I was brought up with the believe that if something unjust takes place in our life then it is best to keep quiet and let the lord do his job. My brother has been an alcoholic since I started six grade. This means that by the time that I was learning to solve complex mathematical problems, I was learning to deal with adult problems. Keeping quiet about his secret gun, his temper tantrums and his drunken shenanigans became my job and my reality. No police officer, counselor or teacher would be able to help me. It was my duty to get in the way (one punch closer to the floor), my job to not be taken from home and my duty to be blamed for my brother’s misfortune. Starting freshman year my job much like my brother’s alcoholism, received an …show more content…
I sought out comfort on Tolkien's novels filled with elves, hobbits and languages. Fueled by a need to find hope in a new land, I found an escape route in the German language. I watched German lesson after German lesson on "Deutsch für Euch" and I listened to "Peppa Wutz" so many times that soon enough I could read out loud "Das Lied von Eis und Feuer" in my rusty German. Although my new hobby helped me to stop thinking about my situation, conflict can't be avoided and we all get a reality …show more content…
I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths before turning to the door and walking towards my biggest nightmare, my brother. The next two minutes consisted of me asking him to leave me alone, to put an end to his madness and to understand that he had no right to talk so vulgarly about me when he was the one to blame for all our problems. The word "culpable"(guilty) struck a chord and before I knew it he was coming for me. Fearing for my safety I ran to my room in search of my phone so that I may call the police if something were to happen. Unfortunately, I knew that if he were to do something I wouldn't be allowed to leave the house until the evidence was removed. When he reached out room I kept my gaze directed at his and while he screamed at me I did not bother to hold my tongue and I let him know what I thought of him too. When his fist when in the air and it was near my face, our mom screamed at him to stop. She could see that I would no longer keep my mouth shut and the last thing they needed was for me to have physical
I’m living this nightmare, but am also telling myself it’s not true because I feel better. Today my family’s plan is to go see Tanner in the funeral home. I don’t want to go and I beg to stay home. My mom and dad force me to go and see him. When I go up to his coffin and see him, I start to scream and run out of the room. I was terrified because I was afraid he was going to get up and grab me. This seems silly, but I’m in complete shock and seeing him like this makes me scared. He was just with me a couple days ago and here he is now lying in front of me. After I calm down I go and look at him once more. I look at his hair and his face. Thinking to myself, “I’m going to miss you Tanner. I’m going to miss your laugh, your personality, your smile, etc.” I touch his face and it puts me back into the cold reality that this is really happening. My brother really died and he’s really right in front of me in a
One of the most destructive forces that is destroying young black people in America today is the common cultures wicked image of what an realistic black person is supposed to look like and how that person is supposed to act. African Americans have been struggling for equality since the birth of this land, and the war is very strong. Have you ever been in a situation where you were stereotyped against?
I am an chinese and mexican american. You might think those are the best mixes of race you can get but you are truly wrong? Growing up in a small farm town in the outskirts of San Diego I truly wish I was white like the rest of the kids at my school. For the hardships I have faced with race discrimination I am truly ashamed of being the color and human genetics I have.
As a child, I didn't always understand the depth of my dad's addiction, or what it exactly meant. I didn't even view it as an addiction, rather just how things were. Living in a small house, there was no option to completely ignore it. The more he drank the more bellicose he became, and the more verbally abusive he became. Freshman year I wrote a letter to my dad because I'd decided that my passivity of the issue was no better than an endorsement of his behavior. I was angry with how he acted, and with myself for not knowing what to do about it. With my letter came empty promises: a promise to limit drinking, and a promise to
As a child, I did not know what alcoholism was, I just assumed that the Beefeater Gin stench coming from my relative was his cologne. However, as I grew older and was exposed to a greater variety of people and circumstances, I slowly became aware of alcoholism. I began to incorporate the new experiences I had in relation to alcohol use with a deeper understanding of my extended family. This new awareness was unsettling and painful to me.
I walked in, to find a place to quickly hid and I did. It was in small fit inside a kitchen cabinet under the sink. There was a small hole I could look through. I heard the front door open and quickly shut. I prayed that those killers, whom I could no longer call a brother, would never find me. I heard heavy breathing, but not a single word. They were panicking and out of breathe, running towards one of the bedrooms. I was shocked, I didn’t know there was someone who was able to escape those heathens, but then I realized I was one of them. I told them about the party, and they started to plan about killing everyone, I said nothing to the police and it was my fault. Then the door was swoon open again, and I knew, that was my brother. He yelled out that the others had left from the woods and searching for not me but someone else. I’ve only heard footsteps afterwards and I could see someone sprint toward the living room and got an object, which looked like a radio. I was sure that my brother was knocked out since, the person who had the radio was talking with someone for at least 20 minutes and then ran out the door. So, I went out of my hiding spot, and quickly ran to the door, but it
Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women , describes white privilege as “an invisible package of unearned assets, which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was meant to remain oblivious” (J. Roehl, personal communication, August 16, 2016). Consequently, there are many ways in which my white race allows my privilege, many of which I take for granted without even recognizing. According to the White Privilege Checklist (J. Roehl, personal communication, August 16, 2016), my skin color allows me freedom from harassment in a multiple of settings (including schools and stores); it allows me the freedom to fearlessly get on or off a city bus; and, if it really mattered to me, I have
Severe mood swings, violent rages, memory loss—each of these problems were a part of my family life during the past two or three years. These problems are the result of alcoholism. Recently, a member of my family realized his abuse of alcohol was a major problem to not only himself, but also to those around him. He would lose control of his temper and often would not even remember doing it the next day. Alcohol became a part of his daily life including work, home, and any other activities. His problem was that of a "hidden" and "high-society" alcoholism. When he was threatened with the loss of his job and the possibility of losing his family, this man knew it was time to get help. After he reached his lowest point, he took the first step towards recovery—admitting his problem.
As the result of being raised in a home where one or both parents were addicted, children of alcoholics generally have certain common characteristics that continue to affect them as adults. Members of a dysfunctional family tend to build up defenses to deal with the problems of the addicted family member. Common problems include lack of communication, mistrust, and low self-esteem. Adult children of alcoholics often become isolated, are afraid of authority figures, have difficulty distinguishing between normal and abnormal behavior, and judge themselves harshly. This often leads to enduring feelings of guilt and problems with intimate relationships. In many cases, adult children of alcoholics develop an over-developed sense of responsibility, and respond poorly to criticism. They may feel different from other people, fear failure but tend to sabotage success, and fall in love with people they can pity and rescue. Fortunately, there are a number of support groups designed to help adult children of alcoholics identify their problems, and start resolving them.
I appreciated your quick reply, it was a surprise and needless to say very well received.
Since the last update, I have continue to move around in the news department by shadowing reporters, anchors and or photographers that I have not got a chance to interact with. I got to help record UAB track team at the Birmingham CrossPlex and that was my first time seeing a live track race, which I thought was pretty cool. I also got to help out when Governor Siegelman was release from prison at the airport; we did a live shot for the evening show. Went out with Jamiese Price to get footage of the new Bessemer City Hall and got to interview a few people including the mayor and asked some of my own questions as well as, I even got to meet Rhonda Robinson. I went out with Melanie Posey to cover a fatal crash that was in Oak Grove and interview both principals from the elementary and high school. That was a very tough moment and seeing how close the principals were to the students was a tragic moment for them. As, I watch and listen to the question that Melanie was asking and to see the principal break down and cry and how she
My perception of our world is that racism exists everywhere, even in the land of liberty, America. I am aware of the fact that there is racism against not only blacks, but also whites, Asians, along with people from all other ethnicities. I believe racism is deplorable in any form. Therefore I do my best not to be racist in any way.
I never would have considered myself a typical minority when it came to my racial identity. I know what it takes to be successful, I play the oboe, and even though I come from a not so typical family background, that has never stopped me from continuing to strive in everything I put myself into. My mother and father came from a poor background but were able to overcome this poverty to make a better life for their children and themselves. They both lived in the projects and were not expected to graduate high school let alone attend college. Because of this, my parents have always talked to me how important an education is and I want to continue learning every single day. They have always encouraged me to do the things that I love to do, in
History is said to repeat itself, but in my opinion that theory is an easy out. It is an easy way to excuse inexcusable behavior. It’s a way for the common person to justify their unwillingness to change for the better.
"Because time and amount of drinking are uncontrollable, the alcoholics is likely to engage in such behaviors as [1] breaking family commitments, both major and minor; [2] spending more money than planned; [3] drinking while intoxicated and getting arrested; [4] making inappropriate remarks to friends, family, and co-workers; [5] arguing, fighting and other anti-social actions. The alcoholic would probably neither do such things, nor approve of them in others unless he was drinking" (Johnson 203).