The Other Wes Moore

Making decisions is an unavoidable aspect of life's journey, shaping our paths in unexpected ways. When I reflect on my life, I see how the choices I've made have changed where I am now, and I know the decisions I make going forward could do the same. If I had chosen differently in the past, my life could be totally different right now. My past choices led me to a different country, far from my family. At the tender age of 13, my father brought my elder siblings to the U.S., leaving my mother and me behind in our home country because I didn't want to leave her there by herself. This choice set the stage for a series of life-altering decisions to come. By the time I turned 15, our family dynamic shifted again with the arrival of my youngest sister, making us a trio in our household.
When I was 16, I chose to visit my family in the U.S. Initially, it was just supposed to be a short vacation. But then I thought about schools and job opportunities here that I will have, so I decided to stay. It was tough because my mom didn't want to stay so I had to make a decision between staying or going back. Making that decision was very hard, with all these mixed feelings and not knowing what was coming next. But I really wanted to chase after that "American dream.

In "The Other Wes Moore," Tony serves as a mentor figure to Wes, offering guidance and wisdom rooted in his own experiences. Tony's lectures to Wes about the importance of education and staying away from the dangers of the streets are pivotal moments in their relationship. Tony, having faced challenges himself, understands the gravity of the choices Wes must make. He sees potential in Wes and wants to steer him away from a path that could lead to trouble or missed opportunities. Their relationship is characterized by Tony's genuine concern for Wes's well-being and his desire to see him succeed. Despite their differences and the obstacles they both face, Tony's guidance serves as a beacon of hope for Wes, highlighting the impact positive role models can have in shaping the course of one's life.

Going through life without my mom was really hard. I felt super homesick and everything was so new and weird. But going to school, making new friends, and my love for cooking, helped me in that journey and things started to get better. Cooking wasn't just something that was doing for fun, it was my way of dealing with feeling lonely and unsure. As I figured out how to deal with all the changes in my life, I learned some really important stuff about being tough, sticking to my goals, and how the choices we make can totally change our lives. Looking back on everything, I see how important it is to grab onto opportunities and learn from the stuff that works out and the stuff that doesn't.

Now, when I think about the future, I want to share these lessons with my siblings. I want them to know that life is all about taking chances, even when it's scary. There are going to be ups and downs, but what matters is how we deal with them. I'm going to keep moving forward, using what I've learned to guide me.
At first, things were tough, but now I'm glad I made the decision, and now I'm happy with where I'm at. My life is going well—I've got a good job, I'm in my second year of college, and I'm standing on my own two feet without relying on my parents.