10/27/17
English IV pt 2
Reflective Essay
Growing up in Alabama was not easy for me; however, I manage to get through the rough patches of my life. I am the fourth oldest and was raised by my mother in Montgomery Alabama. This is where many memories and fun times took place, although money, food, and resources were limited. We had ends meet the best way that we could. My father was in my life but I had and uncle that was like a father to me. He taught me everything that I needed to know when it came to being a man. In this paper, we will reflect back over my life and share with you how tragedy of losing a love one changed my life. Three things contribute to me going down the wrong path. The three things are as followed:
Death, dropping out of school and making bad choices in friends. Death is one of those things no one is prepared for and at the young age of ten, death came knowing at my door. My uncle who had been a part of my life since birth had die in a car accident. This was a very hard thing for me to understand and process. He was the father that I never had and one of the only people who understood me. When he suddenly passed away, I became bitter, hurt and lonely. I mean I felt like my world had ended. My uncle did everything for me especially protected me. Not only was he gone but also I was left to defend myself because my father was nowhere around. Other than my mother, I did not have anyone to tell me right from wrong so I was just running wild.
At the age of thirteen, I became so bitter and consumed with anger from the death of my uncle and not having my father in my life until I gave up. Eventually I quit going to school because I could not stop getting in trouble and everyday it was something new. I was getting into it with teachers and students and shortly after, I told myself that I could make a living in the streets selling drugs. I convinced myself that I did not need an education to make it in life.
Making bad friend choices was the last things that I did before things started to turn around for me, my friends had become my family and every day I hung out with them. We got into all kind of trouble, from doing drugs, stealing cars and hanging out all night long. This was the story of my life until one day I was arrested for robbery. I was charged with breaking and entering in homes. I did six months at the diversion center in Alabama and when I was released, I made up my mind that it was time to cut the foolishness out. Therefore, I tried going back to school and enrolling at the high school where I dropped out of, it seems like a good idea to me. However, they would not accept me. Months later I ended up signing up for job corps. This would be my truing point, for this would be a second chance for me to do right and make something of my life. I received my acceptance letter in the mail and I was so happy about turning thing around. For the first time in a long time, I had goals that I wanted to accomplish. These goals consisted of obtaining a high school diploma and a skill trade in carpentry. I am pleased to say that I am well on my way to more improved things. Reflecting back over my life has taught me how to change my tragedy into trumps. I could not do anything about losing my uncle or not having my father in my life but I could do something to change the course of my life.