Fears

By Brenda P.

Without a doubt, we encounter various challenges in life. While some of us are able to solve our problems, others fail and are unable to carry on with their work. 

Karent Rivera, sixteen year old senior who goes to Yerba Buena High School talks about how she would let her fears get in the way throughout her whole life. 

Rivera first moved to the states at a young age, making an impact on her since she was going to develop a new lifestyle and learn different things. At first she feared that she would be seen differently, having to learn and speak a new language. “I was scared of not knowing how to speak English and fear that people would constantly make fun of me for it” She states. 

Rivera felt she didn’t belong, she spent a lot of time staying up late at night trying to develop and learn the language remembering only the basics and having to translate everything from english to spanish. Having that constant fear that she was going to be made fun of, holding  her back from being herself and trying to develop a new lifestyle. 

Although Rivera felt like an outsider, she has this pride and hope to not ever give up on herself creating a stronger bond with her mentality. “There can always be another way even if it can be really drowning” Rivera states. 

Having to struggle with obtaining a new lifestyle and learning a new language was a challenging experience for Rivera, but it created a new meaningful hobby for her to help her cope and give her more strength into not losing hope in herself which was writing. 

Writing for Rivera created a more vulnerable way for her to express herself more and write what she felt whenever she needed. “This was something that helped me through a lot, I wasn’t as comfortable talking about my feelings or how I felt so writing was something that helped get me through everything” Rivera stated. 

Being able to write her thoughts motivated her to keep going for herself. Not everyone can be comfortable with sharing what they feel to somebody, simply writing her feelings was a way to not give up on herself. 

“I simply want to continue growing and be better for myself emotionally, I feel the need to never give up. There are solutions for everything” Rivera states. 

Rivera has gone through things emotionally that have changed the way she felt and thought about herself yet not giving up on anything she still found hope and solutions to help her continue forward and create a better version of herself. Many people tend to lose that strength but for Rivera she has built herself up more and more and never losing hope, she never gave up.