Success Stories
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Never
Give Up
by Stephanie Acosta-Patel
Everyone deserves a life of inner peace and self-satisfaction. A life
one can be proud of and is able to utilize as an example for others.
A story that is not told is a story that will never be heard, and experiences
not shared are words of counsel that will never be taught. It is through
people’s efforts, yours and mine, that we are able to reach out and
touch a heart of someone who may feel all alone in the wilderness. We
also have the ability to make someone feel loved. We have the ability
to help someone find meaning in his/her life, and there are a million opportunities
a day to do it. This essay is just one of those opportunities for me.
From the time I was 15 until the time I was 17, I had issues with
Child Protective Services and was in and out of its custody. It wasn’t
until I was 18 that I was able to stop having to hide for fear of them
taking me away again. The last experience I had with them was in 9th grade.
I was in my last class for the day when I was told by my teacher that I
was wanted in the office. When I got down there, I never returned to class
nor to my parent’s house. A counselor from Child Protective Services
was waiting for me. I had no way of contacting my family to let them know
what was happening and/or why I wasn’t going to be coming home because
the officer prohibited me from calling my parents. The memories I have
of that day will forever be with me for as long as I live. There are
not many days in my life that were as scary as that one. I felt I had been
kidnapped and there was no one to rescue me. When I hear of a child
who has been kidnapped, I think this is how that poor child must have felt:
alone, scared, defenseless, and desperate to go home. I was away for
four months before being released and the lessons I took away with me have
forever shaped who I am today as a person.
When it was time for me to go back to school I was excited and looking
forward to getting my life back to normal. My mom went with me to enroll
and everything was going fine. The principal was excited to see me again,
I was looking forward to seeing my old friends again, and I was ready to
put everything negative behind me. When my mom went to open the office
door to leave, I panicked. I was so afraid and it was obvious to me I was
not ready. I was afraid that they might come after me again. I did not
go back to school.
The day after my 18th birthday I knew I could now go back to school because
I had nothing to be afraid of anymore. However, when I went to enroll,
I was told I would have to wait until the beginning of the next year. The
school was in the middle of the semester. I was heartbroken and very distraught
because now there was no doubt that I would not be able to graduate with
the class of 1999 nor walk down to receive my diploma in my beautiful cap
and gown. This is how I dreamed it would always be because I enjoyed school
and I had worked so hard to get my diploma. When I was rejected, I thought,
why do I even care. I had missed my chance. I couldn’t change the
past, but I so felt defeated.
Presently, it is eight years later and I am more committed than ever to
face my enemy, fear, one more time and say, “You have not won yet!” I
have people who care enough about me and who do not allow me to give up
on myself. They have challenged me to stop having a pessimistic attitude;
therefore, I am accepting that challenge head on. I called Harris County
Department of Education, I scheduled to take my practice GED, and later
I received the results telling me I had passed everything except my math.
I took the official GED and I passed all of my subjects, excluding math.
I enrolled at Irvington Learning Center for extra practice. When I am ready,
I will retake the math portion of the official test. I will pass it and
I will have my GED Diploma.
As proud as I would have been to receive a high school diploma, I will
be even prouder after getting my GED. The obstacles, barriers and excuses
that I have overcome to get where I am now is all the pride I need. It
specifically has strengthened my character beyond anything imaginable.
I am closer to my dreams than I have ever been before. Even though I took
some time to get to this point, I have found myself again, and I will never
ever again give up on myself.
About the Author
Stephanie is a student in Mrs. Billings’ Adult Basic Education
class at Irvington Learning Center.
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