Perserverance-Reflective Essay - 1218 Words

English Reflective Essay Name: Jean Faulkner Ever thought about giving up? Ever felt life wasn’t worth living? Ever have events happen in your life that make you want to throw up your hands and say â€Å"I can’t go on†? I know I have, many times. I had to learn that one of life’s most valuable lessons was about success through perseverance. One event that happened caused me to lose my eyesight. In the late 70s a strike had shut down the majority of the truckers in the U.S. Many rigs were not moving either in support, or fear, of the strikers. The strike had finally been settled with everyone but the Teamsters Union outside Pittsburgh and that’s the area where we found ourselves. There was a huge full moon that night as†¦show more content†¦Nice shot! shouted my husband. Thanks I whispered. My knees were shaking, my heart was pounding; I had done it. Not only did I shoot and kill my first deer, I bagged the only deer in my household that season. It was at that moment that I realized just how important perseverance was. The endless hours of practice that began with me not hitting anything taught me the skills necessary to hit my target. I knew this same perseverance would be required to eventually fulfill my goal of pursing higher education. I had a full time job and a family; but deep inside I wanted more. I knew that the only way was to further my education, so I enrolled in the local community college. â€Å"No ma’am I can’t afford to be a full-time student, can I enroll and take one or two courses a semester?† I asked. â€Å"Of course!† the counselor responded, â€Å"let’s talk about which courses you should begin with.† That day I went home feeling good about myself; I had taken the first step in a journey that I knew could change my life forever. I had a long road ahead of me, but I wanted it so badly I could almost taste it. That day, however, I had no idea of all the obstacles I would have to overcome to fulfill my dream. It all started with my father, a man that had never really been a part of my life, telling me that I was just wasting time and money. â€Å"You’re nothing now and you never will be,† he said. Of course that just made me more