Gathering research about my family and its history turned out to be an interesting and insightful opportunity, through which I learned much more than I expected. When I started this project, I knew that I would not be able to find as much useful information on the Internet as some of my peers. In effect, I realized that I would have to rely on other primary resources such as my parents and grandparents to reveal the story of my ancestry to me. After I had interviewed them, myfamily history became much clearer to me. More than 2 millennia ago, around the 3rd century BC, a group of Tamil–speaking people from present–day South India migrated to the nearby island of Sri Lanka. Among these people, known today as "Sri Lankan Tamils", are my...show more content...
The Peninsula has a hot, monsoonal tropical climate characterized by a dry season from February to October and a wet season from October to January. Because of the monsoons, the region is humid and averages three feet of rain each year, which is relatively low compared to the rest of the island. The climate of the region allows for many crops to be grown including many varieties of fruits and vegetables. While interviewing my parents and grandparents, I learned about many customs and aspects of the Sri Lankan Tamil culture. Sri Lankan Tamils are devotees of the Shaiva sect of Hinduism, mainly worshipping the lord Shiva. The three main cultural festivals celebrated in the area are Thai Pongal (beginning of the harvest), Chittrai Pongal (Tamil New Year), and Deepavali (Hindu Festival of Lights). In addition, pujas (religious rituals) are performed for different occasions, such as the death day of an ancestor or the celebration of a certain Hindu deity. It was also a custom to ask the village astrologer for advice on certain decisions, such as the name of a newborn child.
Paternal Great–Grandparents In the early 1900's, Kadirasaipillai and Vairavipillai Kandappar, my paternal grandmother's parents, were born in the village of Puloly, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. They were both born into families of the Vellalar caste of Tamil society and went to school at Puttalai Vidhyalayam, the only schooling option
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I was born into a "happy" family that was actually a web of lies, which unfolded itself through a divorce. My parents' marriage was based on the fact that my father needed a permanent residency card to stay in the United States. Some people may view this as a devastating event; however I have chosen to embrace being an American and a Ghanaian. Coming from two different backgrounds was a challenge, because of the different values and morals each share. These challenges have left me to understand my true purpose concerning my two cultures. I feel fortunate enough to grow up with two different aspects on life itself. Throughout life I was considered to be the "one" on both sides of my families. I was the one who was supposed to accomplish...show more content...
Such as attending a public college or becoming President of the United States. Education has therefore played an important role in my life and has been highly valued in my family. While the expectations of my American and Ghanaian family members were so high, their affirmation was not always there. As a child of divorced parents, my mother raised and supported me. My father was always there mentally, emotionally, and physically, but I was financially fully dependent on my mother. Although she had an education, we still struggled. Sometimes we didn't know where our next meal was coming from and had to rely on others. We moved several times while I was growing up and at times, I would be left at a relative's house because of my mother's need to get us financially stable. Things improved, I remained committed to working hard in school, and the expectations never changed. Education has brought me, given me, and gifted me with empowerment, leadership, confidence; greater understanding of social issues and tools to work towards social justice. As many educators say, education is the key to success. I believe that not only is it the key to success, but it's also the key to happiness. College will help me meet my high education and career expectations that I have for myself which is to ultimately get my Professional degree, and make a global difference. It will also help to meet my families as well. College will help me
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My mom's name is Lisa and she was a PTA but is now a stay at home mom. My dad's name is Luis and he was a chemical and nuclear engineer, but now owns his own business. I have 3 sisters: Angie, Silencia, and Mahalia. I also have 3 brothers: Matthias, Geminiah, and Elshaddai. Angie works with my dad to eventually take over the family business. The rest of my siblings are in school except for Elshaddai who is only 3. My family expects me to be a good example to my younger siblings and encourage them. To do this they also expect me to do well in school and in athletics. My mom is a very outgoing, loud, and energetic person. My dad is also very outgoing and loud, but he has more of a serious side to him. Angie is really fun, but she also has a more relaxed personality. Mahalia is very loud, active, and argumentative. Silencia is the most soft–spoken and relaxed out of everyone. Matthias is very outgoing, loud, and active. Geminiah and Elshaddai are both loud and very active. I have good relationships with everyone in my family. I do have small disagreements with my siblings sometimes, but we all love each other a lot. I had a very unusual childhood, but it was still fun. My childhood was unusual because it involved a lot of training but that's what we did together as a family, and growing up I had friends that did the same thing and we all enjoyed it. In grade school I competed in a lot of powerlifting meets and got to travel all over the country to break world records. I missed
I grew up with both of my parents and three siblings, my family is extremely close, so close that everyone needs a break from one another from time to time. My family is far from perfect, I am not the oldest child but I always took on that role as being the oldest sibling. The one who watches my two younger siblings when both of my parents weren't home. My older brother Aubrey was supposed to be the one who watched over us but he never did. He spent his days locked away in his room, or nat at the house at all. Taking on the role of almost a mother figure to my younger siblings was difficult. I had to learn to be selfless and not just think for myself at an early age. When my mom didn't come home till after twelve to escape my dads drunkness or my dad was laying out drunk in the bedroom. I was the one who fed my little brother and sister. I was the one who cleaned up the room the three of us shared. I was the one who helped them with their homework, who did my little sister's hair. I didn't realize how much mature I became because of this responsibility till I was in high school and was referred to as Mom by the basketball team. I've always thought that I was the same as any teen immature, reckless, and carefree. That wasn't the case at all I had many responsibilities like babysitting my siblings,washing and folding our clothes, making sure they get their chores done. I did this because I knew my father drank because of our financial situation, not being able to pay the Get
Cervantes I
Cervantes Higuera Jessica
University of the Incarnate Word
English Composition I
Draft #1
Why does everyone leave?
Seeing your parents apart and not getting along when they're together is hard for most kids specially when you're 8 years old and you don't know what's coming next. The day my parents got divorced changed my perception of what a normal family was. Having my dad around all the time wasn't my everyday routine. I'd see him once or twice a week so I wasn't very much used to see him every day. One day I came home after school and he and my mom were on the balcony talking, the notice I was staring, they both looked at me and called for a family meeting by the tone of their voices I could tell there was...show more content...
According to the doctor the pollution had affected his eyes. He had always lived on the beach and his body never got used to the city. I knew my life was going to change completely, I wouldn't see him every day. Who would I cry out for help when my mom gets angry? Everything was about to change, we wouldn't order take–out on Sundays, it was a big deal, I was losing my best friend, the only father figure I have ever had so far. I watched him taking all of his stuff out of the apartment, I was getting more and more mad. Wasn't our beautiful relationship enough to make him stay? I even blame myself I thought I had done something wrong, maybe wearing his clothes and leaving them all messy, I apologize and swear not to do it again, but it didn't matter the decision was already made. I stared at him and yelled "if you don't love me anymore go ahead leave, I don't need you" there were tears on our faces, I jumped into my bed and cried myself to sleep.
I realized there was nothing else to be done, he was not my father and I was sure I'd see him someday, he wouldn't stop loving me, and we would always have the memories of the brief time we shared our lives. He made the best out of my childhood.
Cervantes III
Growing up with a father that was never around and a father figure that also left was hard, but it taught me that I don't need a father to rely on. I have myself and my mom, and as long as I don't forget who I am I
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My family is my life
Life becomes more meaningful when you realize the simple life fact that you will never get the same moment twice. I had lived with my parents until I was 12 years old, but they could not care for me anymore, because they are working in a factory in Juarez for more than six or eight hours a day. They did not like the idea that my sister and I would stay alone, because my older sister was studying at high school and I was studying at elementary school. When looking for a good place that we may stay, after days of searching they found Centro Victoria de NiГ±os Vida en Jesus,a small place but an amazing and comfortable place in Juarez. In this is a place a married couple care for many girls and boys of the same ages as me. Our parents explained the difficult situation we were going through. They told us that it hurt them a lot to leave us, but that they did not have any more options. The reality was that we did not have family in Juarez at the time. They told us that they found an amazing place and small place where we can stay just during the week. All children that have a family can have a chance to go to the home. My sister and I agreed to live there because we did not want to be alone. The first two weeks were very sad to feel that you no longer live in your house, but in this place, we are learning to be good people, get a chance to have two incredible families and having opportunities that changed my life.
I loved the way my tutors taught us when we started living in this place. I learned how to behave. My tutors became like my parents. When I was staying in my house, I knew that I was not a good daughter and I had many bad habits like the way I eat and my sleeping habits. It was obvious that my parents did not see things as I did, and thus my tutor talked to me about things that I needed it to change. They explained that this it was not easy, but if I persevere, it will work out as they told me and that people never stop learning. I learned to like other children, to eat, to sleep, to take a shower at the right time. I also learned trust to myself, and be honest. Also, I learned that if I fall, I can stand up because people learn from their mistakes. The last but the most important
My Family History
Family history is very important to an individual. By knowing where you come from, you can have a better perspective of your life. Having a clear understanding of your family background allows you to better appreciate the things that you would normally take for granted. The house, the car, and the average clothing may look better when one sees the sacrifices their family has made. They will see that their family has worked very hard just so their family can experience the better things in life. A persons roots and origin is one of the most important things to explore. It alone can bring you closer to self–discovery.
There are two sides to a person's family and one side of my family has...show more content... One of these is that on Thanksgiving everybody comes together to my parents' house in New Jersey for a huge feast. On Christmas only my mother and the children (me and my brother) travel to Illinois to spend a week with my grandparents. On New Years Eve we all get together at my parents' house in New Jersey and toast to the New Year with champagne and apple cider. During Labor Day weekend all of my family travels to South Jersey to my grandfathers' condo. We usually spend all of our time on the beach and barbequing, except on Sunday when we go to church. After all, my grandfather is a minister. One of our biggest family traditions is going back to Puerto Rico. Every year my mother and I travel back to Puerto Rico for a portion of our summer vacation. Now that I am older I travel there more often and stay there much longer. My father never joins because he doesn't like my mothers side of the father too much and he thinks that we when we speak Spanish we are all plotting against him. Of course that's not true though. My bother doesn't speak Spanish so he doesn't like to go either. I guess that tradition is one that belongs solely to my mother and I.
The role of the people in family basically stayed the same for most of the generations with a little change in the later generations. Earlier the males were the only ones that worked in the family and the wife stayed at home and took care of the house and
I awoke to the sound of my alarm clock buzzing. It was 4:30 in the morning in two hours I will be getting on a plane to Florida. Today is June sixth, 2019 the day my family finally leaves for our family vacation we had all been waiting for, for months. Everyone is running around frantically trying to pack all their stuff. Unlike the rest of my family, I had woken up an hour earlier and packed all my stuff already. "Mitch hurry up we're gonna miss our flight!" Yelled Michelle, my mom.
I yelled back "I know, I'm right here don't yell!" I ran up the stairs and grabbed my brand new navy suitcase behind me, and ran outside and abruptly threw it into the trunk. "Be careful Mitch," said Michael my dad. My mom ran upstairs to get a car seat for my four–year–old sister Michaela and quickly set it up into the car. My family quickly got into the car and started to make our way to the airport. We drove for about twenty minutes until we got stopped by a train. We were already going to be ten minutes late and the train just started to go. "Mom, where's the puppy?" asked Michaela. My mom exclaimed, "Oh no we forgot Micky!"
We had to turn around to go back home. "Mitch can you run in and get the dog quickly please?" my mom asked me. "Ok " I said. We parked in front of the house and I walked to the door I opened the door. I yelled, "Micky come downstairs boy!" Mickey ran downstairs and out the door and jumped right into the car. I walked outside and I got into the car and we drove straight to the airport. "Michael slow down! We're going to get a speeding ticket," My mom said.
"No we're not, It's fine. We're going to miss our flight if I slow down," my dad replied. Five minutes later a police car drove by and pulled us over. An old police officer stepped out of his car and asked my dad for his license and charged him with speeding. "I told you." My mom said to my dad. My dad didn't reply and just drove in silence until we got to the airport. "Mitch, you take the dog by the collar and I'll take your suitcase because we forgot to bring a leash." My mom said. I grabbed Mickey by his red collar which was kind of tight around his neck and he quickly turned around and snapped at me. I lightly hit him in the face
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Everyone has a story of who they are and how they came to be. We all grow up wanting the perfect family, the perfect parents, perfect house, perfect siblings, and to top it off, the white picket fence that surrounds the house. Then life sets in and you realize that life is not all rainbows and unicorns. The people in our life and the environment that we grow up in, is what shapes us to the person we are today. Factors that influence how we are as a person are our family, parents, and society. I come from a family that is hard to describe. We all get along and know when it is time to unite as a family but at the same time the moment someone disagrees with one another, sides are chosen and it takes forever for us to make up. My family has...show more content...
My dad was a great dad if he was not under the influence, but if he was under the influence he was very abusive, physically and emotionally. My mother on the other hand, wants nothing but for me to prosper in life and be happy. If I were to describe my mom with one word it would be, fighter. Everything my mother does is for the benefit of my brother and I. My mother has influenced me in many ways. She has taught me how to stand up for myself, to not be afraid of things that may frighten me, not to listen to what others have to say about me because in the long run, what I think about myself is all that matters. My mother is my biggest influencer and supporter and I will be forever grateful that I have such a great mom.
Society today is a huge influential part in everyone's life. Others may say that they are their own person and that no one has affected who they are as a person because they are, "their own person," but society affects everyone to what they wear, what music they listen to, how they behave, and many other things. Society has influenced me to stand up for others and to be a voice for those who are too scared to share theirs. I see all over the news and social media, all the hate that goes on in the world just because someone is a little different then them. Society has also influenced the clothes I wear and music I listen
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