The Westside Of Indianapolis: A Short Story

Growing up, my family lived in a inner-city, working-class neighborhood. While my neighborhood had its many issues, it was still a safe and supportive place in which to grow up because I was surrounded by others who looked like me. However, in

Later as an adolescent, I was an active member of my high school’s Girls Football team and Volleyball. I attend a post-secondary institution right after high school; I received my Medical Assistance Certification from Star Technical Institute in Whitehall, PA. I pursue my dreams of obtaining the education I had always desired and found a great job in the medical assistance field. Another event, which shifted my life forever, was accepting a marriage proposal at a young age and marrying in 1991. I made it clear from the beginning that my education was very important to me and marriage would not stand in the way of my pursuing post-secondary studies or even completing high school. When I announced my engagement due to my pregnancy I was, determine to complete all my studies to make a better life for my son. I became a mother in February 1991 and continued to work as a Manager for a retail store until my husband, who had been unemployed since our marriage, found work. When he secured employment, it gave me the financial flexibility to pursue my dream of attaining higher education, In July 1992. Working in the medical field, you gain so much knowledge and then transferring into the mortgage career, I gained lots of experience. My last job I went back to the medical field as that was the quickest job I can find in my area that was hiring. I was so nervous due to not knowing anyone and having to relearn everything all over

attending classes for a short time to have a baby boy in September 2004, then returned to finish college.

In 1947, John Gunther, an American journalist, was responsible for the negative perspective on the city of Indianapolis. In the 1960’s and 70’s, around the time women demanded to be heard in society, many women of Indianapolis came together to clean streets and alleys: referring to themselves as the Keep Indiana Beautiful Club. These women were the start of something life-changing. Bill Hudnut, former mayor of Indianapolis, read Gunther’s article

I have lived in New Harmony, Indiana since I turned three. New Harmony easily remains one of the smallest towns in the state. Although New Harmony became my hometown, I was born in Indianapolis; it is scary to wonder about who I would be if I had grown up in the largest city in the state rather than here. “Here” being a town with a population of around 800 and one K-12 school with an enrollment of less than 200. This is the atmosphere that I grew up in. By the time I made it through 1st Grade, I was attending all of the basketball games, rooting for the Rappites and belting out the school song. I became New Harmony Rappite down to my bones.

Growing up in one of the most neglected zip codes of Miami, I have faced challenging obstacles all my life. These challenges were not only limited to financial worries, they included peer issues as well as moral ones. Growing up in a neighborhood where police lights and drug dealing were the norm taught me valuable life lessons that most people could never understand. I believe this upbringing has molded me into the person I am today, a person who sees hardships as a way to grow and excel, a person who sees life through a producer mindset, rather than a consumer one.

I returned to school at the Community College of Aurora in 1996 after giving birth to my

I grew up in Brownsville, one of the poorest cities in the Southern region of Texas. My parents didn’t get to go to college so they didn't earn much. Both my parents work for the school district I got to school in, my mother works as a lunch lady and my father works in the maintenance department changing air conditioning filters. Growing up there wasn’t enough money to buy extravagant items, but we always had what we needed. My family may not have all the riches in the world, but we do have each other. Sometimes my family may not handle things well, we may not be the picture of health, and we don’t have all the money in the world but we always have love. We always support each other and are always there no matter what.

Being a first generation US citizen and the youngest of eight, poverty and its struggles played an intricate role in my life. Growing up I have witnessed the struggles of the “Ghetto” and its hardships to the people living in it. I have witnessed the product of the “ghetto” and its very low margin of success. I’ve experienced this first hand in my immediate family, being the youngest of a family of eight i have seen the positives and definitely its failures.

As noted by the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (2010),“Deciding to return to school is a huge decision. This decision is even harder when there are children or a family to care for. Finding a balance between maintaining your own academic career and the well being of your family can be tricky (p. 118). The findings in this study confirm the fact that being able to balance work, school life as well as being a single parent was an obstacle for them. Many of the non-residential single parents attending college on campus were found that to be a challenge for them. Despite the fact that many of the participants had been out of school for a while they were eager to return to college for many reasons such as the need to get higher pay, as well as setting an example for their children that they should persist in spite of their

When I was a senior in high school and at the age 18 I dropped out thinking I don’t need a high school diploma because I would always get a job on the spot. I dropped out and continued life as normal; at the age of 19 is when I got pregnant. I was worried because before I found out that I was pregnant I had just quit my job and my boyfriend wasn’t working at the time either and wasn’t even going to school for college. I had no one to rely on to help me I knew I had to do something; now that I was jobless and with a baby on the way I started looking around the internet to see where I can get my high school diploma instead. I found out that Pima had a program about Penn foster where I could obtain a high school diploma so I enrolled for it in

I was a junior in high school and became pregnant. My now ex-husband and I planned it. He brought up the idea, and I agreed because I didn’t like my home life. My mom had multiple sclerosis and my father was disabled due to a work-related injury. I had taken care of the household for years. I could cook a full-course meal, laundry for a family of 5, and yard work all by the age of 9. At the time, I was living with my grandparents. I had my son in September 1993. We lived with my grandparents and my ex worked. We were married 4 months later. We lived with different family members for the first few years. We did not receive government assistant. I started college in 1995 at the local community college. I received my GED in 1996. I had my daughter in December 1997. I worked various part-time jobs while I was attending school full-time. I graduated in 1999 with my Administration of Justice degree.

When I got back I started attending my classes at college. I was studying medicine and law. I kinda turned away from my studies in my senior year of college because I

It was on March 2nd, 2014 approximately 7:13AM when my life changed drastically. I gave birth to a six-pound baby boy who now ruled my life. No longer was I a full-time student and employee, but on top of those responsibilities I was now a full-time mother. The following week after giving birth was finals week for my 3rd quarter at Cal State University of Los Angeles, and there was no way I could miss exams. It was then that I told myself I wasn’t going to allow my circumstances to be a burden and an excuse not to pursue my dream to be successful. Only 2 percent of teenage mothers graduate college by age 30, however, I decided not to contribute to this statistic. I have decided to pursue a J.D. degree.

Prior to re-enrolling in school in 2014 I took some time away from my education due to familial matters that were going on at the time. Essentially, I decided that I needed to separate myself in order to better attempt to attain my goals. Although, I had done an internship and held a few positions before leaving, I chose to move to Austin seeking greater and more advantageous opportunity. Within a short time I began working in sales and marketing for a few local companies and my interest grew in the field. Coupled with a few clarifying life events, I have been motivated to complete my education and maximize my true potential.