The topic is:Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
I'm not sure that this essay is strong enough and paints a picture of who I am as a person. Please help, and comment is greatly appreciated. :) Thanks
Sticks and Stones
Life is all about growing up and becoming not only a better person but a better citizen through the experiences and challenges faced throughout life. You never stop learning until the day you die. Growing up, life seemed beautiful and miraculous to an innocent child, and I saw everyone the same way. I was just a kid wanting to be friends with everyone; no fighting, no rumors, no drama, no discrimination, just recess and nap time. Elementary school was a breeze because at that age everyone was more worried about exhibiting exemplary behavior in order to be chosen as hall monitor, and I believed that middle school would have the same ease when it came to building friendships with others, but it was the complete opposite. As soon as I stepped in middle school I was labeled without anyone getting to know the real me.
Once middle school began we were no longer seen as children but adolescents with raging hormones and in a search for whom we were, but what we really wanted was to fit in and to be like everyone else. I was never able to "fit in". During my middle school years I was seen as a nerd because I was constantly reading. People made fun of the clothes that I wore thanks to my mom who loved to dress me up in ribbons and bows and it didn't help that I was socially awkward, but worst of all I was made fun of because I was from a poor third world country; Haiti. There was an incident in the 6th grade where I was asked where I was from, and when I announced that I was from Haiti, I received a disgusted look or from my classmates and horrible comments, such as "Haitian people eat cats, Haitian people are extremely dirty," and things of that nature. For a while after that, I never told anyone that I was Haitian because I was embarrassed and afraid of what people might think. Or, if they discovered that I was Haitian, I would try to change the subject quickly because I didn't want them to inquire to ask me some really ignorant question such as, "do you practice voodoo?" as though all Haitians practice voodoo. As a result of the negative comments, hurtful glances and the way people acted around me, I felt very insecure and ashamed of my culture, and started telling lies to conceal where I was from.
Looking back on it now, I'm very embarrassed that I allowed my peers to break me down by their words, but at the same time, this experience shaped who I am today. Yes I made the mistake by caving in to the pressures of wanting to fit in, but at the same time, it's human nature to judge others whether its intentional or not, though it's not a great feeling when you're that person being judged and degraded. Words cannot express how badly I was hurt, but I am grateful because it taught me taught me to value my culture, embrace my individuality and be proud of where I came from.
I'm not sure that this essay is strong enough and paints a picture of who I am as a person. Please help, and comment is greatly appreciated. :) Thanks
Sticks and Stones
Life is all about growing up and becoming not only a better person but a better citizen through the experiences and challenges faced throughout life. You never stop learning until the day you die. Growing up, life seemed beautiful and miraculous to an innocent child, and I saw everyone the same way. I was just a kid wanting to be friends with everyone; no fighting, no rumors, no drama, no discrimination, just recess and nap time. Elementary school was a breeze because at that age everyone was more worried about exhibiting exemplary behavior in order to be chosen as hall monitor, and I believed that middle school would have the same ease when it came to building friendships with others, but it was the complete opposite. As soon as I stepped in middle school I was labeled without anyone getting to know the real me.
Once middle school began we were no longer seen as children but adolescents with raging hormones and in a search for whom we were, but what we really wanted was to fit in and to be like everyone else. I was never able to "fit in". During my middle school years I was seen as a nerd because I was constantly reading. People made fun of the clothes that I wore thanks to my mom who loved to dress me up in ribbons and bows and it didn't help that I was socially awkward, but worst of all I was made fun of because I was from a poor third world country; Haiti. There was an incident in the 6th grade where I was asked where I was from, and when I announced that I was from Haiti, I received a disgusted look or from my classmates and horrible comments, such as "Haitian people eat cats, Haitian people are extremely dirty," and things of that nature. For a while after that, I never told anyone that I was Haitian because I was embarrassed and afraid of what people might think. Or, if they discovered that I was Haitian, I would try to change the subject quickly because I didn't want them to inquire to ask me some really ignorant question such as, "do you practice voodoo?" as though all Haitians practice voodoo. As a result of the negative comments, hurtful glances and the way people acted around me, I felt very insecure and ashamed of my culture, and started telling lies to conceal where I was from.
Looking back on it now, I'm very embarrassed that I allowed my peers to break me down by their words, but at the same time, this experience shaped who I am today. Yes I made the mistake by caving in to the pressures of wanting to fit in, but at the same time, it's human nature to judge others whether its intentional or not, though it's not a great feeling when you're that person being judged and degraded. Words cannot express how badly I was hurt, but I am grateful because it taught me taught me to value my culture, embrace my individuality and be proud of where I came from.
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