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Hannah LeBorgne

Professor Williams

English 111

02 October 2023

Education with Separation

“Children deserve both parents. They deserve to know their parents respect each other if

nothing else” (Anonymous). This quote describes what I never had. I grew up in a household

where my dad constantly argued and yelled at my mom, slammed doors, and broke items.

Always moving houses, schools, and neighborhoods, and being unable to keep a friend group

because I felt like I was “all over the place” really affected my life. I felt like I never had a

supportive father figure in my childhood and looking around at all my friends laughing and

having fun with their parents together did not only affect my mental health but also my

education.

It all happened so quickly, I was in third grade, and right as I walked through the door of

my house ready to grab a snack after school my parents decided to have me and my siblings all

sit down and have “a talk”. I didn't think it would be anything bad, so I quietly sat there and

listened. I was young and didn't understand what to expect. As they talked to us all what I was

told was my dad was leaving for a few days for a “work thing”. But when mom started crying I,

by instinct, started crying too; because who would want their dad to leave?

Shortly after, things of his started disappearing, the TV wasn't set on the sports channel,

boxes were leaving the living room, and then he was gone just like that, “for work”. I was still
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able to see my dad but all my mom did was drop me and my siblings off at the apartment he was

living in or he came and picked us up, but my mom never came with us. From that point on I

realized nothing was ever going to be the same.

At the time I went to Rock Springs Elementary School, I had a good group of friends and

enjoyed my school. We did so many fun events and activities. I always did my work and never

did badly on a project or test. I had good grades and was an A honor roll student for the most

part. Up until my parents separated. Things started spiraling downhill, I started not turning in my

work, not studying or doing well on tests, and overall I was just very unmotivated and just didn't

want to do anything for any class.

After a couple of years, my parents finally found a way to have us in a school where they

would both be able to live where they wanted. That is when I was enrolled in Lincoln Charter

School. I've been here since 5th grade, at first I was nervous because everyone had already

started school and I came 2 weeks late. I didn't think I'd find any friends and that I would have to

sit by myself during lunch and other activities. But whenever I walked into Mrs. Lineberger’s

class, it was completely different than I expected. I sat with a group of girls and they helped me

with unpacking my things and made me feel very comfortable and welcomed. From that point on

I felt very comfortable at my school and my grades were slowly starting to get better.

When Covid hit in 7th grade and we had to go online, everything started getting bad

again. I had to switch back and forth between my parents' houses and it made it very hard to

forget I had assignments and things due. I was so worried about what I had to get together and

pack up for when we switched that I forgot I had homework to do and Zoom meetings to attend.

I slowly started getting bad grades again and everything felt like it was moving so fast, it was so
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chaotic. Once 7th grade ended I moved schools again. Well, same school but a different campus.

My dad thought it would be better because it was closer. He was far from right, it was hard to

transfer into a new school when everything was still online. I was very confused and didn't even

really know who my teachers were, I also didn't know anyone in the school because I had just

moved and it was all online.

I was at the Denver Campus of Lincoln Charter for 8th-9th grade until we realized things

just weren't working out. So I moved back to the Lincolnton Campus for 10th grade. This is

when my grades were good but my mental health wasn't. I was so stressed out and felt like

school was more important than my mental health. Nothing in my personal life was going well

for me.

I finally decided to see the school counselor, Mrs. Harkey. I never really talked to her up

until that point when I went to her office to see her. She was very warm-hearted and listened to

everything I had to say, which was new to me because no one ever listened to what I had to say,

not even my parents. I talked with her about my personal life and how I felt, I talked to her about

my school life and how it was making me feel, and much more. She was very empathetic, and

sweet and was always there for me when I needed it. She made me feel better about myself, and I

was less stressed about everything. My grades were getting way better and overall my life was

going very smoothly and well. I was in all honors classes and ended up averaging about a 3.9 gpa

by the end of the year.

Now I'm in 11th grade, I still go to Lincoln Charter, I have a job, and my grades are good!

I am taking 5 college classes this semester and 2 high school classes. I have a good group of
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friends and other people who support me. I am very thankful for the people who helped me get

through some of the difficult times through my past education years.

Overall, Having your parents get divorced when you're young is not a very easy thing, it’s

not a very easy thing for anyone, at any age. But in the end, you have to put your trust in God's

hands and just trust the process, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew

28:20). Meaning you are never alone and what you are going through is just temporary and will

always get better.