In the literacy class, we learned how to write our own narrative essay. Narrative essay included personal anecdote and addressed our own coming of age experienced. My essay was a kid who got a scholarship to learn in the Phnom Penh, city. This kid left his family and the other important people in his life just to get a standard education. This life-changing moment transferred the ability to the kid to become the reality of who he actually is.
Name: Rithy Hong
Date Thursday, August 31, 2017
Title: Coming of Age
Loneliness Leads to Success
The affable house that I used to live and the sweet sounds that I used to hear vanished almost instantaneously. My life became secretly lonely when I moved to a new mysterious place. I lived without my lovely parents, my friendly friends, and the other important people in my life. Until I came to Liger, I realized, this life changing-movement had changed my whole life to become the reality of who I am. Why do I need to come to the Liger Leader Academy school?
After all, when I was nine years old, in the fourth grade, I was one of the smartest students in the class. It was a really tough situation for me to become one of the smartest kids because of family’s condition. Even though I did not have enough money for supplies or snacks, I had many supportive friends. One day I was given a test and I was the only student that passed. I was given the scholarship to attend a new school, the Liger Leadership Academy. The day had come, I am super ready for my departure and delighted to see tall buildings in the beautiful, Phnom Penh, city. But then, my tears started to drop when the wheels of the bus starting to move. My mom asked, “Are you ok?” I replied,‘’I’m super fine mom!’’. Later on, I am anxious to tell my mom about my decision to return back to my hometown because of homesick. Suddenly, I reminded myself of a quote that my grandma told me, “You did not know where you was going until you got there.” This quote inspired me to resume rowing on my journey and be who I am today. Moreover, when I first arrived the school, I saw students entering the gate with smiling and showing enthusiastic. I was cheerful to be a part of the Liger Leadership Academy school.
A few days later, the school started functioning, and it was inconvenient for this kid to live with strangers. I cried a lot, I started making the connection with strangers and I found a friend, he gave me warm and confident. Moreover, I noticed that my life required more friends so I could live with efficiency. Furthermore, I assembled plenty of friends and they were friendly and smart kids. Next, new friends are new memories, new experiences, and a brand new delighted life. This is the biggest lesson that I had learned in my life is to make friends. Of course, if I had not made any friends, my life will be different, and lonely will be there waiting for me to ends my destination.
As we are getting older our mind will change and it is natural. Now I am 15 years old, of course, my body is getting more matured, but my face still looks young and handsome. I had lived at the Liger Leadership Academy, school for six years, and there are so many obstacles that I had overcome and been who I am today.
Moreover, teenage life will never want to be a loser, we need win instead of losing. I used to have a lot of complexity with my close friends because of having different ideas and different mindsets. We did not talk to each other for months until one day I decided to say the hardest word “sorry” to him. I asked, ”Can we befriend again?” He replied, “Emm, okay,” we are friend again. My reaction when he said the word “Ok” was indescribable.
Afterward, I am really proud and thankful to myself for not choosing the wrong decision even though I am a loser. There were so many multiplexes that I had faced as I’m getting older. This is another big lesson that I had learned as a teenager is, “To be a loser, but we win ourself”. This means, as we are getting more mature, we want to win, but sometimes we have to forgive ourself because we want friends instead of winning as an individual person.
It seems to be lonely if a mature person travels or walk as an individual. We need to take actions and forgive each other to construct a stronger foundation of friendship. Friends are my family members because they give me all of the life lessons, warm especially having a wonderful life together.
I am so proud and extremely excited to take this enormous opportunity to come to the Liger Leadership Academy because I used advanced technology, received an international standard of education, and cooked my own delicious food.
