Everyone’s walk through this cycle of life is completely different than most. Some people go through hardship at a completely young age, others experience rejection, others illness, death, poverty, and then there are others who grow up to have a very normal experience of life. Not too many crazy moments in which change them which is fine. For me, it’s been both a blessing and a challenge that I’ve faced such drastic life changing moments in my life. As I’ve grown, so many situations have marked me and it’s not that the one I’m about to share isn’t big because it is, but I’ve faced other challenges alone. This experience that changed me was when I was 13 years old turning 14. My mother was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She was given 8 sessions of chemotherapy and 32 sessions of radiation. This changed me drastically because as a kid was was about to entire High School, seeing her mother severely ill takes a toll. You have to suddenly close up and not care about how you’re feeling to tend to your younger sibling alongside of closing emotions because you can’t show weakness or tears to someone who’s undergoing cancer treatment in order to fortify them as much as possible. This process changed me as a child because it gave me a different perception of life, my mother, and what I looked for in a husband as well. Seeing my father day in and out night and day no matter the time unable to sleep just taking care of my mothers every step and putting his desires aside to make sure she was okay, it made me visualize that the character, the values, respect, love, and treatment that someone gives you goes beyond the surface levels of looks and clout that young adults chase now a days. I’m 23 years old and yes although I am Christian, to me yes having a man who’s beliefs align with mine is valuable, but it’s more than that. Seeing my father first hand put his own regard aside to take care of his wife, that to me set a different value and understanding of what marriage really looks like verses what the 21st century thinks it should be.
About
Professor: Jessica Penner
Email: creative.writing.citytech2@gmail.com
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 AM – 1 PM. I’ll be available through Zoom and will send an invitation via email that you should keep all semester. Try to join my meeting at the start of the hour, not at the end—since I may be talking to other students or have another appointment after the hour is up. If those times don’t work with your schedule, we can schedule a different time. This means you’ll have to schedule an appointment in advance via email. I suggest you have multiple times in mind, since your schedule may not mesh with mine!
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Ursula C. Schwerin Library
New York City College of Technology, C.U.N.Y
300 Jay Street, Library Building - 4th Floor
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