Lily Zhang
November 30, 2010
‘Life as It Is’

Pain is a part of everyday life, and we, as individuals, embrace it differently. It can cause us to do or say things that we wish we didn’t, or make it easier for ourselves by simply giving up. At the end of each day, without the pain that is brought upon us, we have nothing to grow stronger from. I grew up in this place on Earth I once called home. In this home of mine came these people who called themselves my parents and three sisters. For the most part, I had a normal childhood: learning how to ride a bike, playing basketball, and attending church on a regular basis. It was all fun, exercise and learning but there was one problem that struck me yet by surprise. It was a problem so big that I simply couldn’t ignore, even if I tried. Growing up wasn’t easy in any Asian family, but in this particular family, it took a lot more energy to be not be myself than I would’ve imagined. Though I was an active girl growing up, I was a little girl, growing up with abusive parents in a physical and verbal way. Every little mistake I’ve made or made defended me, these people, known as my parents, would punish me in the only way they knew how. They would hit me with a stick until tears wouldn’t stop pouring out of my eyes for the next half hour. As I was growing older, it became more severe and it was not something I’ve never imagined. Many parents are loving and supportive to their children, and always have wide open arms when pain strikes them. But in this little household of mine, nothing came close to that. I had an abusive life at home during my grade and elementary school, and it continued onto my high school life. The abusive life began when I was just four years old. I don’t remember what I’ve done to deserve this, but this father of mine grabbed me by my tiny wrist and threw me to the ground. He was beating me and