Overcoming Life's Obstacles

LIFE'S OBSTACLES             1

OVERCOMING LIFE'S OBSTACLES
MICH'QUEL HINES
ENGLISH 121
ALLORAH WYMAN
APRIL 4, 2011

LIFE'S OBSTACLES 2

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!"
-Author Unknown

Until recently, I always frowned at the taste of lemons. Now, I've come to know that all it takes is for you to add a little sugar and things will "seem" a little sweeter. Lately, many adults have decided to return to school, after a long intermission due to some of life's unforeseen obstacles. Almost half of the student body of the entering freshmen classes, never actually graduate. "Look to your right....and look to your left. You see the students on either side of you? One of them won't be there when you enter the senior class to graduate" This was the statement that the Dean of Student Affairs gave to my freshmen class when I entered college right out of high school. During this orientation, the dean spoke loudly. His voice boomed for the effect of his statements, and he most definitely had my attention. There we were, sitting in an auditorium that was already imposing at the sheer size of it, and the dean went into this tirade about how most of us will end up dropping out. I don't think that was very encouraging and if it was supposed to have some type of reverse effect on our lives. It did! I was scared because I was already at a higher risk of dropping out because I was pregnant at the time. Only seventeen years young. That dean's statement intimidated me. It also pushed me to work harder than the average student to show that I was worthy to be there at graduation. However, those ominous predictions proved to be true in my case. I hated being apart of those statistics. But, it happened. So here I am still striving for that very same degree that I once started way back when. I'm using those words that echo in my mind as my inspiration today as I return to college after almost 18 years.

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I do... [continues]

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