What I am most proud of in my life is my perseverance.
Throughout my years in school, as well as college, I went through numerous struggles with academics.
When I was in elementary school, I suffered from dyslexia, meaning I have had a hard time reading and writing. My dyslexia became the reason why my teachers became very abusive to me over my small mistakes. I had to get paraprofessional teachers by my side at all times until I reached my freshman year in high school. My paraprofessional teachers were as abusive to me as my regular teachers. I was too afraid to open my mouth to report them because I was that naive about abuse. In fact, one of my grade school teachers had me held back one year just because of my dyslexia. It was truly the worst for me.
Throughout the rest of my years in both elementary and middle school, I still struggled with dyslexia, along with having more abusive teachers and paraprofessional teachers beside me. I suffered from post-traumatic stress from all the violence I received from my teachers, paraprofessionals, and even students just because I used to struggle with dyslexia. People thought that I would never matriculate.
Fortunately, I did matriculate.
When I became a freshman in high school, I was given an option by the school counselors about whether if I wanted a paraprofessional or not. The answer instantaneously came to me.
I answered, “No.” Because I didn’t want to go through more years of torment if I was still assigned to a paraprofessional. It became a relief for me when I realized that I don’t need one anymore. I was a grown student after all; I can definitely take care of myself and resume my academics in my own way without being abused by paraprofessionals.
As I paved my way to be matriculated, I finally fought my dyslexia. I figured that reading as often as I can would treat my condition. From there, I brought my own novels by my favorite authors from home and even checked out books from the libraries to read during my leisure time, in this case, lunch time. I read each book from cover to cover. As I read novels, my reading skills swiftly became advanced, in which my vocabulary extended and I became more grandiloquent. I realized how much I love reading; the didacticism within books made me a highly intellectual and loquacious person I am today.
In fact, I surpassed all my classmates in my English classes, thanks to my love for reading.
Due to my infinite didacticism from advanced reading, I was able to pass my classes up to the point where I finally matriculated to college.
During my years in college, I still struggled with my writing comprehension. However, thanks to all the constructive criticism I received from my professors and thanks to all the tutors who aid me to improve my writing skills, I made the dean’s list one semester, I won a medallion for philosophy, I surpassed all my classmates from my English courses by being more sesquipedalian, and I graduated from college with a BA in English and philosophy. I won a third-place medal from poetry and I still surpassed all my philosophy classmates. I basically became the only person to ever pass all my philosophy courses, in which I became ambivalent between grandiosity and humility. I even received the highest grades in both NonFiction and Fiction writing courses. Overall, it was the best experience I’ve ever–and only–received from college.
As I looked back to my struggles with dyslexia all the way to my huge improvements and accomplishments, it made me realize something.
That is because I persevered throughout my life in academics.
Even though I was so very close to giving up, I remained persistent. I never gave up.
My perseverance made me never give up my dreams of becoming a published author. If I didn’t persevere, then I wouldn’t be here today.
All I know for sure is that I continued my quest through the trails of success. I never quit and I never give up.
All I know is that I am now a notable writer, a published author, and an aunt to my beautiful niece and nephew.
I survived the entire ordeal to become the person I am today, all thanks to perseverance.
Numquam somnia tua desere. Persevera.
Translation: Never give up on your dreams. Persevere.