The Challenges Of Adversity In Being An Only Child

Adversity does not even begin to cover the full extent of this challenge I have faced my entire life. To grow up knowing you are unwelcomed and undesired, a criminal, and not understanding why is difficult and something a child should never go through. But I did. I grew up undocumented and was forced to undergo shame at being “other.” The embarrassment and anger I felt at being asked if I had “papers” by a classmate developed into deep depression and anxiety. I have struggled with depression for as long as I can remember. When I look back to my childhood the only thing that comes up is crying and taunting. Being an only child was difficult as there was no one to protect me from the endless comments about my appearance. This coupled with the …show more content…
Once again, my problems were not being taken seriously, and my counselor shrugged them away as being “things all high school kids go through.” He thought I only needed to talk to him and I would be fine. This was not the case, and I insisted I was not okay. My insistence paid off, and upon pressuring him, he discovered I suffered from social anxiety and decided I needed to speak to a professional. The years before I went to therapy marked a time of mediocracy when it came to my grades and although I sometimes wish I could go back and change the way things happened, I would not change the outcome. I have now been seeing my therapist for almost three years, and with her help, I discovered I was more than my problems. Although the possibility of deportation is still looming over me, I have learned to manage my anxiety and work through my depression. The once shy and anxious girl who could not talk to anyone became a strong and resilient young woman who has now gone out of her comfort zone and tried out many new things. It was my experiences and therapy sessions that helped me find my voice, and subsequently my …show more content…
Above all, I learned to love myself and apart from the taunts I endured, I grew a tough skin and felt empowered enough to fight for myself. Our current administration had made their views regarding immigration very clear, and although I am terrified of the repercussions that came with chasing my dreams, I feel more powerful than ever in knowing that I am actively fighting and using my voice to speak out. I am not my depression or anxiety, and I am not a quiet girl who will comply with the stereotypes forced upon me. I am a force to be reckoned