Jayden Teixeira

As a thirteen-year-old boy, it was hard to know how to react when my parents told me they were
getting divorced. Should I be upset, or should I be sad? I was upset when I learned I would not
have my mother and my brother in my home. It felt weird, but I learned how to live my best life,
even with this unexpected event. I feel the divorce allowed me to get much closer to my dad as
we helped each other cope and get through this difficult time. As for me, being so young, I didn't
want to believe what happened was real and, although it was sad, it taught me many valuable
life lessons. First, it taught me that life is not full of sunshine and rainbows. There will be
moments in life that are challenging, but it is how you choose to react to these challenges that
will determine your future and allow you to live life to its fullest. I had to mature quickly in an
effort to be a team with my dad and support each other.
Years later, on December 3, 2020 while my dad was working, he got into a serious
accident. I was at school during this time, and I received the news when I got home. This
moment did not feel real, and I thought it must be a bad dream. At the moment, I did not know
the severity of the accident until I received a call later that evening explaining that he injured his
spine and would need to immediately go into surgery. I stayed at my uncle's house, and the
doctors said my dad might never walk again, which left me nauseous and devastated. The
surgery was eight hours long, but, thankfully, it was a success.
While COVID was ubiquitous at this time, I was not able to go to the hospital, so I could not visit
my dad for several months. I was grateful to have the support of my grandparents to come and
stay with me during this time. After what felt like endless months of rehab, my dad finally
returned home. I thanked God that he was still able to walk and have mobility. My dad’s accident
seriously matured me and made me so much more independent. This December will be four
years since the accident, and I am grateful that my dad is still here.
My parents divorce and my dad’s accident taught me to be grateful for the support and
opportunities I had because, at times, something will happen that can bring you down, but it's
about how you take it and learn from it. No matter what happens in life, I still keep a smile on my
face as it is free, and I have so much to be grateful for. There is a saying that God gives his
toughest battles to his toughest warriors, and I am thankful for the battles I have faced at such a
young age, and I am ready for the battles that lie ahead.
Being a senior in high school, this is the end of a chapter and soon to be the start of a new one.
As the years have passed, what I have learned is immeasurable. I started off being someone
who got upset when I did not get what I wanted, and I allowed my emotions to get the best of
me. However, overtime I began to realize that there are ups and downs in life, and it is important
to focus on perseverance. Life will continue to be full of unexpected moments, both exciting and
challenging, but it is how we choose to face these unexpected moments that truly determines
who we are.