An Immigrant: A Short Story

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I used to believe that the destitution I faced would prevent me for having a successful future. I held the idea that I could never escape the poverty cycle I was born into, or so I thought, until a few years ago. I have gone through more unfortunate experiences than most people will go through in a lifetime; I've endured poverty, homelessness, discrimination, the list goes on. In my seventeen years, I've gone to thirteen schools and moved twice that amount. "One night" was the mantra I lived by, it was either one night sleeping in the car, one night at a motel, or one night at one of my mom's friend's house. When I was lucky, my family rented a few months in a house, but we could never afford anything permanent; I could probably recite …show more content…

At that time, I was living in Toronto and the school I was attending was to have an important guest speaker from the top university in Canada. As a typical ten-year old, I was initially not intrigued; I didn't catch much from the speaker's introduction besides her name: Amanda. In fact, the only part of her speech that called my attention was her background. Amanda grew up in an impoverished city, where she and her family barely had enough money to survive. She lived under such horrid conditions that at times she went days without proper meals and in the winter would have to steal clothing so her family would not freeze to death. Amanda then went on to explain how she overcame her troubled beginning. She decided that she would not let her past be the determinant of her future, so she dedicated her life to her studies. Eventually, her hard work allowed her to be admitted into a renowned university and begin a career as a successful attorney. By the end of her story I was astonished; this woman was like me. Amanda lived in poverty and faced turmoil as I did, but that did not hinder her future. Her story allowed me to see that my upbringing did not have to ruin my future, it would strengthen …show more content…

Due to my past, I know I do not want to have the same future. That meeting with Amanda allowed me to see that it was possible to escape poverty and I could do it through consistently working assiduously. I have an above average GPA and standardized test scores, I am a member of some of the most prestigious organizations on my high school’s campus, I am the captain of a nationally accredited dance team that practices for about 25 hours weekly, I am secretary my high school’s Future Educators of America, I have held a job for all four years of high school and I’ve done all of this without a stable

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