Personal Narrative: This I Believe

Hatred, abuse, social injustice, and general dislike of an individual or group will never be controlled or extinguished through any means of education or political mandate. These terrible practices are part of the human frailty of life, and can be found among every ethnicity and culture. While it should never be condoned, it cannot be eradicated.

Sitting in a hospital waiting room, alone, afraid; and waiting for the news; would she be ok? Would she even survive? My nerves were out of control; my heart was beating through my chest, you could literally see it thumping through my top. The beads of sweat racing down my forehead, as if I was in the middle of the Safari dessert. I have been an athlete my entire life, yet I have never felt so physically drained. I look around, my eyes opening, then closing; as if I am coming in and out of consciousness, then suddenly echoed words begin to ring around my ear drums….” Sir…...sir, can you hear me? Sir please, we need to know what happened. We need to know what happened to her. Maybe my motionless state showed my

Many years have gone by with much contemplation about what I wanted to do when I grew up. Due to my age, that vision has looked like many different professions. I started out with dreams of having an Army career starting at the age of 18, to have that quickly change when my new husband and I found we were expecting our first child. When our commanding officer found out, he spoke to us and explained that both of us could be sent to war at the same time. Rather than deciding which family member to give custody of our child to in that situation, I decided to depart from the Army and start my new journey as “mom”.

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

What do you believe in? It could be anything. Do you believe you shouldn’t cross paths with a black cat on Halloween? Do you believe there is an afterlife? What is it that you believe in? I surmise that purpose can be found in creating something only you can comprehend. Why? I’m about to tell you.

On the way home from my sister’s college graduation, my father asked me the single, most dreaded question that I, and every other high school senior, are sick of hearing: What do you want to do in the future?

Opening the link, I was hit with instant nostalgia, memories of my grandfather calling me to the living room, rambling about a man with no limbs. I remember sitting there with him, smiling as a result of my grandfather being passionate about Nick and his seminars, tuning in time to time, listening to the voice over translation in spanish. At the time, I didn't fully understand what my grandfather meant when he said he was an inspiration and how he gives hope to others, as I was a relatively cheerful (snobby for the lack of a better word) pre-teen. I went along with it, hoping to somehow get out of watching this man as it was translated in Spanish and it took quite the effort for me to piece the words and sentences together.

This I Believe. Through our lives, we have the opportunity to learn through experiences. What we learn in these experience is unique for all of us and can change how we think about and live life. Through the opportunities I have been given, I have learned one of the best lesson that I live by to this day; you can overcome anything. Here is how I learned this, and I hope you can learn from it, too.

One sunny August afternoon 5 years ago I made a brash decision that I regret to this very day. A choice I look back to this very day and question: “Why in the world did I do this?”

The America I Believe in has a past. That the past is full of heroes, and enemies and to live changing events. From the founding fathers to hobos; from cowboys to astronauts. Our history is full of great deeds. They come from communities large and small. They cared for God, country, and their family.

It’s funny how a tattered remnant of the past can show up out of the blue one day, bringing forth all of the thoughts and feelings associated with it. As I was cleaning my bedroom the other day, a frayed and faded green folder grabbed my attention, and I pulled it out from the pile of items I had intended to throw away. Looking through it, I recognized it as an old classwork folder from elementary school. Prepared to toss it back into the miscellaneous assortment, I caught one image out of the corner of my eye- a photo of my father and myself, taken after I had won my first Cub Scouts pinewood derby race. Years of memories flooded back, accompanied by a cacophony of feelings as I reflected on the events which had taken place since then. How

It was a spring day out and the wind was blowing against my skin. The sun was shining brightly over the entire yard. I was thinking to myself this is a wonderful day to take my little cousins to the park. I picked up my IPhone and called my cousin to see where the kids were. He had told me they were at the house and asked why. So I tell him I wanted to take the babies to the park, and he say it’s okay with him just call the house to let his mother know that I am getting them. I walked backed in my quiet house, because I was home alone, and started washing up with my red face towel. I picked up my greenish-yellow toothed brush and brushed my teeth. Then, I walked to me room and put on my black and white Nike shorts, my all orange Auburn Tigers

It was a small town called Springton 1983 ,and it was early one foggy day as I began to finally get out of bed. I Could hear my mother from downstairs yelling my name,”David!!!” my mom yelled loudly as I practically jumped from my room to the kitchen. As I almost fell down because I ran so fast I stood up and looked at my mom with her shining red hair that glowed from the sunlight. I ate breakfast and headed out the door and went for the park. I was the new kid in town and I would be starting my ninth grade year in a month. After I arrived at the park I threw my bike in the dirt and raced towards the swing set.I secretly hoped I would make a friend as I sat in the lonely park.

I believe that exploring a musical aspect such as, listening, singing, music writing, playing a string or a wind instrument, et cetera, could flourish, intrigue, and promote young minds to grow, to see a new perspective they had not seen or thought of before. Music consistently endows me with ideas, for instance “Someone had wrote this song about themselves or how they see the society around them,” “How does singing help people in their day to day lives?”, so on and so forth.

When I was little the world looked so colorful and everything had a surprise ending that made you hold onto your seat. Growing up made me realize how twisted the world can be, so many people believe in corruption. I walk on a road that's not even on the map, a road that is similar to me. It leads to somewhere unexpected, but having to get there isn't worth the walk.