How I Stay Strong | Teen Ink

How I Stay Strong MAG

By Anonymous

     Each day in my life is like no other, yet each is the same. My dad always finds something for me to do for him and then he finds some way I have done it wrong. He assumes I live to do his bidding and to obey him without question.

One day, I came home from track tired and stressed with hours of homework ahead, as well as my daily chores. I still had hopes of getting to bed at a decent hour, but I was very wrong.

In the middle of writing my essay, I fell asleep. I was suddenly roused by the sound of loud swearing. Instantly I was completely awake, with only one thought, Is my sister okay? I know my dad, and was off the couch in a flash, following the sound of the ruckus. Terrified, I ran to my sister’s room, getting even more worried. Then she found me as she scurried up the staircase.

My sister and I entered my father’s bedroom. We were both confused as to why he was so upset. He assumed I had taken apart his computer because the printer wasn’t working and everything was messed up.

Why would someone freak out about this? Because he had planned on writing a draft and typing his final copy the hour before his class. It is not my fault he waited until the last minute, but I told him I would try to help fix it. That’s when he lost it. He clutched my homework in his right hand, and in no time, it was in a million pieces. He told me he didn’t want me to succeed in life and basically tore me to shreds psychologically. He thought that if he wasn’t going to be able to turn in his assignments, why should I?

Then he went back to saying how he wanted me out of his life and that I should have no self-esteem. I’d taken about all the abuse I could for one night, so I went to my room, just wanting to be alone. As I ran, my father threw the newly smashed and stomped-on keyboard, computer desk, and printer at my back so he could continue making himself feel better by hurting me. I hid under my blankets, but the abuse continued all night. Unremitting fists pummeled me through my blanket; just begging for it to end became annoying to him.

He didn’t go to class after all because of his incomplete assignment. All I could think was, How can he live with himself? Then, I heard his footsteps returning. He thought it would be funny to rip up the rest of my homework and throw the pieces all over me while I slept. He had no idea I was still awake. I spent the night in my room, hungry and depressed, wondering if I could keep going through this roller coaster of emotions every day, of being mistreated and abused with the possibility of long-term damage. But then it came to me - why should I let him put my life in disarray because he messed up his own? Maybe putting the blame on me made him feel better, but I realized I could still succeed and overcome his mistreatment. I will never let anyone bring me down or try to take away my hope and confidence.

You should know that it was not easy for me to write this. In fact, you would probably think that I would rather keep it to myself. Although I do not want the world to know about my home life, I’d like others to realize that because of it, there are many tragic mistakes I could have made. There is only one thing that has kept me here - all my friends.

When Helen Keller wrote “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence,” I believe she meant that you need to always think positive and you will do great things. Without hope and confidence in yourself, as well as others, you will only be able to succeed to the level you long to and not the greatness you’re meant to attain. I’m the person I am today because of my friends, and if I didn’t have them I would be missing the qualities that, as Helen Keller explains, are ever so important.



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This article has 14 comments.


on Jan. 10 2014 at 2:28 am
youareworthlife_ BRONZE, Glenwood, Illinois
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
When you fall down, rise back up and don't give up this fight because you are worth life"

Very Powerful. Very good.

on May. 9 2013 at 8:18 pm
Rebel21 PLATINUM, St. Catharines, Other
20 articles 0 photos 73 comments

Favorite Quote:
Where there is desire, there is gonna be a flame,
Where there is a flame someone's bound to get burned.
Just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die,
You've got to get up and try.

You are very inspiring. I like the saying, it's not about what life throws at you, it's about how you handle it and you are one of the rare people who perseveres through a horrible condition. It's amazing how you still find the light at the end of the tunnel and don't give up, like your dad says you should. Thank you

zee11 said...
on Nov. 18 2011 at 4:47 am
zee11, Kandy, Other
0 articles 0 photos 16 comments
wow!this is really inspiring...keeping our head up at all times is very important.....you are right for thinking that no one can bring you down...keep it up  :)

on Jan. 23 2011 at 3:47 pm
thirdeyeblind34 BRONZE, Champaign, Illinois
3 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream, or are you really as beautiful as you seem?

I know you don't need me to tell you this, but this really was amazing.  I believe that you have what it takes to inspire lots of people.  Just keep up with what you're doing and seriously, your dad needs to stop.  Alert somebody immediately.

on Jan. 23 2011 at 9:35 am
missJaneAusten BRONZE, Toronto, Other
3 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Never take life too sriously. You don't make it out alive anyway"

This is amzing writing. Truly inspirational. Always keep your chin up beacuse even in the worst of events, optimism is what will keep you living :)

on Jan. 1 2011 at 10:56 am
Equus_Borealis89 BRONZE, Seabrook, Texas
2 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"They can kill me, but they can't kill my ideas." -Andrew Mwenda-journalist in Africa

wow. this truly is inspirational. great job!!! so true. stay optimistic and believe in yourself, and you WILL accomplish your dreams.

on Sep. 13 2010 at 9:31 pm
Monica@Roman SILVER, New Haven, Connecticut
8 articles 0 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
"This too shall pass"

i love it! its so raw and very detailed. im glad you got through this hard time and still be a positive person, keep it up! :)

agreed said...
on May. 4 2010 at 8:21 am
 greatly written, You are a great person for going through that and being able to keep a positive additude.

on Apr. 12 2010 at 5:13 pm
magic-esi PLATINUM, Hyde Park, New York
27 articles 0 photos 231 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one."
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light."

This was not fun to read, at all, of course, but it was extremely inspiring to see that after all of this abuse, you still have hope. This article is also written amazingly, especially seeing that it is very hard to write about painful events. You should continue writing and inspire other people who have to live through this kind of life. 

crazy123 GOLD said...
on Jan. 31 2010 at 6:18 pm
crazy123 GOLD, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
11 articles 0 photos 22 comments

Favorite Quote:
when life gives you lemons.. make applejuice to avoid the situation!

That was amazing! I really hope you keep writing and don't let your dad get in the way of your dreams

on Nov. 9 2009 at 12:46 pm
KaraTaylor DIAMOND, Neptune, New Jersey
81 articles 17 photos 84 comments

Favorite Quote:
"life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments"

"experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes."

"be as you wish to seem."

"it's better to be hated for what you are, than to be loved for what you are not."

sounds like my father...

on Sep. 26 2009 at 6:49 pm
KiNABABE SILVER, Lakewood, New Jersey
7 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"WHATS MEANT T0 BE WiLL ALWAYS FiND iTS WAY"

Excellent work.

never let anymore stop you from achieving true happiness and success; keep your head up, people would kill to see you fall.

on May. 28 2009 at 12:11 am
pinksage33 BRONZE, Woodstock, New York
4 articles 1 photo 211 comments
Loved it!!!

on Apr. 27 2009 at 1:08 pm
brokenbutterfly SILVER, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
6 articles 1 photo 12 comments
wow very well written

You are a true hero for living through that I don't know if i would be able to do it.

I loved how you quoted Helen Keller to.