writing task mentor quote– Ashley

Intro: Talking about my uncle and I and how he raised me 

Scene 1: struggling with school a little 

Scene 2: Realizing its okay to take a break 

Conclusion: graduating with high grades, going to college and working 30-hour weeks 

“School before anything, it’s important “ 

Usually everyone grows up with their parents. But for me it was different. Both my parents had unbalanced work hours so it was more difficult for them. They made a decision and my uncle happily took me in and raised me since I was 1 years old. Growing up with him taught me many things as in there’s no such thing as excuses. He went to work every single day no matter the circumstance. Even when he didn’t feel good, he would still get up, take me to school and then go to work. Another thing he taught me was that you have to work hard for what you want and nothing is handed to you. I learned this by watching him work hard for the lifestyle he wanted and got. 

            I have always been a great student but senior year that changed. I got stressed and would turn in assignments late and over work myself. It got to a point where I stopped caring for a little and just did the bare minimum work. “You have to get your grades up, your almost done just pull through.” That’s what I would hear on a daily basis from not only my uncle, but my teachers too. I was overwhelmed with managing school and working so many hours. I got the hang of it a little but till now I’m still trying to figure out how to not let one interfere with the other. I would stay up late nights trying to understand material I didn’t in class and do my homework to wake up early again and keep trying. 

            As time went by I was feeling more overwhelmed and felt like if I took a break or slowed down I would disappoint someone. That someone being my uncle because I felt like he would say “there’s no such thing as excuses.” But no when he saw how much overworking myself he told me, “it’s okay to slow down once in a while, for your own good.” That’s when I realized it was too much for me and I needed to do make some changes. I started to work less hours and prioritize in school much more. My grades begun to slowly get higher and I wasn’t feeling as stressed and overwhelmed. 

            The school year went by so fast and it was already June. On graduation day my uncle told me, “I’m so proud of the grown young woman you have become and how responsible you have become.” This made the day 100 times better because I felt like I had become the person he wished for me to be as he saw me grow up. Majority of my family didn’t think I would be able to manage work and school and like I was focusing on the wrong thing. I walked that stage being very proud of what I had accomplished in so little time.