What does not kill you makes stronger
“What does not kill you makes stronger”. I have always thought that I understand this proverb. However, I have discovered this semester that I did not. I am an international student from Burkina Faso studying at the University of Houston. I came to Texas in 2010 to get my Bachelor’s degree in Finance. French being my first language, I also wanted to be fluent in English. So I arrived in Houston in Fall 2010 very excited to realize my dream and have new experiences. From meeting nice people to feeling rejected, and from looking for a job to celebrating my first salary, I have experienced many situations. I have never let any of my trials discouraged me. On the contrary, whenever it was hard, I felt the desire to go further. I saw my trials as a wall that stood between me and my dream and all I wanted was to tear it down to reach my dream. This semester I am going through a situation which is quite different from the ones I have experienced since I arrived in Texas. Indeed, I feel like things are falling apart because I will not be able to attend school. My family which has been supporting me since I have been here is not able to do so anymore. Their financial issues keep them from paying for my tuition and being an international student, there is no job I can work to pay more than $10,000. My school administration did their best to help me, but they could not secure the funds I needed. So here I am, spending the second day of school at home. I do not know who to turn to, to get some help and I am not desperate, but I feel helpless. What made me realize that “What does not kill you makes you stronger” is when I spent the first day of class, January 13, 2014 at home. I was not in class like I was supposed to because I could not enroll for classes. I was raised to believe that education can take me anywhere and seeing myself at home made me think a lot. I felt frustrated, sad, and numb at a certain point. Later on, I realized that although I had all those feelings, I was still alive and I even felt stronger. Indeed, instead of lamenting, I found the strength in myself to do what I can to pay for my education, and that is why I am writing today to request some assistance. I do not have any family here in the US to help me, but I know there are some people who are kind enough to help people they do not know, especially a student who has always been in the Dean’s list and who is supposed to graduate in December 2014. The last day to enroll for classes is January 21, 2014 and I believe that a miracle can happen. To all the people who think that their trials will break them, believe that it will only break you if you allow them to do so. You are the boss of your life and you need to take charge and remain stronger to tear down the wall and reach your dream. Also, like my mother told me lately, God or Nature or the Cosmic, or whatever you call it, never sends us more than we can handle. So if you are going through a hard time, know that you have the strength you need to overcome it.
PEACE PROFOUND