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Daisy Bernabe
Dr. Hanvey
STACC
19 October 2015
I Shall Overcome
As a student my school experience has had a few ups and downs but they have been all
taught me a lot. For some people literacy can mean something as simple as just being able to
read and write. But when it comes to me it means way more than that. Literacy has had great
influence in my life and I can say that it makes me who I am today. It has not only been a big
part of my education but in many other things. Being bilingual has had its advantages and its
disadvantages. But overall it has been an honor to be bilingual. Throughout my school
experience I have went from one school to another. I attended a total of seven different schools it
was either a public, magnet, or charter school. During high school was when I transferred the
most and was when I faced many challenges. By that time I have accepted the fact that I will
never be known as Daisy but as the new girl. That was just something else I had to live with. But
wouldnt let that interfere with my education.
My high school experience wasnt the best and because of that I attended three different
schools. During my freshman year there was a lot going on in school and at home. I felt like no
cared whether I was doing good or bad at school. My mom gave my younger brother all her
attention and my dad gave his to my older brother. Then there was me getting little to no
attention for neither of them. With time I started to lose interest in school because I had no one to
go to and talk about my day at school. The lack of attention at school and at home lead me to

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look for it with the wrong group of friends. I started to surround myself with people that I knew
was going to be no good for me but still chose to stick around. I started to ditch school at least
once a week. That soon changed to not showing up to school at all. I wouldnt go to school to go
kick it with my friends and smoke. I can relate a lot to diary 23 because its like reading my
experience in someone else story. They would also ditch school and smoke with their friends
because of the lack of attention and felt like no one cared what they would do. His or her parents
didnt have a clue what they were doing and neither did my parents. Everything I was doing was
for my parents to notice that I need attention as well. I really wanted to have the same attention
my brothers had from my parents. But mostly I wanted my dads attention because I have always
wanted to make him proud. For Cisneros it was hard being the only daughter in a family of six
sons. It was hard for myself being the only daughter of two sons. If it was hard for me with just
two brothers I cant even imagine how hard it must have been for her. In Only Daughter by
Sandra Cisneros she states I was/am the only daughter and only a daughter (Cisneros 75.)
Given the fact that both my parents didnt see me more than just their daughter was really tough
on me. Everything I was doing was to get my parents attention so they can acknowledge that Im
more than their daughter. I wanted their support in high school and I never got it because they
never seemed to have time for me. Somehow I thought I would get their attention by ditching
school. Everything was all fun and games until it all changed in a blink of an eye. One day I got
stopped by the police and it was all over. I got transferred to a charter school and got into big
trouble.
Thanks to that transfer I was able to get myself together. I was also able to get back on
track and make up for the classes I had failed. After getting caught ditching my parents started to
give me more attention. They started be more involved with what I was doing in school and if I

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was passing my class. Even though I had gotten transfer to a new school and was seen as the new
girl for the first month I was able to accommodate and eventually make new friends. Only
problem was that school wasnt close by home. So my parents decided to transfer me to a charter
school close by home. Sadly they decided to transfer me for my senior year. I was quit bummed
out but I had to accept the fact that it was going to be better for me. First day of senor year began
and I was really excited yet so nervous. There was a big difference between both charters
schools. As soon as I stepped into my first class all eyes were on me and everyone started to
whisper look we got a new girl. Im a shy person so it was hard for me to make friends but like
my parents tell me youre going to school to get an education not to worry about making
friends. I didnt pay much attention because it was senior year and I had to worry about what
schools I would like to attend to further my education and who would I like to be friends with. I
thought to myself that therell be time for that but all it its time. Throughout the beginning of the
school year our teachers told us to start thinking about what we would like to major in college. I
honesty had no clue what I field interested me. I remember watching Greys Anatomy one night
and I noticed how passionate they are and what they are willing to do for their patient. I started
thinking to myself if I would mid doing that and if I would like to give back to the community
and help those in need. I started looking into fields that had to deal with science and medicine.
The one that stood out the most was a nursing major. Now the real issue began finding good
schools that would accept my GPA since it was very low. I started to stress out and I had no one
to ask at home since my brother never applied to UCS or CSU. I didnt know what to do and the
registration date got closer and closer. I had no clue what I was going to do when one of my
teachers decided to lend me a hand. I least expect that my advisory would help me since he
wasnt a senior teacher. Mr.Shwarts became my guide. He took the time to help me on what to do

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with my applications. If it wasnt for him I wouldnt been able to apply to schools nor
scholarships.
Due to many transfers throughout my school experience I have been able to identify
myself as a person that has a growth mind set. Having to go from school to school was tuff
because every teacher has their own teaching method. I think it is better to learn how to
accommodate to a new teaching method in case one wasnt successful the other may be. I believe
there is never going to be only one way to do something right. When it comes to challenges Im
usually all hands on because with my experience I have learned that no matter how hard
something may be if you set your mind to it you would achieve. If you work hard and never set
yourself for failure you will make it as far as you would like to go. When given feedback its
always good to take it as something positive and not negative. I learned this because of all the
wrong choices I made came with negative outcomes and there as always someone suggesting me
to do better. At first I would be offended but then I would sit down and think about it and realize
hat they are doing for my own good and because they want us to do better. Being able to accept
critique from others can open more opportunities and could lead you to more success because
youre getting others opinion about things you can improve. I chose to give myself a second
chance and be more open minded when it comes to challenges and feedback from others. I
believe that ever since I noticed that I am a person with a growth mind set I have really learned a
lot and I wouldnt change that for anything.
I am currently at PCC to get my prerequisite to later transfer to a four year. I chose to
attend PCC because I wanted to give myself a new start by going to a school where I know will
proved me with the classes I need. PCC offers all the courses I need to be able to transfer to a
school that has a good nursing school. I am planning to get my nursing degree as soon as

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possible and maybe later go back to school and get a PHD. During college Im looking forward
to expanding my knowledge and get more opportunities.
My steps to achieving my goals is to attend class every day and not makeup excuses to
not go to class. Im planning on giving it my all to be able to pass my classes with As and Bs.
My plans are to transfer school within two years and attend a school with a good nursing
program. Im going to work hard and harder, and no matter how hard it might get I am not going
to give up. If I continue to be open minded about challenges I believe I am able to reach my
goals and much more.

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Bibliography
Gruwell, Erin, Eds. The Freedom Writers Diary: How A Teacher And 150 Teens Used Writing
To Change Themselves And The World Around Them. New York: Broadway Books,
[2006?. Print.