Personal Narrative: Where It All Started

Walking away from everything you once knew and starting over is never a picnic. Leaving Iraq, and moving to America has impacted my life more than anything. I was only 4 years old at that time, and the only English I spoke was “excuse me, water please.” My family and I did not know it then, but our lives were going to change; we would become “Americanized”. Learning English was one of the massive changes that occurred, the way I dressed (culture), and even the way I had power to go to school and educate myself.

Throughout my early childhood, I knew I wanted to change lives for the better. I have always contemplated on being a doctor since the age of three and decided to be an actress/singer at age six. Since then I have worked hard to maintain good grades and up until now I have worked relentlessly to maintain good grades, this all payed off when I was accepted into a university that would give me the opportunity to follow my dreams. To be able to accomplish my dreams, I have studied, auditioned,and performed to get prepared and be in the place i’m in today. If it wasn't for my determination,persistent,realization,and hard work, I wouldn't be where I am today. Through countless rehearsals, I was able to accomplish my dream of learning how to sing,

Over my years of school, one big influence on me has always been sports. Ever since a young age, I have always enjoyed playing and watching sports. In my four years in high school, I have fell in love with the sport of lacrosse.

I woke up and took one bite out of my pop tart but that one bite was all I could eat. My legs were shaking, and my heart was pounding. My dad told me, “It is a true honor to even make it this far so go out there and have some fun.” Once I heard this statement, I knew I was ready to go. I arrived at school and boarded the bus. The car ride was an hour and fifteen minutes of hearing the squeaking of the wheel on the bus. My teammates were getting their heads ready for the big game.

My dad was born on April 23rd and that date always brings fond memories. When April comes I always find myself thinking first of him and then my mom who was born at the end of May. I sure miss them both. As the years roll on and I think back it really boggles my mind to think that my parents had to leave everything behind when they fled their homeland Latvia during WWII. They started up a new life in New York City as most likely none of you have ever had to do literally from scratch. They had no furniture, no belonging only the things they had with them from the DP or Displaced Persons Camp in Germany.

“Hey you want to drive”, my step-dad yelled over the loud engine of blue grizzly 4x4 quad I yelled “yes!!”, so as I got one the quad I put on my helmet and fased the strap on the same color helmet.

Home is the beginning of one’s book. It is where your story begins, forms its characters, shows its purpose, and reveals its ora. This is how mine is written. Home is on the buzzing highway down a bumpy gravel road. It’s Brandon, Mississippi. It is the only home I’ve ever known. Home is the smell of homemade biscuits and tomato gravy on Saturday mornings. It is “Bless Your Heart” and “Yes Mam” and “No Sir”. The little bedroom in the back of a grey double-wide where Carrie Underwood songs played and where I learned to curl my hair and put on mascara. My cousins and I running around with mason jars, chasing the lightning bugs. Bar-B-q on the back porch and never meeting a stranger. It is the morals learned and the identity

Have you ever been so desperate for something that you modify your motive in its entirety? Throughout my life I’ve found myself placed in this frightening situation multiple times; the most confusing of which would be what I’ve endured this year. People in their 20s have it rough. We’re old enough to feel like we’re supposed to know what we’re doing, yet young enough to roll in the tide aimlessly and clueless and it still be acceptable. Then there’s those of us who believe we’ve got it all figured out only to be proven tremendously wrong. I have learned, however, that being tremendously wrong can lead you right where you need to be.

It almost seems as though it were yesterday when I would shut off the lights, slam the door, ferociously hop on my bed, and read my favorite book until my eyelids simply couldn't handle their own weight. Of course my parents would make a routine check in my room to tell me goodnight so I had to read with great caution, for if my mom were to catch me reading after bedtime, there would certainly be consequences. Though through my little and inexperienced mind, I believed this risk was well worth it, because this turned out to be the first chapter book I had enjoyed from beginning to end: Among the Hidden.

I was a flightless bird trapped in a cage, wings clipped and song subdued. I had no distinct purpose, nor was I understood. Home was a prison, not for the insane, but definitely for the emotionally abused. My voice was constantly being shut out; only the people who wanted to hear my words were listening. Despite the words wishing to come out, I found myself unable to speak them. Regardless, I found myself in a place of understanding, of hope, and of insight. My mother was the light that guided me through the endless darkness. Only when she was gone, did I truly find my voice again.

Starting out the first year of a freshman college student is terrifying. The thought of not knowing what kind of teacher a student is going to get is wary. Meeting new people and a new environment of a class format is dubious. The first day of English 1301 with Dr. Mary Stanley felt heavy and quite because people did not know each other. How could a class like this help a student benefit them on the future? The thought of not knowing was hazardous like being drown on a lake.

Throughout the semester I have noticed my writing grow significantly. Some of my work was a bit sketchy but that could be fixed by proofreading. I did not like writing all of my papers but I did enjoy the reading involved for the book reviews.

There is one major skill and experience that I discovered I had. It was junior year and I was in trigonometry taking a test, after each question I had an uneasy feeling in my gut. I felt that I was going to flunk the test and get an F on the test. The day passed and I learned that I got a ninety-percent on the test. From that day forward I learned that I should go with my gut. I learned that I could trust my mind with what I was doing. The knowledge is there, all I needed was to apply the knowledge. Throughout my eighteen years of living, I have learned that life is full of decisions. Learning that I can trust my knowledge to succeed, I have discovered that making decisions is starting to come easier to me. To myself, learning this skill is

It was the scariest night of the year, but for me it was the best night of the year. I was ready to get so much candy, it would take me a year to finish it all.

Throughout my life, I have had drastic changes of my personality and of my image. Obviously everyone changes, but I feel my changes are a lot more unique and crucial. I definitely was not alone on this journey. My friends and family were right beside me to help guide me on the right path. Success rarely comes alone, and I am thankful that I had people on my side. Friends and family weren’t the only thing building myself. A lot of credit is due to education, teachers, and books like Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and Beowulf that I have read throughout my educational career.. All in all, I could not have become the man I am today without the influences and guidance I was given to help make me