Janina Kolalanek Autobiography

My father was right. It took time- years- for my mother to recover. However, overtime she regained her strength and conquered her sadness. She even found her smile again. It was a few weeks before Christmas and were decorating the Christmas tree. Picking out a silver rattle from the box of decorations, I read the engraving “For Lily’s first Christmas. Love, Mimi”. I quickly tried to hide the ornament but my mother saw. “Lily what’s that one?” After reluctantly handing it to her, I hid my eyes not wanting to see her cry, but I didn’t hear anything. Peaking through the hands covering my eyes I saw my mother starring at the engraving and

A person who has influenced my life growing up would be my sister that showed me to never give up no matter how hard life gets and that nothing is impossible to accomplish as long as you try hard and never give

Robert lost his mother when he was seventeen months of age. His grandmother stepped in his life and took over. She was everything to him; she raised him and sends him to school. Robert said, “If I didn’t have my grandma, I wouldn’t have been the young man who I am today. My grandma really played a big role in my life, like being the mother, the father, everything to me, a friend.” (All the difference, Robert). Robert had his grandma to encourage him, to talk to him and be there for him, if he had any questions. I think she really gave him all her attention and observed him and knew when he him. He also had his sisters and the support of teachers and role models to guide and help him.

My hands became clammy and my heart started racing. I did not want to believe the words coming out of my mother’s lips, “His kidney failed three weeks after the operation, he is dead”. I was just 5 years old and I felt like there was no purpose to live. My father was everything to me. I already missed his genuine kindness, the way his smile formed whenever he talked to me about life, and the times where we had father-son time at the airport, watching airplanes fly. Standing there looking into my mother’s eyes filled with intent and worries, I was speechless. At this instant, I was able to budge a smile and move myself, despite being frozen from the news, to embrace my now widowed mother. Despite this tragic event, my dad had a dream, a vision that his two sons would achieve the American Dream filled with infinite opportunities that can be obtained with a higher education. To this day, I continually strive to live up to the American Dream my dad envisioned for me.

When I was 7 years old my mom had a miscarriage. We named the baby Gabriel because we didn 't know if the baby was a boy or a girl so the name can go both ways. I chose Gabriel because I always felt like I am missing a sibling. We will talk about what it is like to watch out siblings grow from and earth and heaven stand point. We will also talk about suffering and I dealt with it in my life. Gabriel will teach me that suffering is a good thing because it helps our relationships grow stronger. Gabriel will also teach me even though our family suffered because we lost Gabriel it helped us grow closer as a

Conductor of the Underground Railroad, civil war nurse, and activist are three words that describe Harriet Tubman. Many people know that Harriet Tubman freed many slaves however, that is just the cherry on top of the ice cream. As a well known activist, Harriet Tubman showed the world that a simple slave like herself can help so many people. She left a lasting legacy as a brave and independent women.

I was out of the building just as it was about to collapse. My dad, My dad’s best friend, and the firefighter were not out of the tower. A paramedic came over to me and carried me over to the ambulance to check me out. My wrist was broken but I didn’t care because all I could think about was my dad, my dad’s best friend, and the fireman that didn’t make it out with me and the others. I saw my mom and ran to her and she was in tears and heartbroken like me. She told me “i was very brave and not to let this change

When I think about the person I am today I think about the people that have helped raise me. We all grow up with different experiences, environments, lifestyles, and people in our lives who help shape who we are. One person that has made a big impact in my life would be my nana and her name is Bea Wilson. She has been in my life since the moment I was born. My nana has shown me that you can make something good out of bad situation.

Even though I went through a lot at such a young age, it has shaped me in every possible way. I was exposed to a whole different language and culture, but I was able to succeed through my strong desire of success and dedication. I am thankful for every challenge that I had to go through because if it was not for them, I would not be the person I am

My dad was picking my brother and I up from school. We noticed how sad he looked; he was on the edge of tears. When we asked what was wrong he broke down. He told us our grandfather, his father, passed away. I’ll always remember that moment. This event was another situation where I didn’t fully understand what was going on. Another big part of why I’ll remember that day was because it was the first family member I had lost. After this happened, I look back and think of how much I miss him.

Coming from a low income family, living in a small town in India, I learned early on about struggling and surviving those struggles. I watched my parents working day and night to provide for electricity, pay for our monthly school fees so my sister and I can have a better education, and for the future they wished upon for their children. To further enhance this vision, my father decided for the family and I to immigrate to the US. Everything was different in the sense that I changed schools, learned a new language, had to make new friends, and learned the different culture. I had to adapt to a whole new world, which was a little difficult at 6 years old However, when I look back now, I just couldn’t believe how far my family and I had come which I have my father to thank for. If it wasn’t for my father, I’ll still be going to school in India without ever knowing that this other half of the world even existed, because of the rough circumstances we were facing in India. The future wouldn’t have been as bright as it now and I feel truly blessed to have come to a new world which contained many great opportunities.

The event that has shaped me into who I am today is that I am a big sister. I am a big sister to my brother and sister. It has helped me to become a better student in school and class. Having a brother and sister, though it has been a rollercoaster in my life, it has shaped me into who I am today in school and class. I was an only child until I was almost three when my little sister was born. A couple of weeks before I turned eight my little brother was born. They have impacted my life way more than they realize. Being an older sister has shaped me into the person I am today in school and class, because I’ve learned how to cope with different things, learned that people like to do things their own way and I have learned how to set a good example.

When I was born in this auspicious earth the first face I saw was my parents face. I used to cry a lot and mom usually thinks I’m hungry and feeds me every time when I do so. So I got to know my mom a lot and I used to play with my dad and these two were familiar faces to me in the initial stages and I developed a trust on them, The important thing I felt in this stage was feeding and my parent’s care. As we were in a joint family I always stayed with my parents and never allowed my uncle or aunt to lift me, when they tried to do so I used to switch on my alarm that is my cry, it forced my mom to run all the way from the kitchen to take care of me.

I watched my mother fade away slowly as she was battling pancreatic cancer. I looked after her everyday as best as I could; however, the feeling of my eventual solitude was unbearable.The thought of my mother’s imminent demise made me feel like my heart was being continuously stabbed. Watching my mother suffer was one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through. After her passing; something changed in me, darkness filled where love once was. I always knew deep down, that my mum was not going to make it; however, knowing this did not make it any easier.

My mom is my best friend, my sister, and my mom; I tell her everything and she tells me everything! I am so thankful I have such a strong relationship with my mom, because some people do not have a mother figure in their life at all. My mom is my modern day hero because of her strength, generosity, and confidence.