Personal Narrative: Growing Up As An African American Woman

Growing up an African American female in poverty is hard. You constantly see your parents worry about making ends meet. They wonder will they be able to make their paycheck reach to the next paycheck. Being young and watching your mother struggle is something you do not understand. I was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised there until I was 5. In 2005 I move south to live in Abbeville, Al. By this time my mother and father separated and I was being raised by my mother, a single parent. Having moved to a smaller town from the big city was one of my very first obstacles. Everything is done differently in the south from how I was raised. They spoke differently and acted differently. This was just something I was not used too. I always knew how my mom raised

me and I didn’t allow other people to influence me. I was never taught to say yes ma’am or yes sir, so that became a big issue for me. My mom was a single parent raising three children. She always tried to give us what we asked for but money was another issue. I always had to choose from two different activities because my mom couldn’t always afford it.

My father still communicated but it was never the same. I was forced to grow up without that father figure in my life. I was never able to attend a father daughter dance or even seen my dad at one of my many extracurricular events. As I got older the foundation of how I was raised was still intact. I started to be known as a disrespectful child. Not because I was actually disrespectful but because I did not change myself to fit in with the other people. Being in a small town most of your teachers knew each other so they would talk and that gave me that reputation. I started to defend myself when I felt I was being mistreated or singled out. I still did not say yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, or no sir. The older I got the more I realized why that was such an issue. I was raised by a northerner but I lived in the south. During slavery days if you didn’t answer your master in that way it was sought out that you were disrespectful. That certain subject has been carried on throughout the south for many years. I begin to understand that fully and I found other ways to answer and say things so no one would consider me

disrespectful. I began changing my approach not my foundation. More adults were able to see me for who I truly was and know my background and why I said certain things. They were able to understand my reasoning. This is when my reputation being to change. Now I am one of the first students who have been chosen to represent our county in the Henry County Youth Leadership Program. I also am a student ambassador for Abbeville High School. I thank GOD daily for allowing me to mature and change my thinking pattern so I could defend myself in the upmost respectful manner.
My mother always pushed her children to succeed in school and in everything we do. I started schooling in head start at Villa Montessori in Cleveland, Ohio. Throughout my school days I have always tried my best. Once you get in high school your grades matter the most. I was always taught to dream BIG and work hard at what I wanted to accomplish. Not putting forth an effort is not an option for me. I am determined and I possess a drive that cannot be stopped. Earning a college education is important to me because I want to be successful in life. The typical American dream is when you have a degree, get a job of your interest, get married, buy a home and have beautiful children. Anyone can get a job with a high school diploma but, in my opinion, you can receive a better job with a degree. This scholarship will allow me to have the funds to match my knowledge. This will help me reach my goals in life, attend My DREAM College and be all I know I can be. I can learn things that I will take with me later in life. Obtaining a college education means I can learn all I can and pursue my career with top-notch knowledge.
The person I am today is because of the foundation my mother raised me on. Growing up and being picked on about my weight, the way I talked, the way I wore my hair and how I dressed honestly inspired me. I have begun speaking up about bullying because I know how it feels. I try to mentor other females like me who are talked about because they have natural kinky hair and may not be able to perm it, or who may not be as active as others and carry a little weight. I try to be as positive as I can be, and not be the one who allow others to influence their life. I enjoy voicing my opinion instead of being the person in the back of the room just going with the flow. I have grown and matured over the years. I view different situations on different levels. I was exposed to a lot. I went through so much as a child; because of this I like to volunteer.
Volunteering allow me to help guide other children, who were like me as a child in the right direction. I can be involved with the youth, which is something I did not have growing up. I can help the less fortunate because I did not always have everything I wanted. I volunteer at the Boys & Girls club and our local elementary school. During my time at these facilities I am able to interact with little children. I read to them, talk with them and even help with homework. I am able to mentor and let them know what the teen years are like. I have recently begin to start talking to the older children more on a friend level because I feel they take to that more so than somebody just telling them what to do. I have become aides in various classes for teachers so I can help push them in the right direction to be more successful. I just want to make the school systems a more positive place for kids to learn and not be afraid to ask for help. I also enjoy going to our local nursing homes and decorating doors, painting the lady resident’s nails, and playing bingo. This allows me to help put a smile on faces of people who may not always get that much attention. I helped wrap gifts that are donated for the less fortunate children for Christmas. With the church I attend we prepare care boxes for the holidays because everyone is not always able to buy the food they need. Being a member of key club, we serve the local community leaders and their families’ dinner on occasions. By knowing the importance of history in small towns, I worked with the Eufaula Pilgrimage to help save the funding to keep our historical homes open for public view. That was one of my favorite volunteering opportunity because my great grandmother worked in the Shorter’s mansion many years ago. That home means a lot to my family and I enjoyed the opportunity to help save it. I participate in Reading across America day every year, where we take the time to go to the elementary school to read to the children. By being a part of the organization Students Against Destructive Decisions, we go to the food banks and helped sort food and pack boxes to give to families in need during the different holidays.
My future aspiration is to graduate from Auburn University at Montgomery. My willingness to help others and being fascinated with hospitals, doctor offices, and asking many, many, many questions is what drove me to becoming a family nurse practitioner. I chose “family” instead of choosing a specific field so I can work with children from birth up their adult years. I want to join the United States Public Health Services Corp. and later open my own family practice. I want to be a great assist to my city. I am looking forward to excelling at life and being able to tell others my story. Being exposed to great things as a child allowed me to see that I can do anything that I put my mind to. I am able to show others and let them know you can always make your dreams come true if you just believe.