"Born in trash, live in trash, be trash."
a congested, dirt-road area featuring a small bridge crossing a muddy, heavily vegetated river on one side, and a large, unsanitary pile of trash and discarded tires on the other. Yes, I live in trash.
I remember the days I had to walk to school in wet, stinking shoes because heavy rain caused the river to overflow, flooding the roadside. I remember classmates requesting to visit and then refusing because of the nature of my surroundings.
Many times, I asked myself why my father chose such an area. "Probably because land is cheaper here than elsewhere," I thought, until I finally asked him. His response was surprising. "Eloumdem I, after the military base, ten years ago, this place was uninhabitable. Trees grew everywhere, the land was sloped, and a makeshift wooden joint served as an unconventional bridge that even a tricycle couldn't cross, but I saw something beyond that: an amazing tarred road with beautiful vegetation alongside it, a road where my children will cross to come home and announce their achievements. Indeed, we are still very far from it but I know that day will come."
My father's vision for this place was a complete opposition to my own thought, yet his words began to ring in my head like an unstoppable bell.
"Born in trash, live in trash, be trash." Many are the people who made me feel that way, but the most important question is: Am I trash?
No matter how strainous living in such an environment was, but then I was able to forge skills that I may have not received or will have received lately, for example: Firstly, getting 2nd prize at the MTN school challenge for public speaking, 3rd prize at the MIA regional interschool competition,3rd prize at the Common Wealth competition, and the role of event presenter made me realize I was far beyond trash, due to the fact that I had to get up everyday at midnight to rehearse for the competition, that environment wasn't only the place I lived in, but also where I developed my commitment, creative, and early bird spirit which are till now powerful tools I use everyday and this essay is a proof, I wrote it at 1 am.
Secondly, patience wasn't a virtue I long posessed , but whether or not I wanted it I had it forceful, obliged to wait for minutes that were like hours too me, just in order to watch YouTube videos on cooking tricks, household hacks, and creative hand-making, but then the patience was worth it after seeing how happy and invested where the club members.
I lived in that unconducive environment, disturbed by the noise of roaming nocturnal animals every time I studied in order to be the best version of myself. Every time I crossed that road, I arrived home with something new in me.
My basket is filled with eggs-achievements and potential-waiting to be shared with the people of the world, but most importantly, with that road. For so long, I was convinced that I was surrounded by trash and powerless to change it. This essay writing exercise made me realize that I am capable of changing where I live and making it more conducive and livable for me and the upcoming generation of Eloumdem I.
Now, every time I wash clothes, dishes, or do any activity requiring a great quantity of water, I do everything possible to avoid wasting it. Every time I have trash to dispose of, I recycle the recyclable materials, like paper and bags, by making objects like pencil cups and more, while using the degradable waste as compost. I do all this with the conviction that where I live will one day be a better place.
An amazing tarred road with beautiful vegetation alongside it, a road where my children will cross to come home and announce their achievements-today, I share that same desire my dad possesses.
"Born in trash, live in trash, be trash." Today, I am able to reply to such a statement with a confident, "I don't think so!" with conviction, for I am a living example that the saying is not true, but most importantly where we are from doesn't define who we are or who we shall be.
a congested, dirt-road area featuring a small bridge crossing a muddy, heavily vegetated river on one side, and a large, unsanitary pile of trash and discarded tires on the other. Yes, I live in trash.
I remember the days I had to walk to school in wet, stinking shoes because heavy rain caused the river to overflow, flooding the roadside. I remember classmates requesting to visit and then refusing because of the nature of my surroundings.
Many times, I asked myself why my father chose such an area. "Probably because land is cheaper here than elsewhere," I thought, until I finally asked him. His response was surprising. "Eloumdem I, after the military base, ten years ago, this place was uninhabitable. Trees grew everywhere, the land was sloped, and a makeshift wooden joint served as an unconventional bridge that even a tricycle couldn't cross, but I saw something beyond that: an amazing tarred road with beautiful vegetation alongside it, a road where my children will cross to come home and announce their achievements. Indeed, we are still very far from it but I know that day will come."
My father's vision for this place was a complete opposition to my own thought, yet his words began to ring in my head like an unstoppable bell.
"Born in trash, live in trash, be trash." Many are the people who made me feel that way, but the most important question is: Am I trash?
No matter how strainous living in such an environment was, but then I was able to forge skills that I may have not received or will have received lately, for example: Firstly, getting 2nd prize at the MTN school challenge for public speaking, 3rd prize at the MIA regional interschool competition,3rd prize at the Common Wealth competition, and the role of event presenter made me realize I was far beyond trash, due to the fact that I had to get up everyday at midnight to rehearse for the competition, that environment wasn't only the place I lived in, but also where I developed my commitment, creative, and early bird spirit which are till now powerful tools I use everyday and this essay is a proof, I wrote it at 1 am.
Secondly, patience wasn't a virtue I long posessed , but whether or not I wanted it I had it forceful, obliged to wait for minutes that were like hours too me, just in order to watch YouTube videos on cooking tricks, household hacks, and creative hand-making, but then the patience was worth it after seeing how happy and invested where the club members.
I lived in that unconducive environment, disturbed by the noise of roaming nocturnal animals every time I studied in order to be the best version of myself. Every time I crossed that road, I arrived home with something new in me.
My basket is filled with eggs-achievements and potential-waiting to be shared with the people of the world, but most importantly, with that road. For so long, I was convinced that I was surrounded by trash and powerless to change it. This essay writing exercise made me realize that I am capable of changing where I live and making it more conducive and livable for me and the upcoming generation of Eloumdem I.
Now, every time I wash clothes, dishes, or do any activity requiring a great quantity of water, I do everything possible to avoid wasting it. Every time I have trash to dispose of, I recycle the recyclable materials, like paper and bags, by making objects like pencil cups and more, while using the degradable waste as compost. I do all this with the conviction that where I live will one day be a better place.
An amazing tarred road with beautiful vegetation alongside it, a road where my children will cross to come home and announce their achievements-today, I share that same desire my dad possesses.
"Born in trash, live in trash, be trash." Today, I am able to reply to such a statement with a confident, "I don't think so!" with conviction, for I am a living example that the saying is not true, but most importantly where we are from doesn't define who we are or who we shall be.
