Perseverance

A community in which one develops strong bonds will never be forgotten. When thinking of the family and community I come from, I see how important it is to never lose sight of where I come from. Keeping a level head and staying humble will help anyone stay true to their loved ones, but most importantly themselves. With the knowledge of where I’ve originated from, I was able to set goals I wish to achieve later on in life.
I was born in Garden Grove, California in 1998. Whether it was living in Santa Ana or Corona, I always had my family. Consisting of my mother, father, and three sisters, I’ve always had their support. Like any family, we aren’t perfect. Throughout the past few years we have experienced some tough times, but are still doing our best to put our best foot forward. During the summer of 2013, we had lost our home to an electrical fire. All summer long, my family could not find a place to stay, with us finally resorting to living out of our car a few times. That same summer, my father was incarcerated and placed in jail for six months. With my father in jail and school resuming in the upcoming weeks, my mother was able to get us a one-bedroom apartment so we could have a roof over our head. My mother did the best she could at the time, given that she was unemployed due to an injury sustained at work the year prior. With little to no income, everyone in my family did the best they could to help out. I resorted to tutoring younger students to help my mother with financial troubles, while still maintaining a vigorous schedule from school. I had to step up and take more responsibility after my mom underwent surgery, and gave up much of my free time. My father would soon have court hearing to either keep his  residency or be deported, but he was able to win the case and stay. After being released, and my mother back on her feet, it was time for us to rebuild all that we had lost. I was not only hard at work at home, but also at school. The events that occurred inspired me to have a set goal of becoming an engineer, and living a successful life after college where I could continuously provide for my family.
My past experiences greatly influenced my dreams for the future. My goal for the future would not only be to affect my family in a positive way, but also the community around me. My past was able to show me that even when times get tough, I must persevere and strive for success. With my past as a foundation, I can rely on a good foundation for my future to shine bright.