November 29, 1994 Tupac Shakur was shoot five times
and miraculously survived. While he was being rushed to the hospital I was
born. My mom told me the story about how when she found out she was pregnant of
me she wasn’t planning on having me. See she had already three kids before me
and was only 24. She told me she was laying on the hospital bed ready waiting
for her abortion to take place until a nurse came in and spoke. She asked my
mother why is she doing this and told her she shouldn’t that I could be the
little girl she always as good for the best child out of 4. I never met this
nurse but I wish I had because thanks to her I am here where I am now because
somehow she got my mother to change her mind and keep me. My life was soon
going to be over before my first breathe but I was saved by miracle. I am the
youngest out of four since after my mother gave birth she tied her tubes she
was serious about the no baby thing this time. I have two brothers and one
sister, the nurse lady in a way was right though because out of 4 I was the
only one to graduate from high school. It sometimes shock people but from where
I’m from it’s pretty much expected. When a child comes from a place where their
teacher’s friend’s neighbors and even their own family expect them to fail they
start to believe it themselves and fail. I’ve seen middle school honor students
turn in to criminal charged with 5 to 10 years in prison. I’ve had a couple
friends not be able to make it to their 21st birthday yet alone high
school graduation yea it sucks but we still have to go on. That’s what thing
about life and time it doesn’t wait on anybody to catch up. In a way it’s hard
but it another I thank it because it’s what has me here in school and it guided
me towards my major psychology/counseling. I want to be able to go back and
help children that go through things just like I did and I want to be able to
guide them and tell them there are better things out there then where you’re
from. Tell them that the hood shouldn’t
hold you back that should never be an excuse instead it should make them hungry
for better. Hopefully one day I can. I just started college so hope and
determination is all I can really have. When I was struggling in high school to
be able to graduate on time hope and determination was all I had. I manage to
find a afterschool program that helped me catch up quicker because the credits
earned depended on my ability on how quick I could do work. But like I was
determined I was in that after school program everyday day didn’t matter if
there was a snowstorm outside I was in there working I was determined to
graduate on June 2012. When graduation day came that was the first time I
noticed I worked hard and it paid off. When my name was called and tears of joy
were coming down my family members faces as I walked on stage my heart smiled I
felt satisfied with myself. It was like
when a mother carries a child for nine months and even on the day she’s giving
birth she complaining about all the pain but when she sees her child all the
pain vanishes for that moment because she is too happy her heart smiled. That
just makes me think of my own mother all the pain she went through to have me
and all the struggles she went through and is still going through to raise me but
when she sees me getting ready to go to school or work she tells me I’m so
proud of you. I know she’s not thinking of the struggles and sacrifice and that
time because at that particular time her heart is smiling.
-
Jessica Valdez
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