Coreclass’s Weblog

Commentary

By: Jovan Thompson

photo: Rakka/ creative commons/ attribution- non-commercial- no derivative works

It’s amazing how when I’m going through a tough time people always want me to feel worse than I actually feel. I haven’t had the easiest life but I try to remain humble with the joy I do have, knowing that it could be a lot worse. But I’m only human and sometimes the trials I go through may make forget this. Especially when faced with extraneous adversities such as homelessness and family illness. People constantly ask me how I cope with the tribulations I endure and have endured. I suppose my only answer would be I endure simply because I’m strong. I was homeless for three years. I witnessed things no small child should have to witness. My mother was working tirelessly at two jobs to pay for a motel 6 rooms that cost sixteen hundred dollars every two weeks. It was even more difficult of a task primarily because my mother at this time was about three months pregnant. No one would take us into their homes. Not even our relatives. The shelters were terrible. My mother, my new baby sister and I stayed at the Richmond mission shelter center for a while then we stayed at the Salvation Army off of Fruitvale blvd. in Oakland. The facilities were adequate for the time being but were not permanent. We had to share everything. Eventually and miraculously my mother managed to save up enough money to get a small studio off of high street. Though I was thankful for this step in the right direction, this roach infested, crack den, place I called home for two years was not the business. On top of that the hallways were rancid and drunken people, prostitutes and crack addicts were prevalent. How did I manage to handle these things? I ask myself. And honestly looking back at those events I admit I didn’t always handle them accordingly. But over time I grew stronger. I learned to keep my head up.

unfortunately over time a disease known as sickle cell anemia began to cause my mother to be ill more frequently and susceptible to other sicknesses. Though she has lived with this disease for her entire life, the effect of this terrible disease had never hit her as much as it has this past year and a half. Yet through my triumphs in my earlier years people still try to make me fill badly about my circumstances. Saying things like, “oh my god I would just break down if I were you.” and I simply reply,” Well you’re not me”, and I continue to complete what ever task I have at hand. She has been hospitalized more times than I can remember and yes I do notice. But don’t expect me to feel down about my life. I have too much to look forward to, to have my head facing the ground.