Believing That You Can Believing That You Can
gray sky. I looked up, around and saw many flowers of
different cities and countries that I never saw before. Some
flowers were wilted and others were blooming. They are
here for a different reason or maybe the same reason as me,
“for a better life”. I can also see that all around me there is a
barrier that prevents me from seeing further on and I
wonder where the mountains are? Where’s my homeland?
Where’s all my family? Days go by and I can’t get used to
this big garden, everything is different from my homeland.
The sun is very hot, I’m falling, the wind is very strong,
pulling off my petals and my leaves, each petal, every leaf
that falls, making me feel more hopeless and disillusioned,
trying to survive in a new place. But some flowers,
especially my family would tell me you have to be strong!
You can do it. And they support me and protect me so I
don’t fall. I was wilted and closed my eyes for a long time.
After a while, a light rain fell on me, every drop that fell
was bringing hope, illusion, and joy. A slight wind pushed
me to keep going and a sunbeam illuminated me. Then I
could open my eyes. Once again looking up, now the sky is
blue. I look around once more, I see new flowers, I saw
some flowers that were wilted but now they are flowering,
and some that were flowering, now are wilted. The flowers
that gave me life, were still supporting me, but now they
were wilted, and not because they were allowed to die, but
for the life time they had. I thought now I have to fight to
help and protect them and do all that I can to help, for my
happiness, for my dreams. Now there is not a barrier
because I put myself forward and I can see many wonderful
things. Now I’ve started flourishing. It’s very hard to get
ahead, but I know that I will do it!
Claudia T. is studying in the Clearwater Adult Education/ United
Methodist Cooperative Ministries Program at the High Point YMCA.
Her teacher is Ms. Roseann Segura.
How Black History Changed My Life
Black history changed my life for the better. One day I
was in school, and I didn’t know my life was about to
change all because of one movie that my principal Mr.