The document contains reflections from students about challenges they face in school and life. Many discuss family hardships like divorce, death of loved ones, or needing to care for siblings. Others mention health issues, learning disabilities, jobs requiring long hours, depression, or past issues with drugs/crime. A few feel misunderstood by teachers who make assumptions. Overall, the students express resilience and desire to improve their lives through education despite obstacles.
4. I used to have positive motivation from my mom, but since she passed away, I have a very difficult time keeping my self-motivation. ~Lauren
5. About a year ago someone dear to me was killed. She was everything to me. Since then, I don’t really talk or smile. ~Dennis
6. When I was 12 I got heart disease and had heart surgery when I was 14. Before that I always had honor roll classes, but then I got addicted to drugs after surgery. ~Julian
7. Teachers think that I am a bad student because of who I hang out with and how I dress, but to me, it doesn’t matter because I come to school to get an education. ~Christopher
8. I think I might have a learning disorder ~Thomas
9. I like to be loud and active and that’s why I walk around. ~Antonio
10. I’m not a very good listener and I am not a good learner. ~Adam
11. Even though I’m young, I’ve struggled a lot. I lost my favorite cousin last year. We did everything together. He was in a coma for two days until his mom told his doctors to take him off life support. I wasn’t there and because of that I didn’t feel worthy of being at his funeral, so I didn’t go. I wonder if he forgives me. ~Vera
12. Although I’ve had difficult times and made bad decisions, I’ve learned and have slowly put my priorities in place. ~Alice
13. I am a pretty unique person. I’m very quiet, and lots of the time shy. I don’t know why… ~Kevin
17. Sometimes it takes forever for me to learn something… just have patience with me… ~Anonymous
18. My teachers think I am a drug addict and that I am just like my brother and sister because I am easily distracted and fall asleep in class. I am just tired because I am taking care of my nephew. ~Wilma
19. I learn better when I am listening to music because somehow I concentrate better. ~Octavio
20. Just because they are teachers doesn’t mean they know everything. Everyone knows a lot about different things. ~Andrew
21. I worry about everything more than needed and it is exhausting. ~Rhonda
23. Be careful how and what you say to your students. You never know what’s going on in their lives. ~Anonymous
24. My teachers should give me time to understand them first before they understand me…sometimes I’ve got a lot of things on my mind. ~Anonymous
25. I feel proud of myself when I do well. ~Anonymous
26. I am a teen mother. I want my teachers to understand when I come late or I’m not here. I put a lot of effort into being here and trying hard. ~Karina
30. I get depressed often and don’t even have a reason why. Some think it’s all in my head, but it really is a problem with me and I can’t control it.. ~Collin
31. My parents got a divorce and my father didn’t give my mom any money. My mother had to work 16 hours a day and I’ve had to take care of my sister. My mother is the only reason I am still attending school so that one day her hard work will pay off and she can be proud of me. ~Jayla
32. When I was young I was raised in the street. My parents were never home and they never talked to me. I was on drugs at age 8 and quit at age 12. I was abused physically and mentally. Now I am a happy teen mom…and I’m not ever going to treat my baby the way I was treated. ~Ellen
33. All my teachers need to show more attention to EVERYONE in the classroom. ~Nicole
34. When my brother went to jail I fell into depression and pretty much gave up on life. I didn’t go to school for weeks, I wouldn’t come out at all, and I just felt the world had come down. ~Anonymous
35. I don’t like to be screamed at (by teachers). I have enough at my house every day. It gets me really pissed off. ~Val
36. I’m trying my best to do good in school, but I still know I’m not going to graduate. ~Ignacio
37. I am paying the consequences for the things I’ve done in the past, but now that I know I messed up and want to fix my life it seems harder…sometimes I want to give up… ~Marla
38. I work and have a job that requires long nights and hardly any sleep, so I have a really hard time learning… I wish they (teachers) could understand… ~Tom
39. I have a job and I also have a kid and I have to take care of her. It’s hard to do school work at home. ~Omarion
40. I’m trying to do better, and be a better person, and I’m trying to make something out of myself. ~Beth
41. It disturbs me to know that the world is changing without me… ~Anonymous
43. I’m a very focused person, and I strongly believe that high school is the stepping stone to success in life. ~Carrie
44. I got hit with a hockey stick in 6 th grade and had 3 surgeries in my left eye. ~Anonymous
45. I just want to get a high school diploma and get a job as a pediatrician although I have no clue on how to get to BE a pediatrician. The most annoying and yet hurtful thing is when my aunts and uncles talk smack telling me I’m dreaming too high. ~Marsha