Reaching For Success
I grew up in a sparsely populated village in Ghana named Tamale. Dirt roads led to small mud houses with thatch roofs. We had no electricity or running water. During the rainy season the dirt roads turn to an obstacle course of potholes and sinking mud. The faded yellow school house is situated on the north end of town and you could hear the rain beat on the metal roof as we approached school. The raindrops beating on the corrugated metal roof created a symphony that competed with the teacher for student’s attention. The school room consisted of nothing more than cement floors, wooden desks with attached benches and a cracked green chalk board. Each time it rained our class filled like a small lake over flowing its banks, upon arriving at school the students bailed out the water before …show more content…
As the rain water continued to collect throughout the day in the middle of the grey concrete floor, the students took turns scooping the water into a bucket to throw outside. In this one room school house my story of frustration and discontent began. Brad Benioff describes in his essay Rick, how the main character day after day in the pool, under constant scrutiny from a demanding coach, learned how to work hard and come out stronger with skills to succeed, just as I learned in a small village with a faded yellow schoolhouse life changing lessons that shaped me into the responsible, self-sufficient man I am today (Benoiff, 51). I learned of suffering and poverty. I learned of responsibility and accountability. I learned of fear and unconditional love. The years I spent walking to and from school on that muddy road paved the way to a future filled
I grew up in a sparsely populated village in Ghana named Tamale. Dirt roads led to small mud houses with thatch roofs. We had no electricity or running water. During the rainy season the dirt roads turn to an obstacle course of potholes and sinking mud. The faded yellow school house is situated on the north end of town and you could hear the rain beat on the metal roof as we approached school. The raindrops beating on the corrugated metal roof created a symphony that competed with the teacher for student’s attention. The school room consisted of nothing more than cement floors, wooden desks with attached benches and a cracked green chalk board. Each time it rained our class filled like a small lake over flowing its banks, upon arriving at school the students bailed out the water before …show more content…
As the rain water continued to collect throughout the day in the middle of the grey concrete floor, the students took turns scooping the water into a bucket to throw outside. In this one room school house my story of frustration and discontent began. Brad Benioff describes in his essay Rick, how the main character day after day in the pool, under constant scrutiny from a demanding coach, learned how to work hard and come out stronger with skills to succeed, just as I learned in a small village with a faded yellow schoolhouse life changing lessons that shaped me into the responsible, self-sufficient man I am today (Benoiff, 51). I learned of suffering and poverty. I learned of responsibility and accountability. I learned of fear and unconditional love. The years I spent walking to and from school on that muddy road paved the way to a future filled