Gao Ia Vang
Freshman
Michigan State University
I thought I had more time…
I thought I had more time to rest in the arms of my parents. It’s been the only place I’ve known of,
But sooner than I thought, those hands were letting go
I thought I had more time to spend time with those I’ve joked around with,
But sooner than I thought, it would be time to grow up
I thought I had more time to stay surrounded with those I loved,
But sooner than I thought, that love would become a memory
I thought I had more time to change all those mistakes I’ve made
But sooner than I thought, those mistakes would become lessons
I thought I had more time to explain myself,
But sooner than I thought, that it would become regret
I thought I had more time to change the way I am
But sooner than I thought, change wouldn’t come good to me
I thought I had more time to stay just a little bit longer,
But sooner than I thought, that time would come to an end
I thought I had more time…but now it’s time to move on
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Passion: Stepping Up
Chibi Vang
Brenda Scott Middle School
They said that we were born to live, but why do we all die at the end? If not born to live, then born to make a difference. You were born to be a role model. You were born to be given a chance to show yourself, to be remembered, to be just known for you. Why do we all have a limited time to live? Why can’t we just live forever? Maybe because it is boring being the same person over and over? Maybe it’s not that.. Maybe, if you believe in reincarnation, we are always being born again so that we can experience other people’s lives. But most of us don’t even remember our past lives from before. Why’s that? Is it because you couldn’t bear the harsh memories that you may have had in your past life? Is it embarrassing knowing what you did back then? Or is it because you just want to completely erase some of the people that you once hung out with and start anew?
Humans are supposed to be one of the smartest species out there, but I think that we are the ones who struggle most and are slowest when it comes to make a life decision. We can be stubborn. We can break down easily and we make a lot of mistakes. But some of us don’t even know that mistakes are the greatest lessons of our lives. Even if we’re not perfect, we learn from mistakes that help us to become better people.
Many of my peers are not that motivated as they should be in their own community. I’m not sure if it’s out of fear, risky, or just laziness. They rather wait for something bad to happen to them, and then they’ll have the motivation to step up. Why do we have to wait to change the world? To change yourself? We need to start caring now. When we care, we’re contributing into our community, to make it better environment for the new generations to come. Same thing goes with peer pressure. Why be like everybody else, when you can more fun being yourself?
Why start now? Because your opinion counts. The faster your message gets around, the more support you’ll get and the less guilt or stress you’ll feel in yourself. If you already waited too long, it’s not too late to start over. It’s just that most of us find it hard to move on. They can’t forget. Of course you can’t forget about what you did, but then you can forgive yourself. You can forgive yourself and that’ll take off some of the burdens on you. That’ll make it less heavy on you and give you a little ease to start over. You can start all over every day.
Stop waiting and do something now. I finally realized what this sentence meant after joining NSO YIP. It opened many new options for me to see. It let me know that I’m not too young to change the world and told me to stop making excuses and just do what I wanted already before it’s too late.
Start off small. End big. Help out your community. Make a difference. Learn from your mistakes. Be yourself. That’s my passion and I’m so going to live with it because helping out not just the community, but everything else, makes me feel accomplished. It also makes me feel very proud and nice. I don’t know but I always wanted to be like the Ultimate Superhero around the world! I like smiles and to get people to smile, I crack a joke, help out, compliment, and just go all out crazy! I don’t care if people have a gap in their teeth or if their teeth are yellow! I also like laughs too because it’s the only sound that all humans make, no matter what culture or language, when something’s funny, you hear HAHAHA! =)
Brenda Scott Middle School
They said that we were born to live, but why do we all die at the end? If not born to live, then born to make a difference. You were born to be a role model. You were born to be given a chance to show yourself, to be remembered, to be just known for you. Why do we all have a limited time to live? Why can’t we just live forever? Maybe because it is boring being the same person over and over? Maybe it’s not that.. Maybe, if you believe in reincarnation, we are always being born again so that we can experience other people’s lives. But most of us don’t even remember our past lives from before. Why’s that? Is it because you couldn’t bear the harsh memories that you may have had in your past life? Is it embarrassing knowing what you did back then? Or is it because you just want to completely erase some of the people that you once hung out with and start anew?
Humans are supposed to be one of the smartest species out there, but I think that we are the ones who struggle most and are slowest when it comes to make a life decision. We can be stubborn. We can break down easily and we make a lot of mistakes. But some of us don’t even know that mistakes are the greatest lessons of our lives. Even if we’re not perfect, we learn from mistakes that help us to become better people.
Many of my peers are not that motivated as they should be in their own community. I’m not sure if it’s out of fear, risky, or just laziness. They rather wait for something bad to happen to them, and then they’ll have the motivation to step up. Why do we have to wait to change the world? To change yourself? We need to start caring now. When we care, we’re contributing into our community, to make it better environment for the new generations to come. Same thing goes with peer pressure. Why be like everybody else, when you can more fun being yourself?
Why start now? Because your opinion counts. The faster your message gets around, the more support you’ll get and the less guilt or stress you’ll feel in yourself. If you already waited too long, it’s not too late to start over. It’s just that most of us find it hard to move on. They can’t forget. Of course you can’t forget about what you did, but then you can forgive yourself. You can forgive yourself and that’ll take off some of the burdens on you. That’ll make it less heavy on you and give you a little ease to start over. You can start all over every day.
Stop waiting and do something now. I finally realized what this sentence meant after joining NSO YIP. It opened many new options for me to see. It let me know that I’m not too young to change the world and told me to stop making excuses and just do what I wanted already before it’s too late.
Start off small. End big. Help out your community. Make a difference. Learn from your mistakes. Be yourself. That’s my passion and I’m so going to live with it because helping out not just the community, but everything else, makes me feel accomplished. It also makes me feel very proud and nice. I don’t know but I always wanted to be like the Ultimate Superhero around the world! I like smiles and to get people to smile, I crack a joke, help out, compliment, and just go all out crazy! I don’t care if people have a gap in their teeth or if their teeth are yellow! I also like laughs too because it’s the only sound that all humans make, no matter what culture or language, when something’s funny, you hear HAHAHA! =)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Plastic Surgery...Is It Really Wrong?
Gao Ia Vang
Osborn University High School Graduate/MSU Freshman
The cost of plastic surgery is expensive and yet many people pay thousands of dollars to “renew” themselves. Many people view plastic surgery as a negative thing to be done upon one self. They say natural beauty is the best kind of beauty and define people who have done plastic surgeries as fakes, but I disagree. Is it really a crime to want to be beautiful? Not everybody is born with that natural beauty and in this world, let’s face it, everybody wants to be pretty.
Girls are more pressured and insecure about their looks than boys. Why else would we have those numerous amounts of makeup and Botox being marketing directly at us? If the world and the media wasn’t so judgmental and obsess with looks, everybody would be happy. Sadly, that’s not the case. In the media, looks are everything. There, it’s portraying that only “pretty perfect” people make it big when in fact, it’s not.
I see plastic surgery as another way, or for even some people, a chance to become beautiful. For example, what if someone had been born with a deformation that affected their daily lives? It’s true that it’s the personality that counts and not the looks but it’s not fair when people are pointed out to be made fun of because their nose had been “too big” or if their eyes had been “too small.” Anybody has the right to be happy and if choosing to do plastic surgery satisfies their happiness, let them be.
Osborn University High School Graduate/MSU Freshman
The cost of plastic surgery is expensive and yet many people pay thousands of dollars to “renew” themselves. Many people view plastic surgery as a negative thing to be done upon one self. They say natural beauty is the best kind of beauty and define people who have done plastic surgeries as fakes, but I disagree. Is it really a crime to want to be beautiful? Not everybody is born with that natural beauty and in this world, let’s face it, everybody wants to be pretty.
Girls are more pressured and insecure about their looks than boys. Why else would we have those numerous amounts of makeup and Botox being marketing directly at us? If the world and the media wasn’t so judgmental and obsess with looks, everybody would be happy. Sadly, that’s not the case. In the media, looks are everything. There, it’s portraying that only “pretty perfect” people make it big when in fact, it’s not.
I see plastic surgery as another way, or for even some people, a chance to become beautiful. For example, what if someone had been born with a deformation that affected their daily lives? It’s true that it’s the personality that counts and not the looks but it’s not fair when people are pointed out to be made fun of because their nose had been “too big” or if their eyes had been “too small.” Anybody has the right to be happy and if choosing to do plastic surgery satisfies their happiness, let them be.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Where Am I From?
Pao Kia Yang
Graduate
Osborn University High School
I am from the abandoned houses that were once filled with memories of laughter and sorrow.
I am from surroundings of people who wish for a better tomorrow.
I am from the door entrance of shoes piling up as high as a hill, walls that are surrounded with flowers and picture frames, the smell of steaming rice, and the sound of the TV.
I am from a man whose stomach is as round as the world due to his distance of circling to put food on the table for his family, and his head as shiny as the sun to wake me and be my guide towards the brighter side of life.
I am from a woman who gave up on me when I was only three years old, which of who I do not know of. A woman who did not give me time to grow and prove my reason of existence.
I am from a group of individuals who grew up together to not only think different, but dress different…and still others tend to see some sort of similarity.
I am from teenagers who go under peer pressure when it comes to life decisions, teenagers who struggle to succeed in a violent environment, and teenagers who think outside the box.
I am from the transition of a little girl who once thought only of herself, but struggles brought her to a young woman who learns how to appreciate small things that comes her way.
I am from everything I’ve met.
This was poem was an activity that I did at Detroit Asian Youth Project, which is an organization that works with Asian youth within the metro Detroit area on building leadership skills surrounding the awareness of issues in the community. This writing activity was created to open the youth’s mind to their surroundings and things that made them who they are today. As an introduction to our summer 2007 session, instead of stating the typical like our name, age and school, the activity provided us with creativity, because we are, in fact, a part of everything that we’ve met.
Graduate
Osborn University High School
I am from the abandoned houses that were once filled with memories of laughter and sorrow.
I am from surroundings of people who wish for a better tomorrow.
I am from the door entrance of shoes piling up as high as a hill, walls that are surrounded with flowers and picture frames, the smell of steaming rice, and the sound of the TV.
I am from a man whose stomach is as round as the world due to his distance of circling to put food on the table for his family, and his head as shiny as the sun to wake me and be my guide towards the brighter side of life.
I am from a woman who gave up on me when I was only three years old, which of who I do not know of. A woman who did not give me time to grow and prove my reason of existence.
I am from a group of individuals who grew up together to not only think different, but dress different…and still others tend to see some sort of similarity.
I am from teenagers who go under peer pressure when it comes to life decisions, teenagers who struggle to succeed in a violent environment, and teenagers who think outside the box.
I am from the transition of a little girl who once thought only of herself, but struggles brought her to a young woman who learns how to appreciate small things that comes her way.
I am from everything I’ve met.
This was poem was an activity that I did at Detroit Asian Youth Project, which is an organization that works with Asian youth within the metro Detroit area on building leadership skills surrounding the awareness of issues in the community. This writing activity was created to open the youth’s mind to their surroundings and things that made them who they are today. As an introduction to our summer 2007 session, instead of stating the typical like our name, age and school, the activity provided us with creativity, because we are, in fact, a part of everything that we’ve met.
Domestic Violence
Danielle Welcome
Junior
Martin Luther King Jr. High School
Domestic violence is abuse committed by a spouse, former spouse, fiancée, boyfriend, or girlfriend, or a cohabitant upon another individual. In the United States it is estimated that a domestic violence act occurs every 15 seconds. So that means over 2.5 million victims per year. I don’t see why females stay in relationships with people that are abusing them. There are a lot more people in the world that will love and cherish you, people that would never in their life think about hitting you. Stand up for yourself, don’t be anyone’s punching bag, and leave them. The abusers will say they’re sorry, they love you, and that they won’t do it again, but it’s a lie because the next time they’re even a little angry it will be you that will feel the pain.
There are 1,500 shelters for battered women in the United States. There are places to go that you can find help. Don’t let anyone abuse you it’s your body and no one has the right to hurt you. Domestic violence occurs when one person believes that they that they have the power and that everything is up to them. The saying is “It’s my way or the highway”, but to them it’s their way or no way period. You have a mind of your own; you don’t need anyone telling you how to live your life. It’s even worse if you have children because it is likely that the abuse will spread to them too. Have enough respect for yourself to know that you deserve better. Have enough respect for yourself to know that you deserve better. Have enough confidence in yourself to know that you can find better. So many people are being killed because of domestic violence every day. Who knows who will be next? If you are being hurt by domestic violence speak up about it. Take control of your life and speak up against domestic violence.
Junior
Martin Luther King Jr. High School
Domestic violence is abuse committed by a spouse, former spouse, fiancée, boyfriend, or girlfriend, or a cohabitant upon another individual. In the United States it is estimated that a domestic violence act occurs every 15 seconds. So that means over 2.5 million victims per year. I don’t see why females stay in relationships with people that are abusing them. There are a lot more people in the world that will love and cherish you, people that would never in their life think about hitting you. Stand up for yourself, don’t be anyone’s punching bag, and leave them. The abusers will say they’re sorry, they love you, and that they won’t do it again, but it’s a lie because the next time they’re even a little angry it will be you that will feel the pain.
There are 1,500 shelters for battered women in the United States. There are places to go that you can find help. Don’t let anyone abuse you it’s your body and no one has the right to hurt you. Domestic violence occurs when one person believes that they that they have the power and that everything is up to them. The saying is “It’s my way or the highway”, but to them it’s their way or no way period. You have a mind of your own; you don’t need anyone telling you how to live your life. It’s even worse if you have children because it is likely that the abuse will spread to them too. Have enough respect for yourself to know that you deserve better. Have enough respect for yourself to know that you deserve better. Have enough confidence in yourself to know that you can find better. So many people are being killed because of domestic violence every day. Who knows who will be next? If you are being hurt by domestic violence speak up about it. Take control of your life and speak up against domestic violence.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Drug Abusing Parents
Ometere Osho
Freshman
Florida A & M University
Drug abusive parents are corrupting their child’s life. Doing drugs sends a bad reputation on the family. It also gives a kid the idea to do drugs. It’s not healthy for the family to have parents doing drugs.
Parents that do drugs are corrupting their children’s life. At home they have to deal with these consequences. Going to school they face getting talked about from their peers. These children are actually suffering from stress and emotional problems. Also it runs in the blood stream, so that have a major effect.
Everybody knows your business in the street. Your family doesn’t want to be bothered with you, because your parents are doing drugs. The things that your parent’s have done to get drugs are more embarrassing then ever.
Drug abuse is not healthy for your family. Its causes mental and emotional abuse. That leads to stress and families get broken up. Also a parent that does drugs will be unhealthy and that is not good. Parents, you must remember that your children are watching you. Never forget that.
Freshman
Florida A & M University
Drug abusive parents are corrupting their child’s life. Doing drugs sends a bad reputation on the family. It also gives a kid the idea to do drugs. It’s not healthy for the family to have parents doing drugs.
Parents that do drugs are corrupting their children’s life. At home they have to deal with these consequences. Going to school they face getting talked about from their peers. These children are actually suffering from stress and emotional problems. Also it runs in the blood stream, so that have a major effect.
Everybody knows your business in the street. Your family doesn’t want to be bothered with you, because your parents are doing drugs. The things that your parent’s have done to get drugs are more embarrassing then ever.
Drug abuse is not healthy for your family. Its causes mental and emotional abuse. That leads to stress and families get broken up. Also a parent that does drugs will be unhealthy and that is not good. Parents, you must remember that your children are watching you. Never forget that.
Underage Sex
Danielle Welcome
Junior
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School
I know everyone has heard that once you lose it you can’t get it back. Well, it’s true! Once you lose your virginity it’s gone. Whether you’re a male or a female your virginity is something sacred that you should keep until you are older, wiser. And more mature. I know that most people think they’re mature at a young age but wait, there is no rush, take your time, be a kid while you still can.
Underage sex most likely and most of the time lead to teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy is serious. Think about it how can a baby take care of a baby. Having a baby cuts the joy of being young short. Pregnant teenagers often have to drop out of school, so they don’t receive their full education necessary to get a job. Also, the young teenage mother must find a job to be to take care of her child. Most of the time the father either denies the child or is just to scared to step up and take that responsibility. No teenager, male or female, should have to worry about having to take care of a baby; all they should have to worry about is doing well in school and just having fun.
Underage sex mostly caused by peer pressure. Sexually active teens pressure their peers to become sexually active. They name a lot of lame reasons to why teens should be sexually active and most people listen. Most people want to fit in so they’ll do whatever they can to be popular. Teens need to realize that sex can wait. When people are sexually active and people know about it, they gain bad reputations such as a player for males and whore for females. Males seem to get congratulated for being sexually active and females get looked down for it. When females are sexually active at a young age, males think they’re easy so they keep trying to have sex with them. Some females are taken advantages of because people know they are sexually active and males get mad they can’t get from her what someone else got. So in conclusion, underage sex is not something you should rush into. It’s better if you wait.
Junior
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School
I know everyone has heard that once you lose it you can’t get it back. Well, it’s true! Once you lose your virginity it’s gone. Whether you’re a male or a female your virginity is something sacred that you should keep until you are older, wiser. And more mature. I know that most people think they’re mature at a young age but wait, there is no rush, take your time, be a kid while you still can.
Underage sex most likely and most of the time lead to teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy is serious. Think about it how can a baby take care of a baby. Having a baby cuts the joy of being young short. Pregnant teenagers often have to drop out of school, so they don’t receive their full education necessary to get a job. Also, the young teenage mother must find a job to be to take care of her child. Most of the time the father either denies the child or is just to scared to step up and take that responsibility. No teenager, male or female, should have to worry about having to take care of a baby; all they should have to worry about is doing well in school and just having fun.
Underage sex mostly caused by peer pressure. Sexually active teens pressure their peers to become sexually active. They name a lot of lame reasons to why teens should be sexually active and most people listen. Most people want to fit in so they’ll do whatever they can to be popular. Teens need to realize that sex can wait. When people are sexually active and people know about it, they gain bad reputations such as a player for males and whore for females. Males seem to get congratulated for being sexually active and females get looked down for it. When females are sexually active at a young age, males think they’re easy so they keep trying to have sex with them. Some females are taken advantages of because people know they are sexually active and males get mad they can’t get from her what someone else got. So in conclusion, underage sex is not something you should rush into. It’s better if you wait.
Breakout
Gao Vang
Freshman
MSU
Aren’t you tired to be hidden in the shadow all the time? You were always in the dark.
Always following but never leading your own part.
Always moving but never stepping forward.
You were meant to lead but taught to bite your tongue
Your effort was never praised upon but trampled on instead
Now you’re sick and impatient with everything that has become
You just want to break out and yell to the world “This is me and listen!”
You want to be recognized
You want to be heard
But yet you can’t even open your mouth because you’ve been shut away for too long
It has become hard for you to speak so you keep everything bottle inside
Time is ticken’ but it feels like an enternity for you to open up
You’re slowly becoming intolerate with everything
You want to take another path where your path can reside
You’re tired of hoping, you need to take action
Freshman
MSU
Aren’t you tired to be hidden in the shadow all the time? You were always in the dark.
Always following but never leading your own part.
Always moving but never stepping forward.
You were meant to lead but taught to bite your tongue
Your effort was never praised upon but trampled on instead
Now you’re sick and impatient with everything that has become
You just want to break out and yell to the world “This is me and listen!”
You want to be recognized
You want to be heard
But yet you can’t even open your mouth because you’ve been shut away for too long
It has become hard for you to speak so you keep everything bottle inside
Time is ticken’ but it feels like an enternity for you to open up
You’re slowly becoming intolerate with everything
You want to take another path where your path can reside
You’re tired of hoping, you need to take action
Diversity & Loving Your Job
Gao Vang
Freshman
MSU
I love doing my job because I know that what I do helps the community. Another reason why I love coming to work everyday is because of how I’m easily able to connect with my coworkers. Over the last two months I am happy to say that my work place has become my second home. Even though our group of young adults is few, the love that’s there is bigger than anyone can ever imagine.
There’s an age gap between all of us but that doesn’t make a huge difference in our interests. All of us have the same goal and that is the betterment of the community. We all have unique personalities that makes up a huge family. Each of us come from a different background but that seems to be the reason why we enjoy each other’s company. We love learning new things about each other’s traits. My work really is a place of diversity who welcomes anybody.
I considered my boss, Mr. Frank McGhee, the coolest boss out there. He’s understanding and very patient…most of the time. Just kidding. He’s a father figure to everyone of us. A goal of his is to make sure that by the time he’s done training us we’ll be ready for the real world. He’s always telling his youth peer educators to define our own path. It’s a quote that will forever stand beside me.
It sucks that by the end of the summer I’ll be leaving this new family I have just made. I’m afraid that I’ll never find another job like this where I’m actually happy in the morning to come to work. However, it’ll open another space for another future peer educator to come join. In closing, I just have to say that all of my coworkers and boss rocks! And that they will always be a family that I’ll remember and miss dearly.
Freshman
MSU
I love doing my job because I know that what I do helps the community. Another reason why I love coming to work everyday is because of how I’m easily able to connect with my coworkers. Over the last two months I am happy to say that my work place has become my second home. Even though our group of young adults is few, the love that’s there is bigger than anyone can ever imagine.
There’s an age gap between all of us but that doesn’t make a huge difference in our interests. All of us have the same goal and that is the betterment of the community. We all have unique personalities that makes up a huge family. Each of us come from a different background but that seems to be the reason why we enjoy each other’s company. We love learning new things about each other’s traits. My work really is a place of diversity who welcomes anybody.
I considered my boss, Mr. Frank McGhee, the coolest boss out there. He’s understanding and very patient…most of the time. Just kidding. He’s a father figure to everyone of us. A goal of his is to make sure that by the time he’s done training us we’ll be ready for the real world. He’s always telling his youth peer educators to define our own path. It’s a quote that will forever stand beside me.
It sucks that by the end of the summer I’ll be leaving this new family I have just made. I’m afraid that I’ll never find another job like this where I’m actually happy in the morning to come to work. However, it’ll open another space for another future peer educator to come join. In closing, I just have to say that all of my coworkers and boss rocks! And that they will always be a family that I’ll remember and miss dearly.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Love Yourself Enough To Protect Yourself
Ashley Brown
Freshman
Bowling Green University
“How often do you protect yourself?” This is a question you usually here during school conventions and even safe sex commercials on television. When you hear this question what runs through your head?
Many teens are sexually active and are not using the knowledge that is offered to them concerning safe sex. Do not become “that teen,” that puts themselves at risk of becoming pregnant, or obtaining a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Countless teens believe that the chances of catching an STD or becoming pregnant are not likely to happen to them. That is not true. In the United States, an estimated 15.3 million new cases of STDs occur each year, at least one-quarter of them among teenagers. To make matters worst, many people do not know if they have an STD. To add to that statistic, about 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year; 95% of those pregnancies are unintended, and almost one third end in abortions. Diseases are spread too commonly and many teens become pregnant too commonly. Do not put yourself at risk.
Protect yourself because sexually active teenagers who do not use contraceptives have a 90% chance of becoming pregnant within one year. Teen pregnancy is a sensitive subject and it is unfortunate to have an unplanned pregnancy at a young age. Teens suffer from not having the proper knowledge of how to raise a child and also endure financial problems when raising a child as a teen. In many cases it has been referred to as, “a child raising a child”. Pregnancy is a component that can drastically change your life for better or for worst. For girls that chose to have an abortion, 65% are mentally damaged from the outcome. Avoid this conclusion but using contraceptives.
By not protecting yourself, the chances of receiving an STD becomes higher. In my opinion, the worst thing that can happen to a person is to be tested positive for having HIV/AIDS. This is frightening because these diseases are not curable. They are also something that you will have to live with for the rest of your life and some thing that will most likely be the cause of your death. As for the diseases that are curable, it is a frightening process. Usually you have to take medications and sometimes the disease will damage permanently.
It may sound simple to just say, “put on a condom”. I understand that it is easier said than done. You go through the stresses of peer pressure, trusting and even believing that you will receive better pleasure without a condom. It gets scary when you begin to think of the consequences of not having safe sex. If you feel you give into peer pressure when it comes to protecting yourself, the best option may be to change your partner or not to have sex at all. You deserve to put yourself first. Get tested and have safe sex. The possible results of the outcome of unprotected sex are endless, so love yourself enough to protect yourself.
Freshman
Bowling Green University
“How often do you protect yourself?” This is a question you usually here during school conventions and even safe sex commercials on television. When you hear this question what runs through your head?
Many teens are sexually active and are not using the knowledge that is offered to them concerning safe sex. Do not become “that teen,” that puts themselves at risk of becoming pregnant, or obtaining a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Countless teens believe that the chances of catching an STD or becoming pregnant are not likely to happen to them. That is not true. In the United States, an estimated 15.3 million new cases of STDs occur each year, at least one-quarter of them among teenagers. To make matters worst, many people do not know if they have an STD. To add to that statistic, about 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year; 95% of those pregnancies are unintended, and almost one third end in abortions. Diseases are spread too commonly and many teens become pregnant too commonly. Do not put yourself at risk.
Protect yourself because sexually active teenagers who do not use contraceptives have a 90% chance of becoming pregnant within one year. Teen pregnancy is a sensitive subject and it is unfortunate to have an unplanned pregnancy at a young age. Teens suffer from not having the proper knowledge of how to raise a child and also endure financial problems when raising a child as a teen. In many cases it has been referred to as, “a child raising a child”. Pregnancy is a component that can drastically change your life for better or for worst. For girls that chose to have an abortion, 65% are mentally damaged from the outcome. Avoid this conclusion but using contraceptives.
By not protecting yourself, the chances of receiving an STD becomes higher. In my opinion, the worst thing that can happen to a person is to be tested positive for having HIV/AIDS. This is frightening because these diseases are not curable. They are also something that you will have to live with for the rest of your life and some thing that will most likely be the cause of your death. As for the diseases that are curable, it is a frightening process. Usually you have to take medications and sometimes the disease will damage permanently.
It may sound simple to just say, “put on a condom”. I understand that it is easier said than done. You go through the stresses of peer pressure, trusting and even believing that you will receive better pleasure without a condom. It gets scary when you begin to think of the consequences of not having safe sex. If you feel you give into peer pressure when it comes to protecting yourself, the best option may be to change your partner or not to have sex at all. You deserve to put yourself first. Get tested and have safe sex. The possible results of the outcome of unprotected sex are endless, so love yourself enough to protect yourself.
Peer Pressure
Danielle Welcome
Junior
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School
Peer pressure is a term describing the pressure exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change their attitude, behavior and/ or morals. Peers really influence your life whether you know it or not. Just from spending time with someone you learn from them and they learn from you. It’s natural to learn listen and learn from people in your age group. Kids give in to pressure because they want to fit in, to be liked, or because they worry other kids might make fun of them if they don’t go along with a group. Other kids go along with it because they are curious and they want to try what others are doing. Peer pressure can be good or bad and it’s important to pay attention so you can tell the difference.
Positive peer pressure is when you are pressured by people your age to change yourself or what you do for the better. For instance, if you hang around people that are good students that act mature and that plan to go to college you will notice that the more you hang around them the more like them you will become. This type of peer pressure is good because it changes you for the better. It helps you achieve more in life and just to be a better person. So if you are going to be affected by peer pressure make sure it’s positive and only good things will follow.
Negative peer pressure is when you are pressured by people your age to change yourself or what you do for the worse. For instance, if you hang around people that gamble, skip school, and do drugs you will start doing that too. Doing things like that is stupid, especially if you’re just doing it to fit in. I’d rather be an outcast than do things that I know I shouldn’t do. Don’t follow what others try to make you do; it’s not worth losing yourself over. Follow your own morals, your own beliefs, do what you know is right.
Stay true to yourself.
Junior
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School
Peer pressure is a term describing the pressure exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change their attitude, behavior and/ or morals. Peers really influence your life whether you know it or not. Just from spending time with someone you learn from them and they learn from you. It’s natural to learn listen and learn from people in your age group. Kids give in to pressure because they want to fit in, to be liked, or because they worry other kids might make fun of them if they don’t go along with a group. Other kids go along with it because they are curious and they want to try what others are doing. Peer pressure can be good or bad and it’s important to pay attention so you can tell the difference.
Positive peer pressure is when you are pressured by people your age to change yourself or what you do for the better. For instance, if you hang around people that are good students that act mature and that plan to go to college you will notice that the more you hang around them the more like them you will become. This type of peer pressure is good because it changes you for the better. It helps you achieve more in life and just to be a better person. So if you are going to be affected by peer pressure make sure it’s positive and only good things will follow.
Negative peer pressure is when you are pressured by people your age to change yourself or what you do for the worse. For instance, if you hang around people that gamble, skip school, and do drugs you will start doing that too. Doing things like that is stupid, especially if you’re just doing it to fit in. I’d rather be an outcast than do things that I know I shouldn’t do. Don’t follow what others try to make you do; it’s not worth losing yourself over. Follow your own morals, your own beliefs, do what you know is right.
Stay true to yourself.
Love, Sex, Lies
Asia Smith
Junior
Clintondale High School
Here’s a message to all the young ladies who are facing the pressures to be sexually active……
Guys have a tendency to tell young ladies what they want to hear, so they can get what they want. They tell us they love us, and we say it back. We’re sometimes told that it’s not true, but we believe that word “love” is a fact.
She runs and tells her friends about the good news, and they don’t believe her because he’s not that type of dude. They tell her, “let him go,” because he is just a lie; she doesn’t believe them because he says he really loves her. There’s nothing they can do because she thinks she knows it all. They say they will let her learn on her own the hard way, because right now she is feeling that life is a ball.
Months go by, he’s asking for sex. She says “oh no baby, I’m not ready yet.”
With an attitude he walks away and says, “I’ll holla.” Later that night she calls and he doesn’t answer; she leaves a voicemail and says “baby, I’m sorry for what I’ve done, and if you want, we can do what you asked me to do today.” A couple minutes later she gets a call back from him, he’s as happy as can be. She did what he wanted, and now it’s truly love that she sees. The next day she calls him, and she gets no answer, and now she’s wondering what he problem is. She talks to her best friend. Her best friend says that he got what he wanted, so now he’s long and gone.
She’s now wondering why she’s not getting any of her calls back. She finds out that he has a girlfriend that lives close by. She gave him what she can’t get back. Her life is in a transition due to following her heart. She’s so hurt and can’t stop crying. She screaming at him and saying “I thought you loved me,” and says she feels like dying. Now all he does is look at her with a grin, because he really didn’t care to begin.
So ladies, ladies please beware of how you perceive young men and the cruel consequences of giving in.
Junior
Clintondale High School
Here’s a message to all the young ladies who are facing the pressures to be sexually active……
Guys have a tendency to tell young ladies what they want to hear, so they can get what they want. They tell us they love us, and we say it back. We’re sometimes told that it’s not true, but we believe that word “love” is a fact.
She runs and tells her friends about the good news, and they don’t believe her because he’s not that type of dude. They tell her, “let him go,” because he is just a lie; she doesn’t believe them because he says he really loves her. There’s nothing they can do because she thinks she knows it all. They say they will let her learn on her own the hard way, because right now she is feeling that life is a ball.
Months go by, he’s asking for sex. She says “oh no baby, I’m not ready yet.”
With an attitude he walks away and says, “I’ll holla.” Later that night she calls and he doesn’t answer; she leaves a voicemail and says “baby, I’m sorry for what I’ve done, and if you want, we can do what you asked me to do today.” A couple minutes later she gets a call back from him, he’s as happy as can be. She did what he wanted, and now it’s truly love that she sees. The next day she calls him, and she gets no answer, and now she’s wondering what he problem is. She talks to her best friend. Her best friend says that he got what he wanted, so now he’s long and gone.
She’s now wondering why she’s not getting any of her calls back. She finds out that he has a girlfriend that lives close by. She gave him what she can’t get back. Her life is in a transition due to following her heart. She’s so hurt and can’t stop crying. She screaming at him and saying “I thought you loved me,” and says she feels like dying. Now all he does is look at her with a grin, because he really didn’t care to begin.
So ladies, ladies please beware of how you perceive young men and the cruel consequences of giving in.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Duties Of A Lady
Ometere Osho
Freshman
Florida A & M University
A lady should always respect people and be respected by others. Lady hygiene is one of the most important things that should be taken care of everyday. Conducting yourself is another important factor of a lady; a lady knows how to carry out herself very well. A female must never let a male do any harm to them nor treat them nothing less than what they are. A lady doesn’t gossip for bad causes. Those are the few duties of a lady.
Respect defines the acts of a lady. Never do a lady put someone on down or try to hurt someone, instead a lady bring a person spirit up and try to up lift people if they are feeling down. Ladies should always receive respect from the people she is around. She never allows people to disrespect her.
Her hygiene is the most important things that should be taken care of everyday. A lady by no means goes out the house with out taking care of business in the bathroom. She always looks and smells good. Not at all will a lady present herself to anyone with bad personal hygiene.
Also a lady is a well mannered person. She knows how to conduct herself exceptionally fine. A lady will always be polite, nice in generous to people. She has her own character and she seek to make everyone pleased and at ease. She conducts her self awfully good, she dress well, talk well; and presents herself like a young lady should present herself.
A lady will not allow a man to mistreat hurt and any way shape or from. She knows that she is worth more than someone trying to harm her. Letting a man disrespect you shows that you have low self esteem. A lady should be confident in herself.
Freshman
Florida A & M University
A lady should always respect people and be respected by others. Lady hygiene is one of the most important things that should be taken care of everyday. Conducting yourself is another important factor of a lady; a lady knows how to carry out herself very well. A female must never let a male do any harm to them nor treat them nothing less than what they are. A lady doesn’t gossip for bad causes. Those are the few duties of a lady.
Respect defines the acts of a lady. Never do a lady put someone on down or try to hurt someone, instead a lady bring a person spirit up and try to up lift people if they are feeling down. Ladies should always receive respect from the people she is around. She never allows people to disrespect her.
Her hygiene is the most important things that should be taken care of everyday. A lady by no means goes out the house with out taking care of business in the bathroom. She always looks and smells good. Not at all will a lady present herself to anyone with bad personal hygiene.
Also a lady is a well mannered person. She knows how to conduct herself exceptionally fine. A lady will always be polite, nice in generous to people. She has her own character and she seek to make everyone pleased and at ease. She conducts her self awfully good, she dress well, talk well; and presents herself like a young lady should present herself.
A lady will not allow a man to mistreat hurt and any way shape or from. She knows that she is worth more than someone trying to harm her. Letting a man disrespect you shows that you have low self esteem. A lady should be confident in herself.
Women With Children and No Jobs Abuse The Welfare System
Ometere Osho
Freshman
Florida A & M University
Some women that have children with no job count on the government to take care of them. They feel the government owes them something. Women that have that situation don’t plan on going to school or working, because they feel that they should get everything free. Some of them don’t know how to start, so they just give up on it. Although the government is feeding and clothing their children, these women still have the impudence to allow there children to have poor hygiene and to be malnourished. That really makes me mad to see that around my community. I believe that all women in those situations can get back up and get a job, go to school, and make sure that their kids are doing well in school, clean, neat, and are healthy.
Freshman
Florida A & M University
Some women that have children with no job count on the government to take care of them. They feel the government owes them something. Women that have that situation don’t plan on going to school or working, because they feel that they should get everything free. Some of them don’t know how to start, so they just give up on it. Although the government is feeding and clothing their children, these women still have the impudence to allow there children to have poor hygiene and to be malnourished. That really makes me mad to see that around my community. I believe that all women in those situations can get back up and get a job, go to school, and make sure that their kids are doing well in school, clean, neat, and are healthy.
I Dive In
GaoI Vang
Freshman
MSU
Almost to the edge I stand, I prepare myself
The bitterness I've sunken myself into, it was not worth my soul
I no longer care of the slander that escapes their lips
Because drowning myself in their pit of pressure is like stabbing myself through the heart with a dagger
My expressions may give away as a lonesome character
But that doesn't mean my thoughts are unclear for you to overtake
Now, I'm not a disturbed person who's easily influenced by that kind of nature
You tried to fit me into a perfect box
But I'm a box with too many corners, too many ups and down like a roller coaster
The person I've become, you hate
All the effort I put in was a waste
You make me feel like I'm freakin' worthless
Like I had no purpose
I've become a little more selfish, a little more careless
The things I do seems reckless
You give me the cold eyes to put me down
My tears use to threaten to fall out
But now my heart is too stone to feel all of that
Hate my irresponsibility but this is MY reality
I took all your negativity as encouragement for me to become a stronger person
If you don't have my back, I still have myself
If it has to be, I will go on living alone and die alone
I will not break down any longer
Breaking out of this caged wall that was built to keep me lock
I dive in to retrieve what I've lost and that is to live for me and just myself.
Freshman
MSU
Almost to the edge I stand, I prepare myself
The bitterness I've sunken myself into, it was not worth my soul
I no longer care of the slander that escapes their lips
Because drowning myself in their pit of pressure is like stabbing myself through the heart with a dagger
My expressions may give away as a lonesome character
But that doesn't mean my thoughts are unclear for you to overtake
Now, I'm not a disturbed person who's easily influenced by that kind of nature
You tried to fit me into a perfect box
But I'm a box with too many corners, too many ups and down like a roller coaster
The person I've become, you hate
All the effort I put in was a waste
You make me feel like I'm freakin' worthless
Like I had no purpose
I've become a little more selfish, a little more careless
The things I do seems reckless
You give me the cold eyes to put me down
My tears use to threaten to fall out
But now my heart is too stone to feel all of that
Hate my irresponsibility but this is MY reality
I took all your negativity as encouragement for me to become a stronger person
If you don't have my back, I still have myself
If it has to be, I will go on living alone and die alone
I will not break down any longer
Breaking out of this caged wall that was built to keep me lock
I dive in to retrieve what I've lost and that is to live for me and just myself.
To A Dear Friend
GaoIa Vang
Osborn Graduate/ MSU freshman
To a dear friend…
Why put yourself in a lower standard when you have so much to give?
Why cry for him when he was the one at fault?
Why let him take over your life, will it be all worth it in the end?
Don’t let him stop you from doing what you want to do because if he doesn’t want to stick with you, why be a fool?
You’re much more compared to this pitiful dude who doesn’t see the goodness in you.
Why waste your precious time working on a relationship that is too controlling?
That has too many up and downs with no trusting?
Is he even worth your tears?
Does he even care for your existence?
If not, why stick around to only see your heart crush into pieces?
The painful words that escaped his lips, it can never be words of a prince charming.
Life was never a fairytale but why end it with such an uncaring person?
Just because you’re a girl doesn’t mean you have to be helpless.
Don’t blame yourself because it was you who had given effort.
You were the one who had cared for the idiot when no one else did.
But don’t let him take that as an advantage to use.
If he finds you to “boring” than he wants you to change.
But why should you lie to yourself and become something you’re not?
Find somebody who can truly love you for who you are and not because of what you can do for them.
Osborn Graduate/ MSU freshman
To a dear friend…
Why put yourself in a lower standard when you have so much to give?
Why cry for him when he was the one at fault?
Why let him take over your life, will it be all worth it in the end?
Don’t let him stop you from doing what you want to do because if he doesn’t want to stick with you, why be a fool?
You’re much more compared to this pitiful dude who doesn’t see the goodness in you.
Why waste your precious time working on a relationship that is too controlling?
That has too many up and downs with no trusting?
Is he even worth your tears?
Does he even care for your existence?
If not, why stick around to only see your heart crush into pieces?
The painful words that escaped his lips, it can never be words of a prince charming.
Life was never a fairytale but why end it with such an uncaring person?
Just because you’re a girl doesn’t mean you have to be helpless.
Don’t blame yourself because it was you who had given effort.
You were the one who had cared for the idiot when no one else did.
But don’t let him take that as an advantage to use.
If he finds you to “boring” than he wants you to change.
But why should you lie to yourself and become something you’re not?
Find somebody who can truly love you for who you are and not because of what you can do for them.
My Life, My Carelessness, My Hero...My Dad
Pao Kia Yang
Graduate
Osborn University High School
When I was about three years old, my mother left us. I can still remember the scene of that day. I stared at my mom crying and pulling her purse away from the grip of my dad’s hands, and my brother running towards the hall, calling the police. I can still hear my little sister screaming in fear. I stood there confused of why these white men in uniforms took my dad away. Why, he didn’t do anything wrong, did he? All he wanted was to look at what was in my mom’s purse. Am I right? Until this day, I still don’t know the reason why my parents got a divorced. I haven’t seen my biological mom in over 10 years. The image of her face was no more than just the pictures that my aunt had shown me.
It was hard for my dad to take care of three daughters and to get the attention of one son. All of us were no more than a year apart from each other. He had to wake up early in the morning, get my older brother and sister to school, send my little sister and I to my grandma’s house, go to work, and deal with the court cases from my mom on getting custody of us. Sometimes he’ll come home early to get ready to go to court. But most of the times, I’ll find him asleep on the kitchen floor after a tiring day of work. The only time that he’ll be seen by us is when my mom comes to pick us up on the weekends. Every time we came back home on Sunday night, he’ll have a bottle of liquor in his hands, in tears of sorrow. My dad was never able to make time to interact with us. I was young at that time. I thought my dad cried only because he was drunk, but now I know. It took me eighteen years to realize that, and forever will I not forget my dad’s struggle to keep us.
I can’t really say my mom didn’t do her job. I’ll give her credits for trying, but she didn’t try hard enough. She was always causing problems when it comes to us. She did not only cheated on my dad, but she wanted only to have custody of us so she wouldn’t have to pay for child support. When we were over her house, she always dropped us off at her friend’s house. Each weekend, we will have to spend it with random individuals. The only time when I get to see her is when she brings along her boyfriend. I was always angry at her because I didn’t understand why she would need a guy in her life when she has us. Every night it was hard for me to sleep because my dad wasn’t there. My dad always let my little sister and I sleep with him. We needed him when we’re hungry or a reminder to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. But because my mom liked sleeping alone, she would laid out some blankets in her living floor for us. Her words of saying that she wished she aborted us echoes in my ears every time someone mentions her.
When I turned five years old, my dad finally won custody of us. Ever since then I never saw my mom’s face. It didn’t really occur to me that she probably did care of us ever meeting. My dad was always there for me whenever I needed him, so there was no need for a mother figure. My dad was my mom, and I kept it that way. Then, later on the next year, my dad got remarried. I was confused at first of why I would need another mom, but now that I think about it, he deserves it. He needed someone in his life; someone to stop his hand when he reaches for bottle of liquor. My dad stopped drinking on daily basis ever since my step mom came into his life, and I thank her very much for that. My dad was my mom, but now that my step mother came along, she took that place.
It was hard for me to adjust myself with my step mom and my two step sisters. Yes, my dad deserved my step mom, but I didn’t think ‘I’ needed her. Seeing my dad with my step mom reminded me of how my mom had her boyfriend come over to steal mother-and-daughter time. Having to live with step sisters were like a competition. The fact that my step mom and my step sisters moved in, his attention on me and my other siblings went down slope the longer they stayed. I didn’t’ feel there was a reason for me to get my dad’s attention, because every time I did, he would be with them. I grew up carelessly of what happens to him, and I think my older brother felt that way too. That’s why I think he’s closer to my biological mom.
I had given up on myself and my capabilities because the person that I trusted seemed to not care. It’s funny now to think of all the things I didn’t do. I rejected my dad from my life. I wanted to go live with my mom, but at the same time, I had a feeling she wouldn’t care as well. I didn’t feel the need to take the time to talk to my dad about why he mentally pushes his own kids out of his life. Whatever he wanted me to do, I didn’t. Whatever he didn’t want me to do, I did. I wanted to grow up so fast and get out of his house. I couldn’t stand his voice, because all I bothered to hear was the tone of his voice, not his words.
My dad’s struggles never occurred to me until recently when he lost his job. He had the time to sit on the couch and talk to me. That day that I spent, just sitting on the front porch with him, was a day I’ll never forget. It was the closest I ever got to him. To imagine that I can never have a decent conversation with my dad, was from that day until now, wrong. First, I just thought he only opened himself up to me because he lost his job and wanted my help, but then after that talk, I regretted every rebellious thing I did. I regret yelling back at him when he was only trying to talk to me. I regretted walking away when he only wanted someone to watch TV with him and help translate the words. I regretted not taking his advice. Now that I’m picking back up the pieces with him, I realize his reason of getting custody of us was because he truly loved us. It’s hard to make my older brother realize that because of how far my dad’s actions pushed him away. But all I know is that I finally got to understand what my dad wanted. He wanted his children to understand that no matter how cruel, how dumb, and how rude we were to him, he’ll always have a place for us in his heart. He learned how to forgive us for our wrong doings, and because of that I learned how to forgive him. He told me he didn’t realize how his actions towards my step sisters and step mom would come off to us as isolation. I can’t speak on my siblings’ perspective, but I can on mines. My dad has done so much for me, for then I shall never forget his love. When my mom didn’t want us, he was always more than happy to take us in with open arms. My dad is my life and I love him very much…always have and always will.
I believe every one of us should take the time to talk to our parents. Understanding is the key to living life to the fullest and to have a reason to do better. I took the time to, so you can too. I know I may come off as a hypocrite, because it seemed as if I didn’t give time for my mom to tell her story, but that is something that’ll probably happen later on in life. I want to be able to understand my mom so I wouldn’t be living with this grudge I have on her.
Like my Program Director, Mr. Frank McGhee said, “Family comes first.” Just know that when the rest of your friends walk out on you, not only will your family walk in, but forever take you in as well, because you have always left your footprints in their hearts…you just need to look back and see that your trail from home is not too far.
Graduate
Osborn University High School
When I was about three years old, my mother left us. I can still remember the scene of that day. I stared at my mom crying and pulling her purse away from the grip of my dad’s hands, and my brother running towards the hall, calling the police. I can still hear my little sister screaming in fear. I stood there confused of why these white men in uniforms took my dad away. Why, he didn’t do anything wrong, did he? All he wanted was to look at what was in my mom’s purse. Am I right? Until this day, I still don’t know the reason why my parents got a divorced. I haven’t seen my biological mom in over 10 years. The image of her face was no more than just the pictures that my aunt had shown me.
It was hard for my dad to take care of three daughters and to get the attention of one son. All of us were no more than a year apart from each other. He had to wake up early in the morning, get my older brother and sister to school, send my little sister and I to my grandma’s house, go to work, and deal with the court cases from my mom on getting custody of us. Sometimes he’ll come home early to get ready to go to court. But most of the times, I’ll find him asleep on the kitchen floor after a tiring day of work. The only time that he’ll be seen by us is when my mom comes to pick us up on the weekends. Every time we came back home on Sunday night, he’ll have a bottle of liquor in his hands, in tears of sorrow. My dad was never able to make time to interact with us. I was young at that time. I thought my dad cried only because he was drunk, but now I know. It took me eighteen years to realize that, and forever will I not forget my dad’s struggle to keep us.
I can’t really say my mom didn’t do her job. I’ll give her credits for trying, but she didn’t try hard enough. She was always causing problems when it comes to us. She did not only cheated on my dad, but she wanted only to have custody of us so she wouldn’t have to pay for child support. When we were over her house, she always dropped us off at her friend’s house. Each weekend, we will have to spend it with random individuals. The only time when I get to see her is when she brings along her boyfriend. I was always angry at her because I didn’t understand why she would need a guy in her life when she has us. Every night it was hard for me to sleep because my dad wasn’t there. My dad always let my little sister and I sleep with him. We needed him when we’re hungry or a reminder to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. But because my mom liked sleeping alone, she would laid out some blankets in her living floor for us. Her words of saying that she wished she aborted us echoes in my ears every time someone mentions her.
When I turned five years old, my dad finally won custody of us. Ever since then I never saw my mom’s face. It didn’t really occur to me that she probably did care of us ever meeting. My dad was always there for me whenever I needed him, so there was no need for a mother figure. My dad was my mom, and I kept it that way. Then, later on the next year, my dad got remarried. I was confused at first of why I would need another mom, but now that I think about it, he deserves it. He needed someone in his life; someone to stop his hand when he reaches for bottle of liquor. My dad stopped drinking on daily basis ever since my step mom came into his life, and I thank her very much for that. My dad was my mom, but now that my step mother came along, she took that place.
It was hard for me to adjust myself with my step mom and my two step sisters. Yes, my dad deserved my step mom, but I didn’t think ‘I’ needed her. Seeing my dad with my step mom reminded me of how my mom had her boyfriend come over to steal mother-and-daughter time. Having to live with step sisters were like a competition. The fact that my step mom and my step sisters moved in, his attention on me and my other siblings went down slope the longer they stayed. I didn’t’ feel there was a reason for me to get my dad’s attention, because every time I did, he would be with them. I grew up carelessly of what happens to him, and I think my older brother felt that way too. That’s why I think he’s closer to my biological mom.
I had given up on myself and my capabilities because the person that I trusted seemed to not care. It’s funny now to think of all the things I didn’t do. I rejected my dad from my life. I wanted to go live with my mom, but at the same time, I had a feeling she wouldn’t care as well. I didn’t feel the need to take the time to talk to my dad about why he mentally pushes his own kids out of his life. Whatever he wanted me to do, I didn’t. Whatever he didn’t want me to do, I did. I wanted to grow up so fast and get out of his house. I couldn’t stand his voice, because all I bothered to hear was the tone of his voice, not his words.
My dad’s struggles never occurred to me until recently when he lost his job. He had the time to sit on the couch and talk to me. That day that I spent, just sitting on the front porch with him, was a day I’ll never forget. It was the closest I ever got to him. To imagine that I can never have a decent conversation with my dad, was from that day until now, wrong. First, I just thought he only opened himself up to me because he lost his job and wanted my help, but then after that talk, I regretted every rebellious thing I did. I regret yelling back at him when he was only trying to talk to me. I regretted walking away when he only wanted someone to watch TV with him and help translate the words. I regretted not taking his advice. Now that I’m picking back up the pieces with him, I realize his reason of getting custody of us was because he truly loved us. It’s hard to make my older brother realize that because of how far my dad’s actions pushed him away. But all I know is that I finally got to understand what my dad wanted. He wanted his children to understand that no matter how cruel, how dumb, and how rude we were to him, he’ll always have a place for us in his heart. He learned how to forgive us for our wrong doings, and because of that I learned how to forgive him. He told me he didn’t realize how his actions towards my step sisters and step mom would come off to us as isolation. I can’t speak on my siblings’ perspective, but I can on mines. My dad has done so much for me, for then I shall never forget his love. When my mom didn’t want us, he was always more than happy to take us in with open arms. My dad is my life and I love him very much…always have and always will.
I believe every one of us should take the time to talk to our parents. Understanding is the key to living life to the fullest and to have a reason to do better. I took the time to, so you can too. I know I may come off as a hypocrite, because it seemed as if I didn’t give time for my mom to tell her story, but that is something that’ll probably happen later on in life. I want to be able to understand my mom so I wouldn’t be living with this grudge I have on her.
Like my Program Director, Mr. Frank McGhee said, “Family comes first.” Just know that when the rest of your friends walk out on you, not only will your family walk in, but forever take you in as well, because you have always left your footprints in their hearts…you just need to look back and see that your trail from home is not too far.
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