Why I Pursue My Major Accomplishments

I always loved school, and I was a fast learner. I was praised for my accomplishments at an early age and I believe that the satisfaction I gained from impressing others was motivation that impacted my future. I continued to do the best I could in school. My mother was very strict and tough on me when reviewing my work, ripping my essays if I wrote in sloppy handwriting and erasing all of my math problems if I got more than one wrong. It was emotionally difficult but I eventually toughened up, and her training made me a more diligent student. The only motivation I would have was the praise I would receive for amazing scores on my work. Eventually, I stopped being praised and it was devastating for me. I entered middle school and I continued
That deeply affected me and I unfortunately let it get to me. I believed I was inadequate so I stopped caring. However, around the beginning of 8th grade, a close aunt told me that it did not matter whether I was undocumented, anything is possible if you really exert yourself for your dreams. She also mentioned that I shouldn’t work hard for others, but for myself, because one day we’ll be alone and there will be no one else to praise us but ourselves. She helped me apply for DACA, and eventually, after a long, anxious process, I was accepted. Soon I started high school, and that’s when I took everything much more seriously. I worked extremely hard for myself now that I was sure I had a future. I set goals, managed my time, organized my classes and praised myself. However, I did feel alone. My parents were still constantly fighting. When they weren’t, my father was always too busy working for us to talk to me, and my mother was always too stressed and irritated to talk. My younger sister would block out the world and keep to herself. I would feel lonely after I finished all of my