ROLLER COASTERS WON’T MAKE YOU SICK

by Jessica Chaffee

Thinking back to why I’m here writing this GED paper, growing up was a lot like a roller coaster for me. I thought I had the perfect family until I realized there was no such thing as perfect. I watched my brother struggle, mostly because of my mother’s problems. He finally came out and told us he was gay. Not going into details to bore everyone, my mother left three years ago and abandoned us for Florida and her boyfriend. I was forced to leave my house and move in with my dad. That living situation didn’t work out, so I moved in with my brother and grandparents.

After my brother was juggled back and forth in D.S.S., I finally began seeing him again. Chris was my biggest role model and I accepted him no matter what. He dropped out of school because he felt alone and unaccepted for what he was.

I always told myself I would never follow his or my family’s footsteps. I would complete high school and have a great family and career. My grandparent’s talked Chris into getting his GED. He achieved that. Today Chris is in the Worcester House of Corrections, due to an accident.

I couldn’t go on with school because things were wearing me down. I got evaluated and was diagnosed with a severe case of depression. I decided school wasn’t the place for me at the time. But the last thing I wanted to do was give up. I was going to get an education.

I’ve been holding on, thinking of the positives and what I have and am thankful for. I think of Chris and see how much he accomplished. I plan to attend a two-year college for general studies. I have no idea of what I want to be when I am older.

I want to get this GED for me, and to prove I can accomplish this and further my education. This gives me something to work for. I need to stay on the right path. So here I am writing this paper. I know if I work towards it, I can achieve anything. In the end I will have my GED.

Jessica Chaffee is an intermediate ESOL student at the Clinton Adult Learning Center.