The Burden Of Knowing That People Around Me

Coming from a Mexican immigrant family I have learned to recognize since a very young age that because of the status that my parents are placed in they cannot pursue a better future like the one I want. I have been given the opportunity to challenge myself with obtaining a higher education than just high school itself. My parents have demonstrated to me through their hard work that I have to value this opportunity unless I want to end up with low paying job. My life long dedication comes from seeing my parents make sacrifices in order for my education to continue.

Growing up I’ve had plenty of experiences that showed me how the world is and who I really am . Two years ago when I was 12 I lost someone who was very special to

I have come to realize that diversity allows students to polish one another, leading to the depolarization of students and thus more rounded individuals. I have traveled a rather non-traditional path, and feel strongly that I can benefit others and feel just as strongly that I can benefit from them. The challenges I have faced, the community where I grew up, and my work experience all contribute to my individuality.

During the time that I would quietly sit in a classroom, or in a centrum by myself I would question why no one saw what I did in the mirror whenever I looked at myself. A youthful young man is what I saw from the very beginning, one that was intelligent, fit, determined, and honest. However, no one saw what I did instead they criticized how insane I was for not seeing the physical me. No matter how many times I tried to push the negativity out of my mind things only got worse from then on. Depression and anxiety settled in along with a daily dose of bullying from students when I went to school. The physical harassment got worse, I recall days I wanted to give up because I wanted them to feel the pain they dealt me, but refused to hurt them instead I would bottle up my

After being bullied a great deal in middle school, I stepped into freshman year of high school with a lack self-esteem and trust in myself. I didn’t believe I could make top ten percent in my class, I didn’t believe I could pass the Pre-AP classes my parents had signed me up for and, I didn’t believe I could make friends. The most amazing thing about this, was that not only did I prove to myself that I could succeed at everything that I had once doubted myself in, but my experience in regaining my self-esteem completely changed my personality and created the person I am today.

I couldn’t help but think that I contributed to its diversity as well, just on that one subway car alone. Each person having a story to tell and something to offer the world. There should be a million other important thing on my mind while I’m headed to my first class of college. But the only thing I can think of now are my grandparents. Coming in from different countries, I could only imagine that felling that overcame them steppig into New York City for the first time. They made a life for themselves, and forged a path that I am now walking on. I can only hope that I can make both my grandparents and parents proud as being the first grandchild to go to college. Education was always important to my family, and growing in the craft that you love and immersing yourself in its daily is truly a blessing. It has been said that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I look around the subway car and see all the people on their way to work, and I can only hope that they are as content with their job as I am on my way to

My childhood was split over two different and unique cultures. This special upbringing presented me with challenges that lead me to continually reflect on my life and identity throughout my childhood. I had to adapt to different educational systems as my family moved back and forth between Syria and the United States. However, that only motivated me to work harder and seize the opportunities that surrounded me at every point of my life. I learned to treat obstacles and hardships as chances for growth and development.

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.

Being born in Yuma, Arizona and growing up in both Okinawa, Japan and Norman, Oklahoma has taught me a lot. I have learned how to not only make friends, but to adapt to my environment quickly as well. Being born in a Marine Corps family has made my life very cultured and more of an adventure than some kids should have. Growing up in different places has allowed me to mature quicker than many other kids around me. It has definitely shaped my life for the better and has taught me a lot about life. Some people may think that kids should have more of a stable home life, but my life was more of an ever changing situation than most people. Lots of people think if only I could go back in time and change something my life would be different or

As a military child my surrounding always changed before I could just settle in. And each environment I was in shaped me a different aspect of my life. In Florida I experience my first true exposure to diversity and the beauty that surrounds it. I was able to learn about all of these different cultures that I had never heard of when I lived in Minnesota. I was able to understand that even with all of the differences that at the end of the day people are people, we have hopes, dreams, aspirations, and fears. It's something that looking back now seems so intuitive but it's something that exposure helps cultivate. Additionally growing up in a Nigerian household while living in America forced me to understand to an extend what it was like for my parents who are both immigrants living in a country with a different culture.

Growing up in a small country and not being able to get what you want is a little bit harder. I grew up where my parent had to stay up all night to just make sure that we are safe. Kakuma is the city that I was born in which is in refugee camp. My parent had hard time moving from Ethiopia to kakuma refugee camp because there was a fight going on in Ethiopia, so they didn’t have a choice but to get out of there in order for us to be safe. When they got to kakuma refugee camp they had hard time getting a job and that’s when life get a little bit harder because my parent couldn’t afford buying enough food and paying for our education. Going through tough times like that with my parent is what made me too strong like I am today and in the future.

Throughout my life I have gone through more destitution than numerous people expect a teenager to go through. I have gained confidence and an independent spirit from the hardships I have experienced. The rejection I have experienced from my family is the obstacle bearing the greatest impact on my life. After my family left the Amish, we faced rejection and were shunned by the rest of the family. To this day, sixteen years later, this shunning is still occurring. I have not met or even seen most of my extended family as a result of this punishment. While this hardship has caused much suffering, it has also brought out strengths in myself I did not know I had.

I was raised in a military home from birth to the age of six. I spent the first three years of my life in Hawaii on a base that had several different people from different cultural backgrounds. At the age of four my family moved to Germany, where again there were numerous different types of people. Since I was able to live in areas that had such diversity I learned that there is not just one type of person in the world. Through my life I have also learned that by talking about problems that arising in your life, you develop an improved understanding on how to deal with the issues. I was raised in a household that I was at times unstable due to the fact that my parents did not deal with their issues. I came to understand that this was not an

"Never forget the past…because it may haunt you forever. Regret all the bad things…cherish the good things. Look ahead always…but don't let the bad things from the past get in your mind." As a young child, there were so many incidents in my life that made me become the person I am today. There were rough times as well as good times. If I were to tell you all of them, I would remember half of them. I think some of my incidents really had some impact, and some were just simple ways of life. To tell you the truth, the incident that had the most impact on me has to be when my real father left me at the age of three. I never knew my father. I mean being a baby, you really have no experience or recognition of somebody else.

I’ve been bullied, I’ve been beat, I’ve been framed, I’ve been laughed at. It doesn’t stop. My family doesn’t care either. My mom is too busy to worry about me and my dad left me years ago. My brother went to pursue a music career and never came back. I’m all alone.