Mason A., Brookville Intermediate School
Keep Moving Forward
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “If you can't fly then run. If you can't run then walk. If you can't walk then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” I believe this is true because if I didn’t keep moving forward I would not be where I am today.
To move forward, you can’t look back at the past and say “I should have done this.” It's a waste of precious time you will never get back. To keep looking toward the future, you need to set some goals. By the time I graduate high school I want to become valedictorian, get a scholarship to any college of my choice, and be remembered for my resilience and confidence throughout my high school years. I want my family by my side and I know I will have them as a support system throughout these unforgettable years.
Looking to my past, I have had many challenges that I am proud I was able to get through. My main roadblock was when my parents separated. I was eight and it was about 15 days before Christmas. I was so lost, I had no idea what I was going to do. I went to counseling and I had the support of my family, but I felt like something was missing. My biological dad stuck around for a little while after the separation, but soon he just disappeared. We didn’t hear from him for two years and then he showed up wanting custody back. There was one person who stuck with me through thick and thin. This was my mom, she is and has been there for me always. I never really followed my goal of not looking back because I thought there was something I could have done during my parents’ divorce. In the next few years, I have a plan to survive high school. I know there will be times when I will want to quit and not keep moving forward but I know I will have to push forward. First, I will make sure to maintain relationships. I will not push people away and focus just on academics. Second, I will focus on my mental health. I will make sure I don’t get too anxious or overwhelmed. Lastly, I will focus on my family. I want to cherish the moments I get with my family because I never know when I will lose them. Dottie Yeck said doing good plus being good equals having fun and being happy. She has inspired me to look for every perk of life.
Looking back at Dr. King’s idea about moving forward, I will relate this to my life and my future. I will take into account the thought of moving forward and will fulfill my plan to get through high school. I will survive high school.
