I have found that there are two types of people in this world: those who run and those who endure. I have also found that figuring out which one fits you is one of the biggest challenges in life, because it is only through extreme trial and tribulation one can truly test themselves. My trial happened overseas in the small, coastal county of Ballyharry, Donegal. Ballyharry has always been a second home to me. My father grew up there, in a blue bungalow built by his grandfather, so every summer he would take my grandmother, my sisters and I to live out his childhood. Crabbing in the same holes as my ancestors, or the hearing the myths behind the rock in our backyard made Ballyharry feel, in some ways, more like home than my own hometown. However, owning property overseas is quite expensive, so to cover the bills my grandfather allowed family friends to rent our farmland for part of the year. However, during my fifth grade year my grandfather passed away. This caused a problem, because even though my father grew up in Ballyharry, he was still Brooklyn-born and many did not have the same respect for him that they did my grandfather. Simply put, these family friends began to rent the land out without payment or permission. …show more content…
We had to make meals for the surveyors my father hired, walk down the lane to chop trees into firewood, and try to ignore the threats of petrol bombs being thrown at us as we worked. The work was stressful and I can remember many nights I would wake up to my grandmother screaming about the smell of gasoline, or my sister weeping in the bed next to mine. It would have been easy for me to give up and run away. I can remember many times my father would ask me if I could keep going, or if I wanted to stay with my younger sister in Letterkenny. However, I knew that my family needed me, so it did not matter how scared I was, I would stay in that house even if it killed
“I was raised to face any challenge.” This statement, made by Louis Zamperini, sums up his journey perfectly. As a young child, Louis was a cunning miscreant. Eventually channeling his defiance into running, Zamperini began his career as a runner. Zamperini became a very famous long distance runner, even competing in the olympics one year. When World War 2 began, Louis joined the air corps as a bombardier. One mission brought a terrible fate upon the airman; after a fatal plane crash Louis and two other survivors took to a raft that was without food, without water, and surrounded around the clock by sharks. Louis had just survived this impossible task only to be captured by the Japanese Navy. Louis narrowly escaped death several times in several different prisoner camps, including a camp with a particularly brutal guard nicknamed “the bird”. Zamperini was eventually rescued and sent home at the conclusion of the war. His incredible survival of these brutal and vicious camps lead to a very strong case of PTSD, which lead to a severe drinking problem and caused his wife to temporarily leave him, taking their child with her. Eventuall...
Thunder rolled intensely outside, my aunt, mother, sister and I were sat calmly in the basement. We had been through this many times before; I mean afterall, Kansas was part of Tornado Alley. 2. My sister and I were young when this happened, her probably four or five, me about eight. 3. Before we had even started driving to my aunt’s house; since she’s the only one with a basement; my sister and I were complaining about being hungry. 4. Mom said she would get us something to eat soon, but then the sirens started blaring. 5. She called my aunt and told her we would be over in about ten minutes. 6. Me and my sister continued to complain about being hungry because, we always had to get what we wanted. 7. So my mom stopped at McDonald’s and got us some food. 8. After we were almost five minutes later than we said we would be my aunt panicked. 9. Jenny, my aunt, was calling like crazy. 10. When we finally got to her house she lectured my mom about how it wasn’t safe to have us out there like that with a tornado in the area. 11.Afterwards, we all sat on the porch and watched the storm. 12. That’s my favorite memory with my family, and it’s one I’ll never forget.
In August 2005, at the tender age of 7, I received the most devastating news. I was told by my family that a hurricane was coming to my city, New Orleans, Louisiana. Because of this storm, Hurricane Katrina, I was told that I would most likely have to move away for a long time, meaning the rest of my life. My family and I lost everything, and the hurricane ended up destroying the entire city completely. This was heartbreaking to me for a plethora of reasons, including that I lost loved ones and was separated from the rest of my family at such an early age. This ravaging storm marked the most drastic change of my life.
Even though I wasn’t expecting a very severe hurricane, my parents still prepared for the worst. They requested me to come home and stay even though many of my friends were still on campus. I figured being with my family during this difficult time would make the most sense. When the hurricane hit initially we did not lose any electricity even though many families around us did. My sister and I decided to end our boredom by watching random television shows, and just as we found something that interested us, the power went out. We were hoping it was just a quick power shortage, and that the power would be back within the hour. We were in for a big surprise. We did not have warm water or power for five days.
The day I moved away, a lot of things were going through my young mind. As I took my last look at my home, I remembered all the fun times I had with my family and friends through out my life. Now I was moving 800 miles away from all of that with no insight on what lied ahead for me. As my family and I drove away from our Michigan home, I looked out the window wondering what Virginia would be, and what my friends were doing. A lot of things were going through my mind at the time. At the time my main worry was if I would make any friends, and how I would adjust to everything. During the whole drive down, my mother would often let me know that everything would be all right and I would like it. Trying to be strong and hold back my tears, I just shook my head no, wondering why we had to move so far away. Life would be different for me and I knew it would.
We drove for what felt like forever; Traffic was backed up for hours and it took us twice as long to get to a safe place than normal. We finally ended up in Arkansas and found a safe hotel. On August 29, 2005 the category 5 hurricane hit my hometown. I remember sitting on the hotel bed helplessly watching the news as the hurricane was taking place; all I could think about was if my dad and grandpa were ok. I was finally able to talk to my dad on the phone for a little while, and I can remember hearing the howling of the wind, and the claps of thunder and lightning in the background. I was terrified of what was going to happen; thinking back now I wish I would have never known. A couple of days passed and on August 31, 2005 we decided it was time to come home, and prepare ourselves for the damage done and the long road to
When I was nine years old, my parents, two siblings, and uncle decided that it was time for us to move from Missouri up to chilly Massachusetts. Both my uncle and father were construction workers. There were so many projects in Massachusetts, it was sensible for us to move. Financially, this was also the solution to our money problems. All around we were all very excited for this move, all except for myself. About halfway to Massachusetts, I had a gut feeling that this was a bad decision. Upon arrival, I felt like a fish out of water and, I was. Everything was so different compared to how Missouri was.
When we reached the ages of about twelve, my siblings and I became laborious workers. We worked long, strenuous hours in the Triangle factory with my mother. Work conditions there were not safe at all as the government did not regulate them. One day, when my siblings and I were not required to work, we were surprised with the news that our mother had died in a major fire at the factory. A large fire broke out and the women could not escape due to locked fire exits that the factory kept locked to keep out union associates.
I remember having to go on the road to pick up some supplies. I was with my dad and one of the workers at the orphanage. The actual supply run was not what made the event memorable, it was actually when we stopped for coffee. We were able to sit down and ask him questions. I remember asking why he did what he did, like I just didn’t understand why, he did not make much money and it was not easy what he did.
I’ve spent the past ten years of my life pushing my body to the max. Sore muscles and blistered toes have become common for me. In fact, I can’t remember the last time a week’s gone by without one body part or another hurting. My blood, sweat, and tears are probably embedded in the floorboards of my studio — but I wouldn’t trade it for a thing. No matter how much pain it causes me, I keep coming back. Dance has truly become my life. It’s a form of self expression that I’ve learned to use as a method of self improvement for every part of my life. I often use it as a coping mechanism. When I’m upset, the barre is there for me to lean on. When I’m angry, I can put on my pointe shoes and prance my problems away. I could be in the worst possible
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” (Harper Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird)
The moment I stepped on the ferry was like no other. The feeling of the moisture from Lake Superior on my skin was breathtaking. I have passed Mackinac city a million times but never experienced the heart-stopping beauty of Lake Superior and Mackinac Island. When I arrived to the island there were thousands of people all around me. I have never been accustomed to how many people were around, and on such a small island. Living in Michigan for almost half my life and moving away from this experience was something I thought would never happen. I really took living there for granted. I had never realized all of the things I never did until after moving and coming back to Michigan to discover more. I moved to Wyoming the beginning of summer 2010.
A few months before I first moved to the United States from Jordan at the age of 13, my family rescued and took in a stray two-week-old, grey-striped kitten. I agreed to be the main caretaker of it, wishfully thinking that it would be all fun and games. We named it Maya, which is the Arabic word for water since we found it by our pool, and placed its little bed and towel in my room at the far end of the apartment. I soon realized that raising a living creature was a difficult task, and this happened on one of our first nights together.
I never thought I would make it this far. Going into high school I remember thinking to myself that this would it be it, post secondary was never in the picture. December 2011, the consequences of a car accident had changed my perspective of everything around me, it was not until soon after that I’ve recognized the value of education. Despite so, the symptoms of a brain injury had held me back, as my emotions also stood in the way. Every day I had thought of giving up, I had failed at doing the simplest tasks. Struggling to adapt to new habits and taking on different approaches, the hardest part was managing chronic headaches. Later I realized how much I took for granted in the past and was determined to prove myself wrong; I will succeed.
Way back when I was in second grade my dad was diagnosed with a nearly incurable type of cancer. At the time I wasn't aware of how bad it was, I just knew that if it wasn't cured he would die. His fight lasted over a year but when I started third grade he lost the battle. When I was younger the thought that I might lose my dad had never crossed my mind. I can honestly say that I took what I had for granted, thinking I’d have him for many years to come. Due to this experience I believe that people should appreciate what they have while they still have it.