I clung to my brothers hand as we were lead from the foster home. The suitcases rattled down the concrete stairs. My eyes glanced around quickly, wide with fear and confusion. My sleeve was slowly soaked from my nervous chewing of the soft material. My sister already sat inside the sleek Cadillac. I could smell the leather seats. My brother pulled me towards the car. My small four year old legs couldn't quite make it into the vehicle, and I felt comforting hands wrap around me and lift me into my seat. I looked back to see the door shut. The Cadillac rumbled to life and the wheels slowly pulled away from the curb. I pressed my face against the cold window, my breath fogging my view of what was no longer home.
A memory experienced a dozen times, each one unique but with a hint of deja vu. Home to home, year by year, time passed and nothing changed. I was voiceless and powerless. All I ever wanted was a family, but how could I say that? What's the point in speaking if no one's listening? I couldn't do anything to make my situation better, and no matter how hard people seemed to try to help, nothing ever changed.
I thought I’d never have a family; I thought I’d be forced to travel from home to home for my whole life. This thought never truly disturbed me, I just didn’t know what it was like to actually have a home. I never knew the easy relief of walking through your front door into the comforting smells and sounds of family after a bad day. Even when I began to get a glimpse of this apparent utopia it would be torn away and I was left without a family. Again and again.
When I found them, we did normal family things I’d never done before, like family vacations, birthdays, road trips, and many others. They taught me and raised me. While I had lost my brother and sister, I knew that I needed to focus on moving on. I would not let my dark past haunt my future. I would find a way to become stronger and wiser from my struggles.
From my voicelessness has come someone who is willing to listen. Someone who can make others feel like they aren't alone. I enjoy giving my friends a shoulder to lean on, listening to their problems. Because I suffered, I knew that I had to stop others from suffering. Sometimes people just need someone who is willing to listen. Not just foster children, but everyone. Everyone that finds themselves voiceless and scared. I wanted to show people that the bad things in life are really just opportunities to grow stronger.
I want more knowledge and experience in order to help people. I have a drive to constantly improve myself, and I will take every chance I get to achieve my goal. If I push hard enough I will be able to help the innocent. I am willing to sacrifice time, energy, and money in order to help others. With a better understanding of the law and the world I can give a helping hand to all those in need.
*This was written as part of a school assignment, but I thought would contribute to the website*