I don't want to be another statistic.
Growing up in Camden, a city of poverty, violence, teen pregnancies made me realize so much. It made me realize that I don't want to be statistic. I don't want to be another statistic to fit into some mold of what society thinks of kids today. Having a single mom and growing up in one of the most dangerous city's in America with three other siblings was rough. Seeing my mom break her back to put food on the table for her children with no support was heart breaking. Having a father that was always in and out jail basically my whole life. It has always been a challenge for me. My freshman and sophomore year of high school weren't really the best. I wasn't sure if I wanted to attend college. I wasn't really sure of myself. I really didn't know who I was as a person. I didn't think I was good enough. I was lost and nobody understood me. Sometimes I often wondered to myself why me, why did I get put in to this situation. There were days were I thought my life was over. There were days were I cried myself to sleep. I always had to remind myself of one thing for every dark night there's a bright day after that. Up until my junior is when I actually knew who I was as a person. I have had years and years of experiences that completely shaped my perspective and the person that I have become. It made me realize that there's no harm in trying. I became a stronger person because I wanted to. I started to believe in myself. Now, I appreciate the things that I can do. Only by taking risks and doing absurd things, I can achieve the impossible.
Growing up in Camden, a city of poverty, violence, teen pregnancies made me realize so much. It made me realize that I don't want to be statistic. I don't want to be another statistic to fit into some mold of what society thinks of kids today. Having a single mom and growing up in one of the most dangerous city's in America with three other siblings was rough. Seeing my mom break her back to put food on the table for her children with no support was heart breaking. Having a father that was always in and out jail basically my whole life. It has always been a challenge for me. My freshman and sophomore year of high school weren't really the best. I wasn't sure if I wanted to attend college. I wasn't really sure of myself. I really didn't know who I was as a person. I didn't think I was good enough. I was lost and nobody understood me. Sometimes I often wondered to myself why me, why did I get put in to this situation. There were days were I thought my life was over. There were days were I cried myself to sleep. I always had to remind myself of one thing for every dark night there's a bright day after that. Up until my junior is when I actually knew who I was as a person. I have had years and years of experiences that completely shaped my perspective and the person that I have become. It made me realize that there's no harm in trying. I became a stronger person because I wanted to. I started to believe in myself. Now, I appreciate the things that I can do. Only by taking risks and doing absurd things, I can achieve the impossible.