After being told “that’s not good enough” so many times, a person starts to believe it. I can say from experience that hearing it consistently from the age of twelve can take a toll on your spirits. We all deal with little things in life we find particularly hard for no apparent reason, and “being enough” was mine.
My family hit some rough points when I was young and I had to grow up fast. I worked at a early age; dealt with bills and household issues too. I did what I could to work as many hours as possible while in school yet I was told “you aren’t doing enough to help out” and “you are not making enough money”. Not involved with the best group of friends, my willingness to give was taken advantage of. I had reached a point where my life was not my own. I mean this in the sense that I had invested every fiber of my being into others. I was determined to be enough.
My group of friends slowly changed till I met the group of friends I have now (from high school). Over time they taught me who I really was; showed me not only the person I could be, but also that person was a gift. And in essence, they opened my eyes to why I do what I do now. From the time I was in elementary school, I have been passionate about helping others. Like the rest of the students at UCLA, I was a gifted child and thus, I had a lot to give to others. I enjoyed it. I helped others before I helped myself. I had so much to give and was determined to give it all. This passion had been hidden and hindered by this feeling of not “being enough”. It was a chore rather than a passion because I felt as if I had something to prove. But overtime my passion resurfaced in me and I found where my heart wanted to be. Now that passion lies in giving others the same fresh start I was given. I see a unique gift in everyone around me and find that most people, as I didn’t, don’t see the gift they hold inside. Many times others bring it out of them and I live to make that happen.
Why do I do what I do? Because everyone is a unique gift. We all deserve the help and chance needed not only to find ourselves, but to be ourselves.
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