Such beautiful day, nothing can be compared to learning something new. This time there is a new facilitator and new lesson she prepared. Cara, the new facilitator, teaches me and my classmates many new subject and technique all through a project to write about the rite of passage. This project back to the past of how did I obtain maturity. This is a piece of my life that I’ll never forget because it is how I am me today. If you want to know more about me read the story below.
Comming of Age
“The difference in strength, what about it? You think I should give up just because you are stronger than me.” The words of Ichigo Kurosaki have changed my life forever. Throughout life I faced many difficulties but without them my life has no meaning. When I figured out ways to overcome those problems, that is when my life story gets more interesting. When I am down sometimes, I felt weak, I felt useless, I felt the urge to give up, but my goal was too precious that kept me from giving in to those challenges. I have always been weak to handle struggles that everybody else would avoid, but doing so made me stronger, it made my life worth living as who I am today. Just like when I was six at the Siem Reap province, grandfather said, “I never give up on my immense dream, so along the way to reach it, I find something or someone to motivate me along the way.” So I pick up his word and pave my own path to succession, by working hard anybody can make the impossible possible.
When I was three, a fight broke out between me and my cousin over the precious jewel given to me by my grandmother. I could not defeat my cousin because he was more muscular, and taller, but this time I have to otherwise everything I own will belong to him. I took the beating as usual but something is off, there are voices kept telling me to get up, to stand up and return my cousin a favor. That is when everything went black, I no longer give conscious to kindness, love, weakness, pain, or suffering. In my core is only kill-time, “I gotta fight him, I’ll make him suffer, I will bring him to the ground” voices whispered in my mind. My vision got blurr but I could make out a fist coming for my eye, suddenly everything became slower almost as if time stop. Yet I could feel the wind gushing from his slow strike, instead of dodging the punch I kicked his leg instantaneously he was on the ground crying in pain. I did not stop there, never once in that fight felt a thing only darkness, the only thing in mind is “the killer instinct”. I rush toward him surprisingly I was on top of his stomach, I smash his face without a thought of what I had done. My grandfather, my neighbor, and my uncle thought it was fine, the kid is just playing around, but after they see what’s left on my cousin’s face they came to stop me. But the beast inside of me is raging one person wasn’t enough to stop my wrath, I kept my fist tight and keep throwing jab. It took three people to stop me when they did I nearly faint of all the blood. It’s like a demon possessed me in the fight blocking my emotion. When I look back of what I had done, part of me felt regrets, part of me felt tired, but part of me felt satisfied with the result. He was lying on the ground with blood all over his face, mainly from his broken nose. Even though I am weak but when I go on a rampage, I can surpass anything even those ten time stronger than me. Strength comes from the will to continue fighting even all seem lost, it is the courage to face your fear that create your inner strength.
In my past, difficulties led me to one great mystery of my life “purpose”. Only then that I have the guts to tell everyone my name “I am Seyha”. One obstacle in my life made me realize I had potential beyond normal. It was when I enter Khmer primary school in my late 6 years old. When I realize how far behind I was in my studies, I sunk like a rock thrown deep into the ocean. I was always tailing of others until my grandfather enlightens me with beautiful word of motivation. I studied day and night and tried to overcome any lack of understanding of the material. I even created a more efficient way to study. Unlike my older cousin who was tempting to play the game and I do all his work include mine as well, this gives me the opportunity to understand even further about the lesson in school. Even if I was not the best student in the class, but I studied so hard and surpass everyone one by one.
“If miracle happens, it only happens once, then what are they called the second time?” pointed out Ichigo Kurosaki. The studying and training paid off, and in the fourth grade, I received a huge opportunity. As teacher Darath and other teachers from the Liger Leadership academy walked in, I saw a gleam of light shining on him, he was like a god who comes to give me a push toward a successful future. When he and other teachers walked in, the first thing he said was, “Any of you who are 10 or younger please come up to me as I explain everyone what are we here for.” When I heard his words my thought was clear, let’s go up and follow him because he looked like a bright guy. But I found myself unable to move because of the hesitation that I bear, what if they want to kidnap children? Or what if they want my kidney? After he explained everything, I feel a little more comfortable and relax, that is when I first approached him. First he led everyone of us to read the Khmer alphabets and vowels, only five of my classmates got pass all the alphabets and vowels. Then there are tests on different subjects (math, literacy, science, and social study), I was the first to finish the tests, so Navin, staff of Liger Leadership Academy, interviewed me about my past and present life. Even though I was rushing and did not answer every questions, I was still the highest scorer of all the testers. That is the first miracle that happen to me is the opportunity to get to me to somewhere and I can speed up my life’s studies. After everyone finished, Liger announced that they will tell the school director when the second test held and the 4 students that passed the test will take the test on that day. Two days passed and Liger returned to the school but the I was not there. I was at home helping my uncle to fix the electrical system in the household. It was really a sudden shock to find a van stopped in front of my uncle’s house. The first person comes to sight was my three best friend walked out of the van guiding Mary (the academy’s social worker) into my house. I was really surprised to see their love and emotion for me.
Those divine words kept me fight to find the meaning of my life. There are many struggles that prevented me from reach my dream but those words made my will stronger than anything I could account for. Everyday I am living life with only one purpose to find the meaning of life lie beyond my reach and fight through all those difficulties that is preventing me. As long as I have my friend next to me, I have all the support I need to goes through hard work and difficulties. Life is not easy as people say, but if you think about it an easy life is a lame story to tell, everyone should find their place in an adventure to live a good life.