<p>So this is my essay. Everyone who has read my essay likes it, except my mom. She resents it. IDK what to do? Change it to a completely different topic or stick with it. Please help.</p>
<p>Journey to a Better Life
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Born in Kiev, Ukraine, life seemed to be set out for me. Both of my parents had steady jobs and a good living, until the year of 1999. The year my father passed away, my and my mother’s struggle began. Having been left with barely anything, we set out for the conquest of a better life. My mother had no choice but to leave me for a couple years to go to U.S. to make enough money to leave the struggling country of Ukraine. I remember everyday asking my temporary guardians, “When is mom coming back, when?” and the constant response of “soon.”
2 years later, my mother finally came back to take me with her to Poland, a country where we would find a better living, together this time. It wasn’t easy, a 7-year-old Ukrainian immigrant in a new school without the knowledge of a language, it was one of the toughest challenges we had to overcome. Everyone knew we were different and we soon had to learn that we had two choices, we could go back or try and overcome our problems. I finally began to learn the language, make new friends, and become as part of the Polish youth. My mother found a job at the famous Salt Mine as a tour guide and we began to finally live like a average family. But this wasn’t the top of the mountain. My mother knew that there was something better out there for us, and that was America, the LAND of opportunity.
We quickly made our applications for a visa and waited. First time, rejection. Luckily my mom is the type of a woman that never gives up on lifes opportunities, especially when it concerns her family. When we applied the second time, by god’s miracles we were able to finally live in America. Finally a country that could help us get where we want. But this only meant moving again, learning a language, adapting to customs, and meeting new people. Again we had no choice but to surrender our fears, and go for the unknown. It wasnt easy at first, I had to repeat my grade due to my language barrier, but I quickly learned it and was able to skip a grade to go to my rightful grade. I would finally be living a normal life.
Having been exposed to things at an early age ended my childhood pretty fast and turned me into a young man. A responsible, smart, and a caring young man, who now doesnt need his moms help, but rather does everything he can to make her life easier. Although my childhood ended quickly, I am sort of glad. Its because through my journey, my lifes circumstance had given me something people look for all their lives, personal development.</p>