Significant Event

Significant Event

It was another afternoon after a long day of school. I was mentally exhausted from the dreadful hours spent trying to stay awake during day and not mention it was one of the hottest days of the summer with temperature rising over 90 degrees. I was dying to get home to sleep off my childhood pains from school and relax for a while. And even then, going home wasn't the best way to relax because of the constant drama that was stirred up from my parents marital problems. All I needed to to do was get on the bus and be on my way.

          As I, get the bus, I find the first empty spot and begin to doze off. This way I didn't have to experience the lengthiness of the ride home and it also helped me wind down after a long day in a teenage prison. And before I even knew it I was already home. I was pleased to be awakened to sight of my house a few feet from where the bus dropped us off. I snatch up my bags, make a speedy exit, and begin my walk home. Today I was in more of a rush than usual. Little did I know, I was rushing into an unwelcoming surprise at home.

I see my sister come out side with a worried look on her face and I begin thinking what now. It seemed my sister was always stressing about the silliest things. But as she frantically waved me in, it made questioned what was really going on. She whispers to me “dad is in there freaking out!” And I say “about what?” And she says “he caught mom talking to somebody!” Immediately my heart began race and my teeth clenched bracing for the impact that I was about to face when I walked through the doors.

When I finally walked in, I see my dad scrambling around in old boxes and through papers. I turn to my mom and ask “is it true?” and she nods her head yes. At that moment I didn’t feel angry or disappointed. I just understood. I understood because my mom had been pushed to this point in her life. For years, I remember my mother trying to mend the wounds of our family. She constantly was forgiving my father, making every effort to start fresh from a history of infidelity and unfaithfulness. And though her acting as did didn’t help at all, I still understood.

From that day on, my life was never the same. I constant was looking out for my mother. My father was very angry and was always looking for a way to hurt my mother. Emotionally, mentally and even physically. He became very depressed and begin using drugs. My father and I never really had the best relationship but to see him this low really hurt. I was put in a very weird spot where I had to look out for him yet fight him at the same time if he tried to hurt my mother.

My life had spiraled so out of control, I didn’t think it could get an worse. I thought my family and I had hit rock bottom but I was completely wrong. I remember sitting down watching a basketball game with my mother, a time which seemed like we could finally relax. I hear my dad calling for my mom to come up into their room. Reluctantly my mom goes up to keep him calm and rational. A few moments later after she goes up I hear a lot of commotion going on up stairs. I bolt up stairs to my parent’s room and hear my mom screaming. I tried opening the door only to discover out it was locked. I immediately sprung into action and kicked open the door. I was met with my father chasing my mother with a knife trying to do who knows what. My mother sprinted out of the room while my father pursued. As soon as my mother was out of the room I jumped in front of my father ready to defend her from any harm. I didn’t even care if he had a knife. I was going to do whatever it took to keep my mother safe. And before you knew it, my father snapped out of it denying what had just taken place. That was truly the turning point in my life.

It felt like the next day my mother, my sister, and I were moving out into our new apartment. We quickly established a new life across town trying to forget our past life. Eventually things started to cool down and during this period I was able to evaluate myself like never before. Around this time I had given all my problems to the only person I knew could deal with them and that was God. He quickly became the focus of my life and he also became the reason why I began to question so many things.

For the longest time I wondered why I went through the things that I lived through. I couldn’t understand why my mother and sister received so much hurt. And I as continued to learn about God, I learned that he ALLOWED his son Jesus to be murdered and resurrected for the sins of man so all that believed in this could receive life. Right then everything became clear to me. I knew that though had gone through those horrible things, I would be sharing those experiences with someone who went through similar things and how I overcame them. I knew that MY journey in life wasn’t about me. It was about helping others in need. Whether or not they had been through the same experiences as me.     

Marriage

I thought that this article was very interesting. It brought out some very valid and strong points. I do believe that in today’s society marriage does not have the same essence as it used to 30 years ago. In this generation, marriages are fixed with temporary emotions and unseen motives. This has resulted into many unsuccessful relationships and divorces today.

 I didn't agree with that marriage is “dying in America”. Though we see a higher rate in couples cohabiting, marriage is still very much alive. I think if anything people tend get married, divorce if they aren't happy and then remarry later again. I think the main thing that has died is the importance of marriage. People just see marriage as something you when you reach a certain point in a relationship. And though this can be true, there is much more to it. You have to being willing to stay with that one person through thick and thin. I just feel like most people don’t understand that nowadays.

                I definitely believe that marriage is part of the social structure. I think it has been tweaked though. People tend get married out insecurities. They feel the need, for whatever reason, to rush and not truly understand the decision they are making. In return, couples began to break quick and soon work their way to a divorce. Society has made it ok for couples to get divorced. Nowadays you can meet more people who have married more than two or three times. I think marriage should remain a part of the social structure. I think there are couples who seem to understand what they are getting into when saying “I do”. Marriages are important not just for the couples for children as well. A marriage can be beneficial in a child’s upbringing. Kids who have both parents in their life tend to be more successful. When a child doesn't have both parents in their life or has to be moved around a lot to see both parents, this creates a very unstable environment and lifestyle for a child. They are bound to live an unstable life as a result because the reality is, is that that is all they know.

I think that Rivera’s Ideas were very strong and proven. See use a lot of facts to back her ideas. They were very well developed and expressed. She makes it very hard to argue against the reality of marriages into today’s society. In my opinion, I think her Idea on temporary marriages was good. I agree completely with her Idea. I think a temporary marriage license is silly. It only supports the idea that divorce is a good thing. If temporary licenses for marriage were issued out, many couple can just drop the marriage and be done with each other. In reality that’s not the way it works. When you are married and decided to get divorce, it can be a lengthy and painful process. If temporary marriage licenses are issued out then, that reality is completely hidden. 

My Name

My first name, Blair, originated from a Scottish and English origin. It means plain or battlefield which is kind of funny considering I'm in the military. My first name means everything to me. My name has always seemed to be trademark in my life. People always make my name into something funky and its quite entertaining. I would never change my first name. Change my name would be like changing everything about me. I feel like I would have to reestablish who I am. For me my name doesn't really inform me about my heritage but I feel its meaning is relevant to the type of person I am in some senses.

My middle name, Kendall, is of and English origin and means Kent River Valley. Kent River Valley is a place located in the United Kingdom. My middle name to me really isn't that significant. When I was younger, I remember forgetting how to spell my middle name at times. I could never remember if it had one or two "L's". I never really like my middle name but I wouldn't change it though because its a part of who I am. I really enjoy being who I am. With or without the flaws because we all have them. As far as my heritage, I didn't find anything that links my name to my roots or ancestors.

For my last name I didn't find anything through research about it origin or meaning. However my girlfriend has said that in Spanish my name means healing. I'm not sure if the spelling is the same but the pronunciation. As far as where it originated from, I believe that the name comes from Africa. I say this because I get my last name from my father who is from Africa. My last name means a lot to me. It seems everybody on my father's side with this last name has been very hard working. I too have a lot of drive and determination to accomplish the goals I have set in my life. My last name meant even more to me when I found out that it meant healing. I feel like there have been many times where I have helped people around who were hurting or going through pain. I would never change my last name. I feel like it sums up kind of who I am in one word. For me, my last name does give me a clue about my heritage. I feel like in the past, Africans, and African-Americans have worked very hard to get to where they have today. Without their sacrifice and dedication, I wouldn't be here today. I feel they have paved a way not just for me but for many different nationalities to receive fair and equal treatment and rights in this country.

I feel my full name really describes who I am. Well maybe not so much of my middle name but I couldn't picture myself without it. I feel like I have become the characteristics of my name without intention. That for me is no coincidence and it makes me proud to know I'm being exactly who I need to be.  

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

Hi everyone,

My name is Blair Sannoh. I am 19 years old and was born in Mobile, Alabama. When I was about six years old, I moved to northern Virginia and lived there for 12 years before moving to California. Growing up, I could say I had everything I needed and more. I had the latest electronics, the most expensive clothes, and my family lived in one of the most expensive neighborhoods the city had to offer. Seems nice huh? Though my family and I lived with a shiny exterior that was pleasing to the eye, the corruption on the interior was nothing more than hell itself. My mother, my sister, and I continuously suffered from infidelity, abuse, and instability from a man who was known for his honor and faithfulness. A man that portrayed a saint but was filled with wickedness. That man is my father. He took us through experiences that would break most emotionally and mentally. And eventually we did break. Not just emotionally or mentally though. He broke the unity that hung by a thread for so many years. My parents eventually got a divorce and went their separate ways. The divorce left my entire family in shambles. As for me, it left me filled with a hateful anger and scars as a constant reminder of everything I didn't want to be to be in this life. But as I went on with my life, I found someone that gives an incredible strength, peace, and love. 

Most of you might be wondering, "who is this person that he's talking about?". Well let me tell you, this person is Jesus. Before I gave my life to Jesus, I was always angry and I couldn't seem to fully recover from the internal pain I had suffered from for so long. Now that I have him in my life, I can say I live in peace from my past every day. And ever since I decided to give my life to Jesus, my life has progressed like never before. I currently serve in an active duty status with the United States Navy and I am attending my second semester of college. Though I have taken on new challenges in life, I still to this day put Jesus first in all I do. Serving him before I serve this country or myself.

In the near future, I hope to still be in school working towards an associate’s degree. I also would like to still be in the navy serving the country I love. Apart from my career, I see myself traveling all around the world and giving back to those who are less fortunate. I think it is very important to give back to those in need. I know that there are others in this world that have been through worse than what I have and I understand what it means to have that extra support and help.