My dad was a alter boy for his small town church and my mother got up every sunday with my grandma to go to church. Together they raised my sisters and I catholic. I’ve been baptized, gone through First Holy Communion, and been confirmed in the Catholic church. Being Catholic has always been apart of me. I have never not been Catholic.
Walking down the hallways, I was terrified. People looked at me funny. I walked into the gym and up the stairs where my grade sat. Walking up, trying not to trip, I heard someone say, “Oh look we have a new girl.” I never thought I was going to be the new person. No one talked to me, and they all looked at me like, “who does she think she is?” This was a substantial change for me.
I learned from her that even though she had the luxury of a stable home, meals, for example, her family still faced financial hardship, granted, it wasn’t the same, but by listening to her story, I realized that everyone goes through financial struggles, which was a concept that was difficult for me to grasp because of my background. My current thought of those in the same class is that things may be difficult and uncertain, but it is possible to overcome financial struggle with the right resources. I tend to think the opposite of the messages that are portrayed of lower class by believing that they need to work harder than everyone else to provide for
The change of going from a private Christian school to a public high school many miles away was difficult. On my first day at the new school, people seemed very friendly, but at the same time, it was not the same environment that I was used to. Walking through the crowded hallway, there were many students who were rushing to get to their classes on time. I wandered from the west to the east side of the building, not knowing where my first class was. I felt lost in a crowd of people and everything felt unfamiliar.
I work in fear and I do not think that this is right for any person to be scared in their work environment. I try my best to be a great ASSISTANTS even though this is happening but I do not think that I have been giving my best even though I try. I am not the only one in danger but the female students at that school are in danger to. I am not only scared for myself but I fear for them too. I have seen the female students get sexually assaulted in my class and the TEACHER would not do anything.
It was almost as if I entered a new world. There was a lot more freedom that I had never experienced. Most of the time being a freshman isn’t as fun and you’re looked at as young and immature, but that wasn’t the case for me. I knew a lot of the upper classmen and had older siblings that showed me the way. For the most part, my social life in high school was pretty solid.
There was one girl who for some unknown reason didn’t it like and always talked about me. Instead of standing up for myself I would just pretend I didn’t hear her and talk about her to my friends that wasn’t on the team. I realized I should have done something about it but once I talked to my friends I didn’t care anymore. Being on the team gave me the confidence to be myself and step out of my comfort zone so that I would be able to achieve
Sophomore year was an especially hard year for me. It was my second year at Wahlert High School and because I was the new kid the beginning of freshman year, I still felt like the new girl. Plus, I was trying to maintain my social life, play volleyball, participate in band, choir and show choir, act in plays, and manage school and homework. School has always been easy for me. Kindergarten through eighth grade I never actually tried on assignments, or even tests for that matter.
Throughout my life with me growing up I have realized a lot about how my parents and I are similar and also different. My parents are different from me for many reasons, but the main reason is that the time era they grew up in is much different than mine and how that has affected their views. There are many similarities between my parents and I, many of the similarities deal with our characteristics and activities we like to do. Many of these similarities and differences have led me to be the person I am today and how I get along with my parents on a day to day basis. Both of my parents grew up in the 70’s and 80’s.
For a 16 year old who was truly alone for the first time, it made me think. In the letter my father also said, “I know you have the personality, intellect and values to be successful in your life.” These did not seem like empty words parents say more out of hope than conviction. My dad truly believes that I will be successful. What also hit me me was that he said “Don’t let life pass you by”. His words had their impact later when I attended the Summer Program at Brown University.