I Turned My Life Around
by Billie Pirruccello
The day I came to The Community School was the day I turned my life around. In the beginning, I thought that it would be a quick way to get a diploma, and in nine months I would leave just the way I had come in. I’ve been here for a very short period of time and already I feel and know that I am headed in the right direction. My life has changed drastically and I’ve learned so much since I’ve been at The Community School.
Before coming to the school I wasn’t leading the best life style. I’m not proud to tell people how I was living my life because I didn’t have much respect for myself, or others. There were times when I just wouldn’t bother getting out of bed in the morning. I thought that it didn’t matter, and school wasn’t important. There were some points in my life when I just wasn’t happy, and that affected my schooling and my grades. I now know that I have the option to live my life the way I want, and I can do what ever I want to do.
It’s shocking to sit back and think of my life now at The Community School because compared to before I am so much happier and doing what I want to do. I get up every morning and go to my internship at the Camden Public Library, which is nice because I’m learning to have a great work ethic, and I get satisfaction out of making my own money. I also have changed my attitude about school. Now I find it challenging and rewarding. This school really helps me to use my own mind, and get my ideas out of my head. Years ago, I never would of thought that I would be given a chance to learn about what I want to learn in high school.
I am given the privilege of being able create a system of academics that works for me, and keeps me motivated toward furthering my education. At The Community School, they give us more than just an academic-based education. They show me what it’s like to live in the real world, and how to take care of myself when I won’t have my parents to look after me.
I used to be shy and very self-conscious, but since being here I have become more involved with my community. I have already met many different people, and volunteered at a quite a few places. The place that has meant the most to me is Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Rockland. It’s meant a lot to me to know that I am able to help a child in a similar way to how The Community School has helped me. The people that work at The Community School are kind, generous, and all around warm-hearted people. Seeing all they do for so many people, myself included, makes me want to be more selfless, and help out as much as I can. In addition, I am becoming a very independent person. I rely on myself more rather than relying on other people to do things for me. I know I still have work to do to better my self, but with out this school it would have taken me longer to realize that I needed to change at all.
After all I’ve learned from The Community School, I think I’m ready to take the leap of going into college. I may be a little bit young to be graduating high school, but I feel like in these past four months I have matured exceedingly. I have gained so much independence so being on my own won’t be difficult, and I now know that won’t take getting a higher education for granted.
