I peered over the edge of the steep San Francisco hill, grateful to be at the top. I stared down at the thick leather of my boots that were now soaked with the day’s rain and worn from my long hike uphill. Each step I took caused my calves to burn and my breath to become increasingly shorter but as I stood on the hill’s edge, panting from the strenuous hike, I was in complete awe of what I had accomplished. I observed my surroundings; I gazed at the city below me and inhaled the fresh air. At that moment I realized that where I belong, at the top.
I have been climbing uphill all my life. I believe that the success of reaching your peak may well be based on the determination and drive within the climber- and how firm and supportive is the base upon which they walk. As I look back, I realize that the challenges I have faced have enabled me to find strength and strong footing within a situation that was not altogether stable.
I am only fifteen years of age, but I feel about twenty years older. I have spent my childhood co-parenting my brother Xavier, who is twelve years of age, and was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two. Since the age of five I have been face with the challenge of having to raise myself and my brother, because my mother had become immersed in the task of protecting him and tending to his needs. I spent the days of my childhood waking up early five days a week in order to ensure that I would get to school on time and then coming home to the public housing complex that was located in one of the worst areas of San Francisco. On most days, I arrived to my home while it was in some state of catastrophe; the house would be wrecked from my brother’s violent tantrums, or I would find my mother in the midst of one of her own tantrums which would come in the form of cursing and calling my never-there father to tell him of his wrongs.
I never knew how to cope with the pain that my home life was bringing me so I allowed it to influence everything that I did. I allowed my life to continue in a manner that was not resulting in anything positive for me and my future was not looking bright. My grades in school were low and I was harboring a lot of anger that I would take out on my loved ones, school mates, and teachers. When I graduated from middle school I was approached with the option to go to a rigorous high school with a specialized curriculum that ensures college readiness. At first, I was completely against the idea of having to go to a school where I will be pushed harder and expected to work harder. I then realized that if I continued working at the same pace I would not become successful later on in life.
I accepted the challenge and enrolled at Alameda Science and Technology Institute, otherwise known as ASTI. I am currently a sophomore and I have learned lessons in my two years at ASTI that I will value for life. I have realized that you have to work through all of the struggles that life approaches you with rather than letting them act as a roadblock. Although things at home have not changed much since I was younger, I have learned to turn those feelings of rage and sadness into a force to keep me climbing uphill at a steady pace.
I desperately needed extra push that I have received at ASTI in order to help myself reach my full potential. I believe that there is something special within every individual whether it be that they are an amazing athlete, talented singers, or hard-working students; all it takes is a force to give them that extra push to assist them in achieving their dreams.
I have not reached the peak yet and when I reach all of the goals that I have sent for myself, I will finally have the opportunity to relax- and be proud.
I have been climbing uphill all my life. I believe that the success of reaching your peak may well be based on the determination and drive within the climber- and how firm and supportive is the base upon which they walk. As I look back, I realize that the challenges I have faced have enabled me to find strength and strong footing within a situation that was not altogether stable.
I am only fifteen years of age, but I feel about twenty years older. I have spent my childhood co-parenting my brother Xavier, who is twelve years of age, and was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two. Since the age of five I have been face with the challenge of having to raise myself and my brother, because my mother had become immersed in the task of protecting him and tending to his needs. I spent the days of my childhood waking up early five days a week in order to ensure that I would get to school on time and then coming home to the public housing complex that was located in one of the worst areas of San Francisco. On most days, I arrived to my home while it was in some state of catastrophe; the house would be wrecked from my brother’s violent tantrums, or I would find my mother in the midst of one of her own tantrums which would come in the form of cursing and calling my never-there father to tell him of his wrongs.
I never knew how to cope with the pain that my home life was bringing me so I allowed it to influence everything that I did. I allowed my life to continue in a manner that was not resulting in anything positive for me and my future was not looking bright. My grades in school were low and I was harboring a lot of anger that I would take out on my loved ones, school mates, and teachers. When I graduated from middle school I was approached with the option to go to a rigorous high school with a specialized curriculum that ensures college readiness. At first, I was completely against the idea of having to go to a school where I will be pushed harder and expected to work harder. I then realized that if I continued working at the same pace I would not become successful later on in life.
I accepted the challenge and enrolled at Alameda Science and Technology Institute, otherwise known as ASTI. I am currently a sophomore and I have learned lessons in my two years at ASTI that I will value for life. I have realized that you have to work through all of the struggles that life approaches you with rather than letting them act as a roadblock. Although things at home have not changed much since I was younger, I have learned to turn those feelings of rage and sadness into a force to keep me climbing uphill at a steady pace.
I desperately needed extra push that I have received at ASTI in order to help myself reach my full potential. I believe that there is something special within every individual whether it be that they are an amazing athlete, talented singers, or hard-working students; all it takes is a force to give them that extra push to assist them in achieving their dreams.
I have not reached the peak yet and when I reach all of the goals that I have sent for myself, I will finally have the opportunity to relax- and be proud.
