“Never give up and keep going” – Dad
I had always been the perfectionist, the one who always reached for something higher academically. But I had my moments where I would feel discouraged and not so determined. One of those moments was when I got an F for my first math exam back in my freshman year of high school. I remember staring blankly at the paper in disbelief for getting such a low grade for my first-ever exam of the semester. I was the student who would take AP classes, constantly study, and do my work on time. I felt disappointed in myself and overall very discouraged.
My dad came home from work that day and looked at me while I was on the brink of tears and asked what was wrong. I was hesitant to tell him about the grade I had gotten for the math exam being that my immigrant parents are quite strict when it comes to my academics. But I showed him the test paper and he hugged me and told me how a grade does not determine my smartness and how he knew the effort I put into doing well in school. At that moment I felt better and although that grade did stress me out, I was not feeling as discouraged as before. I was starting to look at this bad grade as an opportunity to do better and move on from it. Ever since that bad grade, I started to work harder on my assignments but most importantly not be so hard on myself.
Three years later I graduated high school with A’s in every subject. I couldn’t thank my dad enough for the endless encouragement he would give me at those times when I felt like I couldn’t make it. I had times when certain teachers would tell me that “I wasn’t doing good enough” but my dad’s words “Never give up, keep going” stuck with me the entire time throughout my high school years. My dad’s wisdom and advice have been invaluable to me. He has consistently offered me direction, encouragement, and insight. Among the most significant lessons he has imparted to me is the value of education. He has always inspired me to follow my goals and never give up on learning new things. His advice has inspired me to put in more effort, pursue excellence, and never take my education for granted. Despite the hard journey, I was finding myself along the way, and with that, I never stopped, I kept going!
Hey Iren, I like that each of your paragraphs have CSD.
Hi Iren! Supportive parents are definitely a big role in our educational journeys and we are lucky to experience that. I’ve also felt discouraged in the past but just like your dad said, it’s important to keep going and to push yourself to be the best version of yourself. Great work!
Iren:
A sweet story of your dad’s encouragement.
Now can you create a scene here: One of those moments was when I got an F for my first math exam back in my freshman year of high school. I remember staring blankly at the paper in disbelief for getting such a low grade for my first-ever exam of the semester. I was the student who would take AP classes, constantly study, and do my work on time. I felt disappointed in myself and overall very discouraged. – Good, but need CSD concrete specific details. Where did this event happen?
But I showed him the test paper and he hugged me and told me how a grade does not determine my smartness and how he knew the effort I put into doing well in school. Give exact words he told you.
Other events in your journey upward to getting As?
Other events when Dad’s words echoed in your mind?
Reach back into your mind to find memories of events that illustrate these words being important in your life.
If you would like your story to pay tribute to your dad, can you tell us something about Dad? Is he a college graduate? Has he lived through some struggles? SHOW us a little of his backstory.
those times when I felt like I couldn’t make it. I had times when certain teachers would tell me that “I wasn’t doing good enough” but my dad’s words “Never give up, keep going” stuck with me the entire time throughout my high school years.
SHOW me another time in high school when teachers said these discouraging words: SHOW a struggle in a particular class when your dad’s words echoed in your mind and you rose to the occasion.
THINK make an outline with events that move your story forward.
WHAT Is the MI main idea of your story: Is it my dad is my mentor? My dad keeps me going? Is this a tribute to your dad?
Idea: You told me about going to Marymount College and then switching schools to come to City Tech.
Would that make a good story? What was Marymount like? What happened to make you decide that Marymount was NOT right for you?
Reach back into your memory. Are there specific events that would make good Theatre of the Mind? Do these events connect to tell a story of hardship and turning yourself around to find a new place at City Tech?
You could also tell how City Tech happens to be your father’s alma mater.
This might be a good and unique story. After all not everyone knows what it is like to go to a private girls college. And it might be interesting to SHOW what that was like and how you decided it was not the right school for you.