In His Shoes

The life of Fredrick Douglass in his autobiography Learning to Read and Write was an extraordinary story of his life and his accomplishments that he made as a child. Fredrick Douglass was born a slave in 1818, and he taught himself how to read and write. In the 1818 that was not expected for slaves to learn how to read and write or even be seen with a book in their hands. While learning about Douglass, I feel that I experienced the same painful times as he did as a child. The challenges that Douglass faced as a child, I too have experience similar challenges.

My painful challenges faced as a child growing up, are similar to Douglass’s challenges. While growing up in the ghetto of Watts, a mostly single parent home, I faced plenty of challenges becoming a woman of color. I was always told that I was not going to make it out of the ghetto and I was even told by my own family members that I will become pregnant at the age of fourteen years old. Nevertheless, I proved all my so called friends and family erroneous. Basically, I have no support from my family, for the reason that you can expect that from a family of all males. By graduating from Montebello High School and to be the first in my family to attend an eminent college.

The pain that Douglass indulged as a child, I have felt all my life and still do today; just knowing that your family does not support you, or even acknowledge that you are present is similar to being invisible. Do I extremely dislike the way they treat me, certainly. Sometimes I do get off my life goals and accomplishments, because of them but I learned how to deal with the pain instead of leaving it bottled up inside I let it out. While reading about Douglass’ life story, I find similar feelings and emotions that he felt at a young age. I feel that no one should feel that way at a young age, when your family does not acknowledge you as a child and you are just trash to others.

My schedule

On the way to school, I take the bus from Montebello to Los Angeles. I get off on Venice Street and walk straight to school because I cannot be late to school. I walk a little faster to be on time for school. Sometimes I do stop by the store to get a pack of gum or something to snack on when I have breaks during classes. Everyday I pass by ‘mom and pop’ businesses and wonder how they become so open to others around them. They all work hard and are grateful for every penny that comes out of their pockets. I wonder how their success grows, by owning and expanding from one business to owning multiple businesses. So, everyday on my way to school I think about what I am going to learn today at school.

Everyday I learn something about life and the different choices that affect my life and even others. I feel that I’m a down – to earth person. I wait for others then I accomplish a lot everyday of my life, because I don’t like people being behind me so I feel that it is my job to help them on a day to day basis. Some of my family members think that I’m lazy but I do not think that at all. I’m just that person who does not like to make mistakes in my life so I take it one day at a time. Also, I learn from others’ mistakes and disappoints that they made in their life. I love to learn new things that catch my eye and that I love to hear about. So, on my way to school I think how I can make a difference in my life and others that are around me. Then every night I feel great about myself and my accomplishments that I make everyday of my life.

My vacation

Winter break was fun this year for me, because I was with my family and friends. All the exciting things my family enjoyed while on our vacation were fun. The time we had together, made my family closer and happy to be together with each other. To be honest, the fun was not always there. There was one disappointment when my family got in a fight the last day of our vacation because of money. The other disappointment was when my baby sister had got the chicken pox. She was in bed all winter break. Since my baby sister was sick, she could not go with us on our family vacation. My disappointment this year was a learning experience to go though so hopefully in the future I will not have to go through the same disappointments that I been through the beginning of this year. Overall, my family and I enjoyed ourselves on our family vacation to Florida. Basically, the good times out weigh the disappointments that my family and I had through on our vacation.

During the beginning of the year, my family and I had been on a vacation in Florida for 2 weeks. Coming back to Los Angeles from our family vacation, my family had got in a big fight with my uncle and his wife about money issues. The fight started when my uncle and his wife got in an argument with each other about money that my uncle said that his wife had taken away from him. So, the lovebirds started yelling and screaming at the airport at each other in front of other families that were there. Embarrassing the rest of my family members, me and my family members started getting upset and mad at my uncle and his wife. My family and I started yelling and basically making fools of ourselves. Since, that happened my family has not communicated with my uncle and has wife for a week. We are waiting for an apology for my uncle and his wife. These disappointments always happen this time of year. I’m glad it’s over and I look forward to a New Year.

Disappoints during Winter break are learning experience. I learned a lot the pass few weeks I learned that I can look back and laugh. I learned that families fight for the dumbest reasons, but they will always love each other no matter what happens in the family. Whatever happens no family is perfect, or better then each other.