Childhood experiences

[Nisha Ward]

I wouldn't say, Yes or No. I beleive you use your painful and hard past to propel you to achieve higher goals and prove your oppresors wrong. On the other hand, he could have used his past as an excuse to turn to self pity and keep whinning about his shortcomings. I wouldn't pin his success to his childhood experiences because it could have turned either way. It is purely about his will power and working hard.

I agree that it was his determination and hard work that made him a success. As you pointed out, some people use hard times as an inspiration, others use it as an excuse.

Indeed. Though there did seem to be a moment when things might have gone very badly.

[MatereF]

I believe that we are shaped by our experiences more so childhood ones. His childhood experiences did have an effect in the some of the decisions he made later o in life.

[Mahnoor Shirazi]

I don't know a lot about this however I'm almost certain that ones childhood encounters do have a noteworthy effect on him/her. Additionally, on the off chance that we skim through them these encounters may not convey that significance, however they do have a hand in making your personality .

[Ferdinand_Otieno]

I don't know a lot about this however I'm almost certain that ones childhood encounters do have a noteworthy effect on him/her. Additionally, on the off chance that we skim through them these encounters may not convey that significance, however they do have a hand in making your personality .

I think the largest influence or trait the author acquired from his childhood was Resilience and great understanding of Hard work.

[elizaron878]

His childhood was definitely not a bed of roses. Life is hard enough, but for a growing boy with an absent father and a mother struggling to make ends meet, it gets even harder. That said, could be his challenging childhood experiences are what shaped him into the man he became, which is a positive thing.

[Kate_But_Not_Kaitlyn]

I think having to struggle, especially early in life, definitely causes a person to gain a resilience and a strength they would not have had otherwise. That ability to fight and overcome odds makes for higher achievements because an individual knows how to work hard.

[Nisha Ward]

I think having to struggle, especially early in life, definitely causes a person to gain a resilience and a strength they would not have had otherwise. That ability to fight and overcome odds makes for higher achievements because an individual knows how to work hard.

In the author's case it truly did.

[briellejee]

The experiences of childhood have a long lasting and a deep impact on an individual. But it also depends on the choices one makes that makes him who he is. Experiences just made him strong and determined to face difficulties in life head on.

I agree. One thing that stood out to me was that he turned to the Bible because he was afraid of his negative feeling towards his Auntie, because in his mind he wanted to hurt her. Just one of the choices he made that molded his character.

I guess this must be the one thing that helped him a lot because imagining what could have happened if he had hurt his aunt seems to indicate that he could probably be a different person now.

Hmm, now that you've mentioned it, I do agree that it could have been worse if he didn't turn to the Bible. Even though, I think, it wasn't mentioned much in the book, his beliefs must have been deeply rooted for him to do such a thing in such a troubled mind back then.

[briellejee]

"I'd say it was a combination of both his experiences and the personal and professional choices that he made that led to his success."

I completely agree. Work ethic played a hugh role for Frank. Those past experiences gave him the backbone to know he could succeed. I can't imagine how he felt to not have others believing in him at his university.

I think people not believing him something he got used to from his past, which makes your statement about his past ring true. It did give him the strength he needed to face the even harsher world.

[briellejee]

The experiences of childhood have a long lasting and a deep impact on an individual. But it also depends on the choices one makes that makes him who he is. Experiences just made him strong and determined to face difficulties in life head on.

I agree. One thing that stood out to me was that he turned to the Bible because he was afraid of his negative feeling towards his Auntie, because in his mind he wanted to hurt her. Just one of the choices he made that molded his character.

It was quite the choice and provided an interesting contrast with later in life when he decided not to attend church in the US while at Lehigh.

I didn't even realize the contrast until you've mentioned it. Thinking about it, I guess his reason for not attending the church in the US is because it might have been different than one at his home.

[briellejee]

I agree. One thing that stood out to me was that he turned to the Bible because he was afraid of his negative feeling towards his Auntie, because in his mind he wanted to hurt her. Just one of the choices he made that molded his character.

I guess this must be the one thing that helped him a lot because imagining what could have happened if he had hurt his aunt seems to indicate that he could probably be a different person now.

I don't know about other regions, but often in the Caribbean we tend to place our faith in God during trying times. The thing with his aunt definitely seemed like one of those.

Same works here in the place I'm at. If we can't understand the emotions bubbling up, we immediately pray to God or turn to God.

[briellejee]

The author experienced hard times back at home. Being raised from a humble background where achieving high end education was a challenge to being mistreated by the aunty seen like factors that strengthened him to overcome even the racism he had to go through.

I think it really did. The world outside his community is harsher. I'm glad though that he didn't go through with his suicide attempt, because imagining the hardships with his aunt, I, too, would have lost sense and hope.

[briellejee]

The author experienced hard times back at home. Being raised from a humble background where achieving high end education was a challenge to being mistreated by the aunty seen like factors that strengthened him to overcome even the racism he had to go through.

It seems that it also served to keep him humble and to encourage him to always work hard.

Agreed. I think he did to prove others and himself wrong.

[briellejee]

I wouldn't say, Yes or No. I beleive you use your painful and hard past to propel you to achieve higher goals and prove your oppresors wrong. On the other hand, he could have used his past as an excuse to turn to self pity and keep whinning about his shortcomings. I wouldn't pin his success to his childhood experiences because it could have turned either way. It is purely about his will power and working hard.

I agree that it was his determination and hard work that made him a success. As you pointed out, some people use hard times as an inspiration, others use it as an excuse.

He did, however, use it as an excuse to attempt suicide. But then, by some miracle, he decided to be stronger. To have this kind of mental strength differs from other people. I do agree that there are people out there lazy enough to put the bad aside and start to work, but then, it differs from one another. Some people are inspired, some are not. What these latter group needs is a push. I'm just talking about not to generalize those who have bad times and still not succeed. Circumstances are different, but then there are indeed people who are too lazy to move yet too adamant to blame the past.

[briellejee]

I wouldn't say, Yes or No. I beleive you use your painful and hard past to propel you to achieve higher goals and prove your oppresors wrong. On the other hand, he could have used his past as an excuse to turn to self pity and keep whinning about his shortcomings. I wouldn't pin his success to his childhood experiences because it could have turned either way. It is purely about his will power and working hard.

I agree that it was his determination and hard work that made him a success. As you pointed out, some people use hard times as an inspiration, others use it as an excuse.

Indeed. Though there did seem to be a moment when things might have gone very badly.

Yes, I agree with Nisha. Take note that the author almost attempted suicide because of the bad things happening. His experiences made him stronger, but his tenacity to become one rules above all. And not all have that strong will. I hope this story will inspire other people to do so though.