My mother left my father because he was an alcoholic. Soon after, she became an alcoholic herself. Growing up with an alcoholic parent is the hardest thing I have ever encountered. When growing up in situations similar to mine, many kids become part of the statistic where they just give up; but not me. I use the hardship as motivation. I persevere in the school, work, and social environment because that is what I expect of myself. My firsthand exposure to harsh behavior has molded my morals and goals in life. I know that I have the power to choose what I become.
Throughout life, we are faced with being boxed in by many things: society, our
environment, media, people, and much more… but what is most important is how we decide to deal with such circumstances. Life is all about choices: you can give up, or you can use your struggle to empower you to be a part of greater things.
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What Defines You?
By Francesca Giugno
“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.”
As said by Oprah Winfrey, this quote genuinely defines how powerful going through struggles can be. Oprah, one of the most successful women today, faced one road block after another but refused to let her life circumstances define her. We all have the ability to rise above, even high school students like myself. As an honor roll student, mentor, and involved student and community member, I’ve learned to fight for what I deserve and to persevere through my troubles.
Image by George Taylor.
After growing up without a father and living under the same roof as an alcoholic, I have found that you do not have to let your surroundings define who you are as a person. Most people, when faced with challenges and being put down, simply give up. What they do not realize is that when faced with
adversity, they have the option to use their experience to strengthen and push them past barriers and the social norms.
According to the Huffington Post, most children (girls without a father) tend to struggle with feelings of low self-esteem, unworthiness, and often settle for much less than they deserve. I have refused to conform to these standards as most girls do. I realize that I do have self-worth, and it is my father’s loss that he is not here—not mine.
Works Cited:
Huffington Post. Huffington Post, 17 July 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
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