The bridge from pain to change by Arisahi

The bridge from pain to change by Arisahi - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

“Passion is the bridge that takes you from pain to change.” Frida Kahlo

Since I was a child my passion for school was always remarkable. Every experience, both academically and personally has affected me in growth. A school accomplishment that I am most proud of, is when I came to the United States to study last year. I used to live in Mexico with my grandmother, and brother. My mom had been living on the USA since I was three years old. Both of my parents were working diligently for the opportunity to bring my brother, and I to America.

After so many years of hard work my family was finally reunited in America in the summer of 2016. I was supposed to go back to Mexico during that summer, but my brother and I were in the process of becoming permanent residents of the United States. For that reason I could not go back to Mexico. Law says that I can not live out of the United states for long periods.

I had the opportunity to go back to Mexico and lose everything for what my parents were working so hard for, or I could stay here and say goodbye to my life in Mexico, friends, family, and my Grandmother which is one of the most important persons in my life. Saying goodbye to my Granmother by phone was one of the most difficult moments in my life. The sad part of that moment was that I told her that I was not coming back to Mexico a day before my flight.

My grandmother is an inspiration for me. She is the strongest woman I have ever known in my life. When my Grandmother was a child she had harsh moments, and a life full of poverty. Those moments marked her. She did not give up. Although, she was poor her life was full of good moments. When she got pregnant she realized that a life like the one she was having was not good for her kids. My grandmother was brave to make the decision that would change her life forever; the decision to move on to the city and give better opportunities to her kids.

The first months in America were very difficult. I was sad, depressed and I did not want to eat, sleep, or do anything in general. My character changed, I was always mad with everyone, specially with my mom, and this caused her to worry about me because I was blaming her for all the things were happening, our relationship was all breaking down. In retrospect that was one of the most incorrect things i have ever done. My mom is also one of the women that inspires me everyday. Her life was similar to my grandmother's life. Her decision to move on to America was hard for her and for my brother and me. I’m thankful for my mother because her decision has given me a good education, and a life full of great opportunities.

When School started my life changed drastically. At this point in my life everything seems so hard and out of my dreams. I was worried about my grades. I was in a new school, and obviously did not know anybody. The scariest part for me, was that my English was not really good. As my favorite quote of Frida Kahlo says “Passion is the bridge that takes you from pain to change” my passion for school and the support of those two great women changed my perspective on life. The first month of school was a surprise for my mom because I was on the rank of the students of the month. I stayed in that rank the whole school year.

As I said before, school always has been important to me. The fact of being in a rank of the student of the month makes me so proud of the hard work of my family, teachers and myself. Also the unique opportunity to represent my country in another part of the world inspires me. In Mexico the opportunity to study a career is so difficult. In the United States it is easier to dream, and to achieve goals. All of those aspects which I was scared of have disappeared. My English became better, I have new friends, and now I feel my school as my second home. The most important thing, is that on the way to my dreams. The way to my dreams has a new route, but first I had to cross the bridge from pain to change.