Overcoming the adversities of CHD-3

This past weekend was a filled with excitement! I earned a special trip to Disney with my dad, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Report cards were released on Thursday, accompanied by the inevitable anxiety of Teacher/Parent Conferences. I had mixed feelings about starting Freshman year, believing it might just be the toughest transition I’ve faced so far.

The first nine weeks of high school were filled with a lot of homework, even though my teachers don’t really assign it like you might expect. If we don’t finish our classwork, it automatically becomes homework. For someone like me, who has a hard time concentrating, this means quite a bit of extra work.

My mom sometimes wondered if I belonged in my classes, which added to the stress. The report card loomed large in my thoughts, but during conferences, my parents met with all my teachers. To my relief, they had only positive things to say. They mentioned how hard I work and reassured my parents that I was exactly where I needed to be.

Reflecting on how far I’ve come, it’s easy to forget where my journey began. I attended Pre-K in New Jersey, fully enrolled so I could get the help I needed for my speech. During that time, my mom was deployed to Afghanistan, and I lived with my grandparents. They played an important role in my early development, taking me to my physical and occupational therapy sessions.

Moreover, they found a way to help me improve my coordination and balance by enrolling me in gymnastics. To my surprise, I thrived! The practice helped my muscle tone while building my confidence. When the school year ended, I returned home, excited to see my mom again. The experiences in Pre-K not only improved my speech but also prepared me for Kindergarten.

Thinking about my journey from then to now fills me with hope. Each step I took—through therapy, gymnastics, and supportive family, it led me to believe in myself. As I continue navigating the challenges of high school, I remind myself of the resilience I developed over the years. It’s comforting to know that I am capable of overcoming my struggles, just as I have in the past.

I’m eager to share more of my story as I make my way through high school. How have your early challenges shaped your present experiences?