Personal Narrative: How I Got To Where I Am

Until I walked onto the stage to take a bow, I didn’t realize that I just danced, acted and sang a solo. It took me a long time to get to that fifth grade Christmas play where I wasn’t shy anymore. Due to the fact that I wasn’t Darth Vader anymore, so I didn’t need a mask strapped onto my face to breathe at night. Asthma, respirators and surgeries were what my childhood consisted of and I would have time to, at most, socialize with my family. Years after my final surgery, my currently bubbly-self erupted from within and many of my friends never knew how I was before.

Starting high school can be a little scary, especially when you have no guidance from siblings, like me, being the first one from my family to have an education. But that did not stop me from succeeding, I?ve always been confident and determined. I?m an enthusiastic when it comes to trying new things. Who would have thought I was going to be a good athlete plus a book geek, when in my past years I was just a regular kid. I was pretty excited about joining a club that had a connection with high school, that way I didn?t have to start from zero, I always want to be a step ahead. Fortunately, in summer, a high school coach was recruiting freshmen for running either cross country or track, they both involve running, so I considered it like the same sport with different timing. And this is when it all started. Running

Everything that I have attained in the past helped define who I am today. Everything I have gone through and have done in the previous years of my life molded me into the person I am today. Not only have they shaped me into who I am; but also guided me in discovering the potentials I did not realize that I had. Without the challenges and hardships of the past, I know that I would not be who I am today.

I believe you can achieve anything you want in life with hard work, dedication, and passion. There are many experiences I have gone through that have helped shaped who I am today. I may not have control over certain situations, but I have a choice on how it affects me.

Many people are crafted by the events that have had an impact them and made them who they are today. Like me, I have had so many experiences in my life that have made me who I am today, but there is one that defines me and made me how I am overall. The one experience that truly shaped me and made who I am today is an event that happened on my first day in 1st Grade.

Have you ever felt robbed of a childhood? At the age of six, I was placed into the DYFS system. I moved from house to house, not really having the chance to grow up like normal children. I didn’t get to experience things such as ; asking my older sister advice on boys, learning how to cook grandma’s favorite recipe, or going on family vacation to Disney world . I worked hard to get where I am right now. My experiences have made me of who I am today , my story will tell you my background, where I came from and why my application is incomplete without it.

Growing up in a very traditional Asian household, I was pushed every day to achieve any goal I sought out to accomplish. Whether it was playing piano, practicing the viola, or studying for school, my parents were always supportive with any goal I had in mind. One of the main reasons why I am who I am today is because where my parents originated from and their desire to follow the American Dream for not just them but my sister and I.

Eighth grade English was a breeze, I sailed right throw it. They helped me so much. I no longer had a big problem with English.

I remember a past experience that has influenced me to how I am today. I used to be afraid of heights until I went on an airplane. It had been my first time to ride an airplane and be in the air. When I first stepped on the plane I was very shaky about going. When the plane began to take off from the airport I was very nervous. We were up in the sky and I wanted to be back on the ground in a few minutes. It took a few hours. When we landed in Georgia we got off the plane and got our items.

There are many experiences that I look back on as why I am who I am today. One of these experiences came from my 9th grade biology class. On the second day of school, our teacher Coach Smith asked us if we wanted to get shocked. He pulled out a small machine and told us that it could deliver small electrical pulses that would stimulate our nerves. When we asked what that would do to us, he smiled and said we would have to wait and see. I volunteered immediately, intrigued at the idea. He placed the machine on my forearm and switched it on. I watched as my hand took on a life of its own. He let other students who wanted to try the machine out and answered all of our questions patiently. He then said there was another experiment he would try

Every individual in society is shaped by several factors— particularly, their past. Within their past, there are memorable moments, this includes the calamities we all face throughout our lives. In fact, my own hardships have, too, impacted me immensely by shaping me who I am today. I have faced several forms of pivots and falls throughout my journey of maturity, including domestic violence.

Organize my food by shopping time. Using one of the shelfs for each grocery-shopping period.

As the school years went by and the homework got harder, things got more difficult. Whenever I had English homework, such as reading, I would try to read with my parents, but if I said a word wrong or had trouble, they could not help me or tell me if I was mispronouncing it because they just simply did not know. Therefore when I was in school and I would be asked a question I felt completely lost because I did not know what they were asking. Also if I was chosen to read out loud, I would read slowly compared to the other kids. When we had to go to school to pick up my report card I would usually be given a needs improvement and that I would be given extra help during school. I have been able to overcome this struggle with being able to translate more and become better with communication. I read books as often as I can to improve my reading and writing skills. I may not be the best writer or speaker compared to others, but I do force myself to become

Neither of my parents was born in the United States and they didn’t come until quite late in their age. My dad immigrated here from China and my mom from Vietnam, making me quite a diverse child. They knew little to no English when they first arrived here, but soon caught on to some of the basic phrases.

Giving up or giving in are two ideas that are difficult for me to comprehend. Growing up, I didn't have a father and my mother had to work all day to provide for me. While my mom tried with all her might to be there for me, it was simply impossible for her to be everywhere at the same time. By having to raise and teach myself, at times, I slowly learned to become independent. I also saw how hard my mom worked which motivated, and still motivates me, to become a better person each day.