Alaura Armstrong
Professor Williams
English 111
October 20, 2020
5-year-old Alaura 16-year-oldAlaura
” childhood is a short season” (Helen hay) Although you have 18 years of being considered a
youth you will feel the days of childhood will fly by. At the age of 16, you will not feel as
though you have any childhood left though you still have two years. Most of the time people pay
no mind to youths' opinions and think they dot know what the real world brings. Although that
child would maybe grow up to lead the world. People choose to ignore youth as if the future does
not depend on them When as a child you choose to see the good in the world and avoid the bad.
You choose to make the best out of things, enjoy things, and have fun.
In the picture above I was practically a baby. I was a small child. I was five years old turning 6
the next day. I had not even lived a quarter of my life. I was living every day doing what made
me happy. I spent most of my time dancing around my grandparent's living room and following
behind my grandma trying to help do house chores.
I went to school but in school, at the time I did not learn much most of my school day consisted
of playing in centers, napping, and finger painting. During the time, the photo was taken I was
Alaura Armstrong
Professor Williams
English 111
October 20, 2020
just becoming a big sister for the first time I was absolutely in love with my new baby sister and
wanted to spend all my free time when I was not with my grandparents watching her.
Back then I never had many responsibilities, my only real responsibility was to be a kid and
enjoy my time as a kid because my childhood would soon be over before I knew it. I had school
but back then I did not get grades so my only priority in school was to behave in school and not
get a yellow or red card for the day. I did not have many responsibilities at the time. I had chores
but they were quite simple things I had to make my bed, use my mini vacuum, and put up the
money my grandpa left me for the day in my mini bank. I only really focused on one thing
though which was my new baby sister. I loved watching and keeping an eye on her while my
mom would leave the room for minutes. I loved her and enjoyed every moment I spent with her.
When I was five, I had a view of the world where everything could be fun even if It were not, I
would make it fun. When I was five, I thought all people were nice and good and the world was a
happy place. I was shielded from terrible things I never experienced anything life-changing like
the death of a close family member or a move to a new place or a parent leaving. My parents
always told me that the world had much to offer but would take just as much. At the time I often
looked up to my older cousins and wished to be as big as them. I thought that when I grew up, I
would grow up in a happy world. I believed that being a grown-up was so amazing. I did not
know how important it is to cherish your childhood and live freely while you can.
Since the photo has been taken, I have become a whole different person I would say. I now have
a different view of the world. I do not have as much fun as I did back then. I have changed so
Alaura Armstrong
Professor Williams
English 111
October 20, 2020
much since I was five. I no longer wished to get older. I do not get as much time to spend with
my grandparent's which truly breaks my heart. Now I have people watching me. I feel as though
I must be as societally correct as I can be. I always try to be the best me I can be. I now get a lot
of anxiety and the world kina scares me; I always feel as if I am not doing something right. I fear
doing something wrong and hurting my parents. I fear I will not be enough and will never
succeed in life.
My priorities now have shifted a whole lot since the picture has been taken. Now I am 16 I have
a car and a job. My main priority right now is to graduate high school. After school, my next
focus is to make money. I now work at a childcare center. Although the thing in life that I put the
most attention to is my family. I value family time so much. I think it is super important to spend
time with your family now that I am older, I have experienced losing a loved one and every time
I lose one it hurts, and I always regret not doing something with them or spending enough time
with them. I now always make sure to never pass up an opportunity to spend time and make
memories with family.
I can honestly say at 16 My view of the world has changed a lot. The world is a dirty place and if
you are not careful you will get sucked in and corroded with bad energy. I think the world can
offer a lot of good things, but it depends on what you choose to let in your life and accept. In my
life right now, I do not get to have much fun, and when I do it is for a brief time and with my
baby brother. I spend most of my time doing schoolwork and having family time now and I feel
as though my life is on a loop. I feel as if I go each day just trying to make it through the day
hoping for better on one to come tomorrow. I hope and pray every day that I will soon find
Alaura Armstrong
Professor Williams
English 111
October 20, 2020
something in my life that makes me happy. I pray Every day I will find the thing in this world
that everyone else is so high on.