This I Believe

FINAL:

I never used to believe that a person can change, but life had taught me differently. When you find yourself hitting rock bottom, that’s when you realise you need to turn it around.

I came from a traditional family with a conservative background to a foreign country where the culture is very different. When I first moved abroad at the age of 17, it was a hard time for me trying to adapt to the new environment. Everything was brand new; the language, the culture, the surroundings, the people… All the years I spent in my home country had shaped my personality and my point of view in life. I was young and I didn’t know any better. I was lazy, ignorant, arrogant, selfish, careless, rebellious… I didn’t care about anyone or anything, nor have I ever tried to change. It felt like I had given up on life.

I dropped out of my first year at university. At the age of 19, I met someone who had eventually become an important part of my life. He was a good person, perhaps too good for me. We had a good few years together before he realised who I really was. He left, and I was the one that pushed him away.

“You don’t realise what you have until it’s gone”, we all heard this saying before but how many of us actually appreciate what we currently have? Greed is a part of human nature, and I am just a normal human being.

After he left, I was devastated. I fell deeper into the hole than I was in before. My friends and family had all given up on me. I lost my job, I was addicted to drinking and started using drugs. I was hoping to forget about everything. I went out every night, desperately trying to find him or someone else like him. Those were the darkest moments of my life that I could never forget.

It took me several years to finally get over it. During this time, I went travelling and met other people. I attended self-help groups. I quit drinking and taking drugs. I tried to live a healthy life with a healthy diet. I read more, I hung out at museums and galleries instead of bars and clubs like I used to. I tried to enjoy life and have a positive attitude. I learned to be modest, to be thankful, to respect others, to make the most of worst situations and to be appreciative of everything.

It took me a while to realise what I want: to be successful, and to live a happy life. Throughout the years, I have developed an interest in science in which I never had before. I’m now a full-time student, studying to become an Environmentalist.

Now, I truly believe in changes. I believe anyone can make a difference and it is never too late to do so. Or, as someone once said, “When there’s a will, there’s a way”.

(500 words)

SECOND DRAFT:

I never used to believe that a person can change, but life had taught me differently. When you find yourself hitting rock bottom, that’s when you realised you need to turn it around.

I came from a traditional family with a conservative background at a foreign country where the culture is very different. When I first moved abroad at the age of 17, it was a hard time for me trying to adapt to the new environment. Everything was brand new; the language, the culture, the surroundings, the people… All the years I spent in my home country had shaped my personality and my point of view in life. I was young and I didn’t know any better. I was lazy, ignorant, arrogant, selfish, careless, rebellious… I didn’t care about anyone or anything, nor have I ever tried to change. It felt like I had given up on life.

I dropped out at my first year of university. At the age of 19, I met someone who had eventually become an important part of my life. He was a good person, perhaps too good for me. We had a good few years together before he realised who I really was. He left, and I was the one that pushed him away.

“You don’t realise what you have until it’s gone”, we all heard this saying before, but how many of us actually appreciate what we currently have? Greed is a part of human nature, and I am just a normal human being.

After he left, I was devastated. I fell deeper into the hole where I was in before. My friends and family had all given up on me. I lost my job, I was addicted to drinking and started using drugs. I was hoping to forget about everything. I went out every night, desperately trying to find him or someone else like him. Those were the darkest moments of my life that I could never forget.

It took me several years to finally get over it. During this time, I went travelling and met other people. I attended self-help groups. I quit drinking and taking drugs. I tried to live a healthy life with a healthy diet. I read more, I hung out at museums and galleries instead of bars and clubs like I used to. I tried to enjoy life and have a positive attitude. I learned to be modest, to be thankful, to respect others, to make the most of worst situations and to be appreciative of everything.

It took me a while to realise what I want: to be successful, and to live a happy life. Throughout the years, I have developed an interest in science in which I never had before. I’m now a full-time student, studying to become an Environmentalist.

Now, I truly believe in changes. I believe anyone can make a difference and it is never too late to do so. Or, as someone once said, “When there’s a will, there’s a way”.

(500 words)

FIRST DRAFT:

I came from a traditional family with a conservative background at a foreign country where the culture is very different. When I first moved abroad at the age of 17, it was a hard time for me trying to adapt to the new environment. Everything was brand new; the language, the culture, the surroundings, the people… All the years I spent in my home country has shaped my personality and my point of view in life. I was young and I didn’t know any better. I was lazy, ignorant, arrogant, selfish, careless, rebellious… I didn’t care about anyone or anything, nor have I ever tried to change. It felt like I had given up on life.

I dropped out at my first year of university. At the age of 19, I met someone who has eventually became an important part of my life. He was a good person, perhaps too good for me. We had a good few years together before he realised who I really was. He left, and I was the one that pushed him away.

“You don’t realise what you have until it’s gone”, we all heard this saying before but how many of us actually appreciate what we currently have? Greedy is a part of human nature, and I am just a normal human being.

After he left, I was devastated. I fell deeper into the hole that I was in before. My friends and family had all given up on me. I lost my job, I was addicted to drinking and started using drugs. I was hoping to forget about everything. I went out every night, desperately trying to find him or someone else like him. Those were the darkest moments of my life that I could never forget.

It took me several years to finally get over it. During this time, I went travelling and met other people. I attended self-help groups. I quit drinking and taking drugs. I tried to live a healthy life with a healthy diet. I read more, I hang out at museums and galleries instead of bars and clubs like I used to. I tried to enjoy life and keep a positive attitude. I learned to be modest, to be thankful, to respect others, to make the most of worst situations and to be appreciative of everything.

It took me a while to realise what I want: to be successful, and to live a happy life. Throughout the years, I have developed an interest in science in which I never have before. I’m now a full-time student, studying to become an Environmentalist.

I never used to believe that a person can change, but life has taught me differently. When you find yourself hitting rock bottom, that’s when you realised you need to turn it around. Now, I truly believe in changes. I believe anyone can make a difference and it is never too late to do so. Or, as someone once said, “When there’s a will, there’s a way”.

(498 words)