Obstacles In High School

Most movies portray high school students as one dimensional. They include peppy cheerleaders and dumb jocks whose lives seem perfect. Nerds eat by the dumpsters and get picked on by the school's bully. Although sometimes these characters exist, everyone has some unique quality that few others know about. Throughout my life, I’ve had to deal with multiple obstacles such as raising my little sister as my own, deciding which high school to attend, and learning how to adjust to my dual enrollment course.
Growing up in a single parent household with a mother who was always working posed personal challenges. For the first 8 years of my life, I was an only child being raised by everyone but my mother. I often spent time with other family members while …show more content…
Throughout the entire first trimester, things weren't too bad. I assisted her any way possible, usually by accompanying her to doctor's visits or decorating the nursery. For a while, I even enjoyed helping because it made me feel needed as if I was contributing. As the pregnancy proceeded she became emotionally distant again. Her second trimester began and so did her mood swings. I tried to help, but it often resulted in being yelled at. After repeatedly trying to assist, I finally gave up. I never realized how absent my mom could become until my little sister Aime was born. She became the center of attention, until Rey abandoned her--leaving my mom to raise a newborn and a pre-teen. My mother knew that we were going to struggle financially with only one income so she completed her maternity leave and returned to work. Because she constantly worked, she returned home very stressed and take her frustration out on me. The responsibility of raising Aime continued into my teens. At 16 years old, I obtained my driver's license. It seemed to be the best privilege of my life, but turned out to be the worst. I dreamt of driving my friends and I to the beach, but in reality I ended up running errands for my mother. My weekends usually consisted of …show more content…
In 8th grade, I learned about the opportunity to attend Early College High School. The principal of ECHS came to my junior high and discussed the benefits of ECHS. She explained that I could earn my Academic Core or Associate's Degree, at no expense, before receiving my high school diploma. If I decided to attend ECHS I’d have to leave all my childhood friends behind, take rigorous courses, and although I’d be ahead with all my college credit, I’d be at a disadvantage when applying to universities. Leaving my friends behind was the most difficult choice I had to make. Growing up down the street from my best friends and having classes with them made school enjoyable. Knowing that the kids I grew up with would no longer be in my classes promised an emotional transition. I wouldn't be able to ask for help on specific assignments or projects because they would be attending a different high school. Another obstacle I faced when making my decision to attend ECHS was the fact that I would be jumping from an 8th grader to a college freshman. Being a dual enrollment student meant grades I received from TSTC was forever appear on my transcripts and be considered in college admission applications. ECHS focused on academics and would force me to take my classes just as seriously as if I were I already attending a public university. Although I’d graduate