“WHOA WHOA WHOA THIS IS BALONEY MAN!” that is something I say whenever I am frustrated. People have always told me sometimes the best way to learn something is through failure. People value things they have accomplished differently. Often the people whom are naturally adept at things do not realize how much of a struggle it can be for others. Many times when people have told me that if you are going to fall, fall forward. Do not let your insecurities, doubts, and pride get in the way of improving yourself. In brief, there can always be a way to improve yourself.…
With ever story of victory, comes a drowning idea of failure. Throughout our live, these battles are fought, taking not only mental strength, but physical as well. Some of these battles are chosen, while the rest flank from behind. With this in mind, a story of victory must be told, on behalf of my Aunt, Joenell. Her battle took place in April, of 2009, she went to the Suttee Delta hospital, in Antioch California for a doctor’s visit, for fear that something was wrong, during this visit she informed her doctor that she felt a not on her left breast. Soon after, she had a mammogram, and an ultrasound done, revealing three cancerous lumps. As the doctor went into detail, she started to realize the gravity of the situation. For the first time; at the age of 59, she was confronted with the most life threating event she had ever faced. So for a second opinion, she went to the Epic Cancer center, also in Antioch California. Certainly, the last thing anyone would like to hear during a doctor’s visit, she knew there would be some decisions to be made, time to study up.…
Something that changed me and let me be the person who I am today is friendship. Friends can raise you high above the skies. Or, they can pull you down under the ground.…
I have experienced winters with and without snow. I have experienced both diverse, and homogeneous worlds. I have friends from boarding schools, as well as, friends from schools in urban neighborhoods. And I love it.…
I considered the gravitas of my actions only once before deciding to bandage a part of my body. I had wondered if girl I sit next to in Sociology lecture would believe the stories behind my injury. I had wondered if my friends would notice the injury and try to aid me as I walked around the bustling city. I had wondered if they would be annoyed and the constant reference to my injuries. I began to question myself as I wrapped the bright blue bandage around my knee. Around once, then twice, and fastened it securely on the back of my leg. I had spent an hour trying to figure out which body part I should bandage. The wrists were too obvious, my back to hidden, my left ankle too obscured by my new Adidas superstars. So I settled on my knee. My knee could play a central character in thousands of stories that could have caused injury. I began to picture a tumultuous decent down the cement stairs of 55 E 10th street, a catastrophic encounter with a street sign marking the fire line as a no-park zone, an awry Uber making direct contact with my kneecap in the middle of a rainy overcast afternoon. I push those thought away instead focusing on the Yoko Ono’s words. I must only make up the story when someone…
For as long as can remember I have had problems with my knee. It all started back in middle school, when we were playing basketball in our math class. My teacher at the time, Mr. Siem, would play with us. On this particular day, we were on opposing teams and he was bringing down the ball. When I went to defend him, he never stopped and he ran into me. His knee landed on mine with all of his weight. I knew right away that something was wrong.…
The game of soccer has always come natural to me. Competing in the game of soccer is what I love to do. Being physical is something I’ve never been scared of. If I’m being completely honest, going in hard on tackles is what I’m known for. Being a physical player is a strength of mine. Being physical in the game of soccer always comes with the risk of getting hurt. Two years ago I took that risk of getting hurt, and getting hurt is exactly what happened.…
The crisp fall air lapped my face like a little puppy licking a boy. The air felt like a little leather whip was hitting my face constantly, giving me burns. But of course I knew it was windburn. I was sitting up in my favorite tree. I looked into the distance and saw the brown, red, and yellow leaves coming down from their trees and bushes.…
In the August before my sophomore year of high school, a challenge emerged. My dad had passed away. Of course you would read that and automatically think about how that would affect me in many ways. However no one, not even myself, was aware of the many challenges that went with this.…
Time is winding down and the past thirty nine weeks has been nothing short but amazing. It has been full of different emotions and feelings. From the stretching of the skin to the sudden movement I have never felt before. It was all a new experience, but the feeling was indescribable. After a restless night, the sunrise appeared before I knew it. The pain was unbearable, but after several hours and a couple of good pushes you were here. I was extremely exhausted, but the relief was absolutely amazing. At first sight I fell in love with you. Not for how you look, just for who you are. I never thought I could feel affection like this. What is this? Is this how it's assume to feel or even resemble? It's kind of insane how you, only one individual,…
My senior year of high school I received a traumatic brain injury in October while playing field hockey. What I assumed to be a minor injury with a quick recovery, turned into a yearlong battle to return to normalcy that has left me with lingering effects. The injury not only caused headaches and illness, but it prevented me from using electronics, spending time with friends, going to school, reading, and participating in sports. Amidst all these setbacks I turned to one of my favorite quotes by Lailah Gifty Akita to help me through: “Keep strong and stay determined. You are capable of overcoming the challenge.” I responded to my injury the best I could: with positivity, appreciation, and determination. I used my abundant free time to discover…
It’s extraordinary to think about how we take so much for granted - another belief we take for granted is that every night the stars will shine. When you wake up in the morning and make plans for the day, you never really contemplate those plans changing entirely in the blink of an eye. I had never thought much about it, personally, until I was faced with Death himself. I don't think anyone really contemplates tragedy until it knocks on their front door. In fact, it doesn’t even knock – it forces itself in and threatens to leave you with nothing but heartache and suffering for the remainder of your miserable life. Traumatic events can occur in numerous ways, at any time in one’s life. Some are lucky enough to get away with them. Unfortunately, I was not one of the lucky.…
While medical care was available growing up, there were financial or situational periods where it was not necessarily accessible. I am from a single parent family. My mother moved in with my grandparents after her divorce and works two full time jobs to help provide for my brother, grandparents, and I. Since my father went to jail and my grandfather passed, we have had to make many adjustments financially. This was the case due to my father not providing payments for child support for the time he was incarcerated nor occasional months prior. There has also been a complication with my mother and I having our identity stolen, which has created additional problems when applying for governmental aid throughout my undergraduate years. I worked…
Walking out of class with her new friend Allison, the only one at this school that seemed to really understand her, she said ‘What does she mean I have to live life? My boyfriend was lacrosse captain! I was prom queen! When I was sixteen I got attacked by a dog at the winter formal and had to stay in hospital for a week! Not many people can say that!’…
A big event that has changed my life was when my older brother moved away to go to the navy. This changed my life cause I did not know if I was ever going to see him again. When he told me he was leaving and not going to be back for awhile i thought he was leaving because of me, I was a little brat back then so yeah and at the age i was i thought everything was my fault. The day my brother left was probably the saddest thing to ever happen because me and him would always hang out and play video games or walk around town or do something fun. I remember when we dropped him off at the airport i was clinched on to his leg and i was refusing to let go because I didn’t want him to leave. Now that i look back on it i think one of the reasons why i didn’t want him to leave is because he was kinda like my best friend/ role model so yeah and well he is my older brother and I didn’t want anything to happen to him.…
