Earlier this month, I attended my sister's graduation at Simon Fraser University. She obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration degree. I am so proud of my baby sis (she's a lot younger than me). Her hard work and dedication finally pays off! Congrats Elaine!! As you can tell in the third photo, my other sis, Nora, was still pregnant at that time. She just had her baby last week. Baby Liam is so tiny and precious. I love him so much! Hope you enjoy the photos. Check back soon for a SUMMER
As a young child in elementary school, I struggled in the regular classes of language arts and math, and this caused my teachers to put me into Special Education. I recall hearing the regular students call me “stupid” all the time behind my back. When I had my regular classes in Social Studies or Science none of the other students wanted to be my partner in the group projects. I felt like an outcast, and my self-confidence was exceedingly low. However, I knew that I was not the smartest kid, but I was a hard worker. I begged my mom to help me convince the teachers to allow me to to join the regular classes in the 5th grade. Fortunately, my teachers agreed, and in my regular language arts class I was motivated to prove to my teachers, my classmates,
In the past couple years, I faced emotions of loneliness, worthlessness and even depression. I spent those years trying to figure out what was the cause of these serious emotions and one of the answers that I stumbled upon was when I finally talked to a therapist about dealing with my depression. The simple answer was the relationship with my family and the environment I was in; Figuring out what to do about it was the next giant leap. Throughout history, America has been known as an immigrant country that uses the phrase “The American Dream” over and over, but what is it really? “That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (James Truslow
Firstly, I am a Bay Area native, daughter, friend and sister who deeply cares and thrives off my passion and the connections I make with the people around me. This passion towards the connections and impact I make with people and for people stems from growing up with two sets of relatives, one biological and one adopted. Due to being adopted, by parents sent me to a girls adoption group where I met other girl’s my age and was able to find support for not only talking about my adoption, but dealing with internal and external struggles by obtaining tools to better deal with hardships and to communicate with others. I can honestly say that I am a better person because of the support of the group and I feel that it is a big part of the person
I was adopted from Seoul, South Korea when I was five and a half months old. When I finally understood what adoption meant, I thought that it was the most significant day in my life for many years, but I was wrong.
I never would have imagined feeling like an outsider in my own home. Unfortunately I wouldn’t even go as far as considering my current home as “my home.” I live in a house with eight people and two dogs and for some, that might not even be slightly overwhelming, but for me it is. I try to keep my heart open about the situation, but I always end up feeling like I don’t belong. Given the circumstances of my situation, I would say life definitely turned out better than what I initially expected, but I was left feeling like a “stranger in a village” having to live with a family that is nothing like my own.
My family... What can I say? I want to legally change my name to Torres.
“Mauricio Mauricio wake up” my aunt shouted. “you have a new brother!” my aunt scream. I woke up and half of my face is covered by the shiny sun on my face and the other side I see my aunt. I was excited because my newborn brother was born and he was at the hospital with my mom and dad. I was at my aunt's house and I was walking all over the place and wanted to see my brother already. I heard the sound of the keys shaking and heard someone saying “let's go”! It was my aunt waiting for me in front the door to take me to the hospital. I shut the door from the car and could hear my footsteps of all the fast running.
It was december 25, 2014 and it was Christmas. I woke up bright and early to see all my presents. I looked under the tree to see so many presents. The first present I opened was an ipod touch. Then I got Taylor swift concert tickets. At that point I was so happy.
A new year had just arrived. I can still picture January in my mind, the mood was sullen and dark, I could feel the cold reaching my bones, but now I know that was the best feeling I‘d ever had. I had only a few weeks left to start college, which had been my dream since I can remember. My dad had already paid for my tuition, I was so exited I had promised to do my best. Then, I realized there was an obstacle in my way. I knew I needed to make a decision on whether or not keeping my pregnancy, it sounds rough, but it was definitive. I did not want to miss school, so I was definitely not taking this to the last term. I just could not think of myself being prostrated in bed for so long, as an impediment to start school. Never, nothing would make me give up on my dreams, and that was another promise I had made to myself.
It was Christmas Eve and my grandparents had just arrived to be with us for the holidays. They always come over every year, it’s like a family tradition. We always watched The Polar Express that night, which is also a tradition we do. After that we usually make the cookies and get a glass of milk for Santa. Finally, we go to bed anxious for tomorrow. It was December 25th, Christmas morning, and I was twelve years old. I was so tired because it was seven o’clock in the morning. I couldn’t fall back asleep because I was so excited that it was Christmas. I crawled out of my bed and snuck into my brother’s room and woke him up. We watched tv in my brothers room until eight o’clock and then we rushed down the hall to the top of the stairs. We could
I remember the day she born. I was nervous for the simple fact that my life would never be the same. Soon no longer would I be known as just Ayanna, I would take on a new title. A title that I would share with so many woman, and after eight long hours of labor, I would now be known to the world as mommy.
"It's hard to believe in yourself when you're not sure you know what you're doing" (Morris 35).
Sisters have a special bond with each other. Having a brother just isn’t the same. Having a sister means that you will always have someone to talk to. Especially when you have an older sister to look up to, then you really spend time together. Kelly and I are sisters, and we have made a lot of memories over the past 13 years of my life.
The most influential person in my life is my oldest sibling Kelsey Nicole Brown. Having her in my life has made me into the person I am today. She has always set goals for me that she knew I could meet.
In 1996, my mother graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a baccalaureate of Nursing. Although it took her five years, we were still proud of her and all that she had accomplished.