that I discovered I had similar qualities of my own. During my sophomore year, my father was brought into the hospital for having five Abdominal Hernias as well as Hypertension, he was immediately brought into surgery and remained at the hospital for weeks. Each day, I visited my father at the hospital for hours and took care of my father's work at home. I also maintained my performance and reputation at school, balancing my many rigorous courses, as well as my multifarious extracurricular activities.