Life, Best and Worst Thing That Has Happened
One of the most significant turning points in my life was the decision to leave the South Side and move to the West Side with my grandma. At the time I was living with my parents, five brothers, and one sister, there was little to no room for all of us, and the house was always loud. I felt like I was stuck and couldn’t seem to make any progress toward my goals. It was frustrating and overwhelming and left me feeling trapped and helpless.
I knew that if I wanted to make a change, I had to do something drastic and shake up my routine. So I decided to move out of my mom’s basement and into my grandma’s house. It was a big decision that came with a lot, but I knew that I needed to take a chance. Within two weeks, I packed up my things and started a new chapter in my life. From the moment I arrived, I felt a sense of peace and belonging that I had never experienced before.
The West Side
The west side was a different world from what I was used to, and I loved every moment of it. I didn’t know this part of Chicago so a lot of things were new to me. But once I got into my new room, for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had space to breathe and think. Living with my grandma gave me the space and time to focus on my goals. I was able to enroll in a new high school and start a new job that I loved. I also had the opportunity to meet new people and build lasting relationships that I cherish to this day. But it wasn’t always easy.
Moving to a new place is never simple, and I had to navigate some challenging moments along the way. There were times when I felt lonely and overwhelmed, and I had to learn how to rely on my own strength and resilience to get through the tough times. In the end, though, it was all worth it. Moving to the West Side was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without taking that leap of faith. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most significant changes in life come from taking a risk and embracing the unknown.
Broken Arm
On the other hand, one of the worst experiences of my life was when I broke my arm. I was only eleven years old, and my family and I were living in a small apartment on Chicago’s South Side.
It was a nice time in my life, with no responsibilities just pure fun, and I spent most of my days playing outside with my three brothers. One day, while running around trying to catch bugs, I tripped over something and fell hard onto the curb. At first, I didn’t feel any pain, but then I felt a sharp stinging sensation shoot through my arm. I glanced to the right and saw that my arm was bent in the opposite direction.
Motherly Love
I quickly panicked and started to scream for my mom. My brothers helped me inside, and my mom rushed over to see what happened. She was furious with my brothers for not keeping a closer eye on me, but then she quickly switched into caretaker mode and carried me to the car. We rushed to the hospital, and I was quickly seen by a doctor who took x-rays and determined that my arm was dislocated. I needed a cast to set it back in place, and I wore it for four long weeks.
Those weeks were some of the most frustrating and painful weeks of my life. I could only use one arm, and I had to rely on my family to do everything for me. It was a humbling experience, but it also made me grateful for the people in my life who were willing to help me through the tough times.
Looking back on those two experiences, I realize that life is full of ups and downs. Sometimes we have to take risks and make big changes to get where we want to be, and sometimes we have to rely on the kindness and support of others when in tough situations.
Written By Cinque Muhammad
Featured Image Courtesy of John W. Iwanski Flickr Page — Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Ken Mattison Flickr Page — Creative Commons License
