sName: Jesiel R.

Lampad
Section: II - English
Reflection

According to Ronal Raegan , peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to

handle conflict by peaceful means. Conflicts are inevitable in life. It is part of our daily
living. Poor and rich have different status in life but still they encounter conflicts every
day.
Obstacles are an everyday occurrence in life. Some are small causing short lived
distress while others seem to shake us to our very core. I have had my share of problems
both large and small and I have found that the most difficult obstacle I have overcome
was the separation of my parents.
My father and my mother separated when I was 15 years old. The abrupt lifestyle
change left me worried, not only because of the new presence in my life but because
my mother had decided to take away from us. There was an aura of coldness about it.
The thought of having to live in this environment troubled me greatly. I was not
accustomed to a lifestyle outside of my home with my mother away from us, much less
a lifestyle that lacked so many of the amenities that I felt were necessities. Rather than
allowing this new circumstance to spiral my life out of control, I decided that I was not
going to let it get in the way of my goals for the future.
The decision I made few years ago remains today and my outlook has changed
on the whole situation tremendously. One thing that hasnt changed are the conditions
my father lives in. Thus far the promises of house have not been met and they may
never be, and I have accepted that. I have accepted all of the hardships that I have
experienced with my father and I have no animosity towards him. Instead I am thankful,
because I have learned so much through this experience. It has taught me humility and
sacrifice. I now know the steps he has taken to get to this point in his life so I am better
able to avoid going down that same path. Ive learned that you cant force anyone to
change. Ive learned forgiveness. And Ive learned that the past doesnt define
anyone, including myself.
I am now eighteen and I find myself reflecting on the many years we have spent
together. It wasnt all bad, and I have plenty of fond memories to look back on. But I
also have memories of discomfort and pain. Through it all I think I have become a
better person, through the good and the bad. I have now changed my mission from
making sure that this experience doesnt get in the way of my goals to using this
experience and the lessons I have learned to help me in reaching my goals for the
future.