When I (Tony Johnson) was younger, I found myself going in the wrong direction. My parents constantly warn me to get all the education that I could especially my high school diploma. I started hanging out and making some bad decision. For this reason, I drop out of high school in 1983, not long after I was being arrested for Robbery. The thing that bothered me the most was letting my parents down. I always knew that they (parents) raised me to have integrity. I will never forget the day I received my sentence (jail) because of the disappointment in their eyes. I knew then that I did not like seeing my parents hurting because of my doing. When I was released in 1984, I wanted to do the right thing by showing my parents that all their hard work raising me will …show more content…
So, I found a job working for a private owner (restaurant) to show responsibility. More importantly, I felt that I was gaining my parents trust back. Nevertheless, for several years, I continue down the wrong road and was arrested in 1992, for aggravated assault, 1993, for drug possession, and 1994, for habitual violators. Now, I had a son, a job (Applebee’ s) and I had just met the love of my life (Sharon). Once again, I had to see the hurt that I caused my family and employer. I knew I had to change because the pain I constantly caused them were destroying me inside. However, my parents always raised me to take care of our little ones (children) so they can have a better chance at life. I knew this was not what I want my child to see me in jail every year. I knew in my heart if I continue this path I would lose my family. Above all, when I was released in 1994, I got on my knees and ask the Lord (God) to give me the strength to be a better man. However, my job allowed me to continue my employment at Applebee’s. It was then, I could make (Sharon) and my son a promise that I would be the father and man they expect me to be. They look at me and told me that they believe in me. I knew I could not let them
I yelled at them, ignored them, and occasionally did the opposite they told me too. At the time, I thought that made me better than them, but in the end, it got me nowhere. Soon I entered high school and my bratty preteen-self calmed down. However, my parents became stricter on my grades because there was a big milestone that would be coming up in a few years, getting accepted into college. My parents made it very clear that if I did not get a large scholarship to any university, I would have to go to the local community college. That was the last thing I wanted to happen, I wanted out of the house. I now had a strong incentive to do well in school. I wanted to be able to go out on my own and escape their tight grasp on me. I completed year after year, always making “A’s” in my classes. I soon climbed to the top of my school’s ranking system and was at the top of my class. Though, this did not matter to me, I wanted out of my house. At this point, I knew I was not disappointing my parents, they were as proud as can be with a daughter at the top of her class. This was the first time in my life that I felt as if my parents were generally proud of me and my accomplishments. I still however, felt guilty. Even though I was doing it for myself, I felt bad that I wanted to escape my parents. I did not hate them, I just could not stand being under their control
I had always been told that I was supposed to do well in high school, go on to college, and then I would be able to get a good job. So, that is exactly what I did, and that was not my case. I first went to college as soon as I graduated from high school. After changing my major a couple of times I decided on Criminal Justice. I was fascinated by the law and thought that since there was so much crime, there was no way I would not be able to get a job working in the field, and make a decent wage since I would have a degree. I told my parents thinking they would be just as excited for me and was shocked to find out they were totally against it. They told me that I would be dissatisfied if I chose that as a major, and that I would not be able to find a job. Being 18 at the time of course I felt that I knew more than them and went on to complete my studies and obtain a B.S. degree. Low and behold they were right. I applied everywhere that I could think of that offered a job in the criminal justice system. I applied for state jobs, federal jobs, and private companies. All of them were looking for someone with at least two years experience. I was dismayed and perplexed. How was I ever going to...
I was twelve years old when my dad was arrested for drug dealing. My dad and I never had a close bond like my little brothers do and it was always bothered me a little. I know he feels bad that our father son relationship is not as good as my brothers but he also felt bad that he lost two years of my childhood. He did not want to do the same to my brothers so he has tried his hardest to be in their lives as much as possible.
Something happened my sophomore year of high school that little did I know would change my perspective, not only of myself, but life in general. I was looking for something new and exciting to enhance my high school existence and decided to give the Criminal Justice Club a try. I was familiar with the advisor of the club, but knew that the club had astigmatism for attracting those students who were just looking for something easy to do. I knew about the criminal justice system, but only what they show on Law and Order. However, I immediately fell in love, not only with the club but the entire prospect of Criminal Justice. I stepped into the club as if it were a place I belonged and easily became a leader. I was able to learn things the TV shows
Due to the circumstances that I had to live my life with I was disowned by my family all because my parents were ashamed of the person I was becoming, not heeding’s to their teachings of not letting the environment I was in getting the better of me but I should use the place I was as a reference to be better in life, I didn’t blame them at all because I could only imagine back then how block
High school is meant to be the time of your life, but for most seniors just like me it can be some of the most emotional and crazy time. The things in my past make me who I am today, and the things I do now are the first footsteps into the future. I’ve learned a lot about myself in these past four years, and I still have so much learning to do. This is my high school story; the good, bad, and the ugly.
I was always lying to my parents, going out to parties, and staying at places I should not have been. My lifestyle was something I could not talk to my parents about, but I could confide in other friend 's parents or my youth pastors. I always wonder how different my teenage years would have been if my parents were more open and approachable about living life in God 's image. At home, we all knew of our faith and acted according, no cursing, no drinking, but we never specifically spoke of how difficult it can be to not fall into temptation. My parents were not understanding of any mistakes; it was, "you better not be doing those kinds of things," the end. This is not to say my parents are at fault for me being a rebellious teenager who lied to her parents and got drunk on the weekends because I was well aware of the sins I was committing and I attempted many times to
And the way my mother showed her love, it made me not want to do wrong, it encouraged me to stay in the right path. Now since I’m thinking about it I wonder if I wasn’t punished, would I be the person I am today. When I was younger would I be the girl who was always in trouble because my mother didn’t care about what I did. Would I be the woman on the corner selling drugs or even in and out of jail? Because of my moderate punishments that I received I have always been afraid, I’m not saying that I am perfect. I did make mistakes along the way, but they were minor
Let’s flash back in time to before our college days. Back to then we had lunch trays filled with rubbery chicken nuggets, stale pizza, and bags of chocolate milk. A backpack stacked with Lisa Frank note books, flexi rulers, and color changing pencils. The times where we thought we wouldn’t make it out alive, but we did. Through all the trials and tribulations school helped build who I am today and shaped my future. From basic functions all the way to life-long lessons that helped shape my character.
There are so many events that change one’s life that it is rather difficult to try and decipher which of those events are most important. Each event changes a different aspect of your life, molding how one’s personality turns out. One of these events occurred when I was about twelve years old and I attempted to steal from a Six Flags amusement park. My reasoning for stealing wasn’t that I didn’t have the money, or even that I wanted what I stole all that badly, it was that all of my friends had stolen something earlier that day and didn’t get caught. After getting caught I resolved, because the consequences are just not worth it, never to steal or give into peer pressure again.
During these years my life was an old television with only three channels: home, school and church; each one being similar to the other with little distinction. Even though my life seemed tedious at times, I learned how to focus, pray and never to give up. In hindsight, I believe my parents raise me in this manner out of fear. I did not grow up in the best of neighborhoods, and my older brother was incarcerated while I was growing up, so I can understand their apprehension. Nevertheless, I had a strong moral foundation to enter the unknown know as college.
I had few friends and I assumed the ones that I did have must have been going through something similar to me in order for them to be acting the way that we did. I remember that I used to bad things intentionally. For example I would skip classes, avoid doing work, and doing things I regretted with my so called friends. Later on realizing that I didn’t enjoy having my mom disappointed in me. It hurt me more than anything to know I had let her down. I was really hurting myself like I deserved to be and that was all that mattered. It became obvious at the end that none of it actually mattered at all because unlike most people I had a turning point that changed the way my life was heading. What was unexpected is that both my downwards and my turning point were caused by the same person my father. I was a sophmore in highschool when I found out what my father had done. I wasn't really able to think of anything other than the fact that my father had been such a coward and be so selfish. I had a new image of him. It was in that second that I had the realization I should have had many years earlier. He was not the kind man I had in my head and I could finally see
I could have been a super senior or a drop out altogether. I could have been a father struggling with finances. I could have been a drug addict and not be writing this three page essay that ruins weekends, and for that I am thankful that my dad didn’t let things slide that weren’t right. I am kind of happy he threatened me with military school when I was in middle school, I was a handful, I would get kicked out of class constantly but I stayed in school, years later I would be walking down my high school football stadium class of 2016 for my graduation, both my parents stressed it that it was the utmost importance to graduate, both my mother and father pushed me to get good enough grades to graduate. My dad would try to teach me math, I hated math so much it was my least favorite subject, I was more of a history type of guy. He would try his best to help me in school, but i just needed the motivation to get me started, I personally didn’t think i would graduate high school, he gave me the courage to do so, it was a requirement to him, I see some kids drop out or go to adult school to get a G.E.D but having a high school degree was better, I still got to enjoy my years as a teen, having fun with friends, hanging out, I just had to follow certain guidelines to not get me into trouble. In highschool I was never a bad kid though, it was in middle school I was a little shit who thought i runned things but no, my dad was the big boss. The most i probably got in trouble was when I came home really late around 12:00 AM with my girlfriend, but he wasn’t mad at the fact I was out with her very late, it was the fact that I didn’t let him know where I was, he started to loosen his grip about me going out slowly over my four years in highschool, I just needed to tell him I was getting home late, and there shouldn’t be a problem what so ever. Even when I go party my dad wants me to be safe, I tell him who I go with and
It was one of the most exciting and nerve racking days of our lives. Although we were finally leaving high school, the feeling of being unsure didn’t go away. The whole day was full of practicing for the big moment when the entire class graduated on to a new beginning. All the girls wore shiny bright red robes and the guys were dressed in a shiny navy blue. Standing there, I had no idea what to expect. Some things I were aware of, my friends were leaving and we wouldn’t be the same friends anymore. My role was that of being so aware of the future that I was too shocked to soak in the present; being a pessimist was my main goal and everything I was sure of became true.
I still question why it was so difficult for my parents to trust me. As I look back on it, I wonder if it may have been to protect me, the long years that my parents had to deal with my brother, or even the years my parents spent raising foster kids and watching them repeatedly make bad choices causing theirs and my parents lives to be much more difficult. The kids that my parents have kept over a few years have had very troubling and difficult lives. The kinds of kids they kept ranged from homeless children that were taken from their parents to kids that had been sexually abused by their own parents. With some of the most unfortunate things that have happened to a few