A Significant Moment in Your Life and Its Impact on You

Luis Aldana

English 4

Period 3

Ms. Mahoney

“A significant moment in your life and its impact on you”

         When I was in the fourth grade something amazing happened to me. I was given an opportunity that would change my life, for the better. A chance that I quickly realized would help me excel myself in school, college, and in my future beyond school. It continues to impact me every day of my life, helping me make wise decisions that contribute to making me a better individual. It has also brought me the great responsibility of determining the kind of adult I will become, which is not easy. With the help of the Take Stock in Children program, I have made a great effort all these years to get good grades so I can go to college and continue my education which will benefit me throughout the rest of my life.

           My whole experience with Take Stock began when I was in elementary school in West Palm Beach. I had only been in the country for a few years and knew little English. I was born in Colombia, located in South America. As a little kid I thought that my life was great. There was always something fun to do like go over to my grandma’s house and have an extravagant and fantastic dinner or visit my many cousins where we would all hang out, play games, or head to our ranch in the llanos for vacation. At that time I was around four or five years old. I had started school and found it to be an exhilarating experience. My grades were very good and I was going through the school year without difficulties. I started my learning experience very well and also my social learning, I had made many friends. Life was going great until the day came and I had received the life changing news.

      My parents had informed me that we would be moving to the United States. I was taken back; they said “you’ll understand when you’re older, but it’s for the whole family’s well-being.” It wasn’t going to be my first time in the United States, but I was nervous about moving to another country, where people spoke a different language. Two months later I found myself in sunny Miami and life was fantastic. The relaxing sea breeze making the exotic palm leaves sway in the wind put me at ease. We moved again to West Palm Beach a few months later where I was accepted into the Take Stock in Children scholarship program thanks to the efforts I had made in school. I was to be given a four year scholarship to a Florida college of my choice if I graduated high school while demonstrating positive behavior, maintaining good grades, and saying NO to crime and drugs. I am a senior now and have overcome many obstacles thanks to the values this experience has instilled in me. Therefore, I will continue to excel myself in college and in my future beyond school.