There are some people that think there is almost nothing worse than graduating from high school and not knowing what you want to do for the rest of your life. Guilty as charged – many kids like me grow up wanting to be doctors, lawyers or just wanting the fabulous life of a singer, but every kid can dream, can’t they? When you are forced to analyze what you ultimately want to do for the rest of your life, and you are at the threshold of adulthood, you have to decide what makes you happy. This process is the journey of life and can often surprise you with a smack of reality. While most seniors in high school were thinking about whom they were taking to the prom or what college to attend, I was faced with a shocking reality; I had to mourn the tragic passing of my 21 year old brother, Arnold. It was supposed to be the year I would never forget. No amount of words could ever explain what my last year of high school was like. College was the last thing on my mind and life as I knew it would never be the same. All I could think about was being with my family and somehow finding comfort.

You could say that my mother provided me with words of encouragement and gave me the confidence I needed to get through that last year of high school. My mother is a woman that has been through so much. She lost a son and a part of her that she will never be able to regain and yet, she still had the courage to move forward. She pursued an Associates degree and graduated as a medical assistant. My mother came to this country from the Dominican Republic not knowing the language or culture. After my brother passed away, she was more determined than ever to complete her degree and even graduated among the top of her class. She is my inspiration and the reason I strive to accomplish my goals. I am also thankful to my cousin Michelle who encouraged me to apply to college and pursue an education after graduating from high school in 2007. I would not be where I am today without her. As it turned out, I was accepted into C.W Post Long Island University and faced what would be a steep learning curve. I’ve met many people along the way that offered to help. At this point in my life, I was sure, that I almost had the answer to what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Thus began my journey of finding my true passion. First, I joined the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. Through the sorority, I met women who would serve as role models. The sorority has instilled a sense of community where we would encourage each other to be strong independent women.

During my sophomore year in college, I realized with the help of the sorority that once I believed in myself I would find the answer to the question I have been struggling with for so long. Writing is my passion. I had been writing for so long that I never realized it. My journal became my most sacred possession. So the ultimate question that people have to ask themselves is what is it that makes them happy? As the old saying goes “If you love what you do you will never work a day in your life.� Although this can be very difficult for many I believe that I have found mine in journalism and hope that I in turn can help people find their passion along the way. By Melissa Bencosme