ALifeinTatters
TheRoughBeginning
Mylifebeganinatatteredandtornroom,thewallspeelingandtheceilingfullofholes.ThebedIwasbornonwasahand-me-down,wornandfrayed.Myparentswereyoungandhadbarelyenoughmoneytofeedthemselves,letaloneababy.
Asachild,myclotheswerealwayssecondhandorhomemade,nevernew.Irememberfeelingself-conscious,especiallyaroundtheotherkidswhoworebrandnameclothesandalwayslookedneatandtidy.Ilongedtohavesomethingnewandshiny,butIknewthatwasoutofthequestion.
TheStruggleContinues
Myteenageyearswerenodifferentfrommychildhood.Iworehand-me-downsfrommyoldersiblings,andmyparentsstillstruggledtomakeendsmeet.Istartedtoworkpart-timejobsafterschooltosupportmyselfandhelpmyfamilyout.Itwastough,andIoftenfeltlikegivingup.
Despitemycircumstances,Imanagedtoexcelinschoolandwasawardedascholarshiptoattendcollege.Iwasecstaticbutalsoworried.HowwasIgoingtoaffordtuitionandbooks?Iworkedtwopart-timejobsandtookoutstudentloanstopayforeverything.Myclotheswerestillshabby,butIdidn'tcare.Iwasdeterminedtosucceed.
ANewChapter
Aftercollege,Ilandedajobinmyfieldofstudy,andmysalarywasavastimprovementfrommypreviousincome.Istartedtobuynewclothesandwasabletorenovatemyoldapartment.Ifeltasenseofprideandaccomplishment.
Buteventhoughmylifestylehadimproved,IneverforgotwhereIcamefrom.Istillshoppedatthriftstoresandcontinuedtolivewithinmymeans.MyshabbyclothesandtornfurniturebecameareminderofthestrugglesIovercametogetwhereIamtoday.
Now,manyyearslater,Iammarriedwithchildren,andIstillshopatthriftstores.Myclothesmaybeshabby,butmylifeisfulloflove,happiness,andmostimportantly,memoriesofthejourneythatgotmehere.
