Thailand Student Blog

Jazmin M., Age 19, Mt. Scott

My name is Jazmin Menjivar and I was born in California. I am nineteen years old and this June I will be graduating from high school. My life has holes that people and I have dig and now I am slowly filling it in with new soil. At the age of three my mother left my life. My dad became a single father but managed to be a mother and a father figure to me. I struggle at times with not having someone at home because my father has two jobs and is not there to give me a good night kiss. I grew up taking care of my self and becoming independent. I have struggle with school in the past not taking care of my self but recently I have been getting involved in the community to better myself and gain awareness of my surroundings… Read more

Jenny E., Age 23, Portland YouthBuilders

It’s spring of 1989, the birds are chirping, the grass is as tall as I, and dancing in the wind. I’m three years old. My cousin Sandy a year older runs off into the grass chasing after her brother, Mikey. I try to keep up, but they’re just too fast. I sat pouting; my forehead hot and sweaty, until Sandy came back. We tried to balance ourselves on a two wheel trailer, 2\6 boards hanging off the end with nails sticking out. Sandy said ‘’Look, its magic’’ and she pointed toward the garage. The garage was open about a foot and a half. As I stand looking around I saw that my aunt and cousins were crying, but why, what was happening? The garage door was now open it and was my mom… Read more

Carly Jo S., Age 17, Mt. Scott

First, let’s get to know this intense girl. Intense, like camping! Her name is Carly Jo Strader. Technically, her name would have been Carly Jo Redthunder, due to being the daughter of a full blooded Native American Father, Joseph Redthunder, of whom, unfortunately, she does not know, nor has ever met. She one day wishes to find him and show him what an amazing girl she’s sprouted up to be! With once long, midnight black hair, which is now donated to cancer victims, she takes on the world and its treacheries one day and one obstacle at a time! Nothing can hold this hope driven girl back!… Read more

Shelby H., Age 19, Mt. Scott

I come from Portland, Oregon. My dad was born here in Portland as well, and my mother was born in California, I think maybe in Los Angeles. I have lived in Portland my whole life, and I’ve lived in the NE part of Portland for 11 years, and where I live at I guess I could say is where most of the middle class houses are, I love my neighborhood. I had a middle school and a park near my home, there was a library not too far from my house, grocery stores were just a small walk away from my house. Some challenges that I’ve faced is living in two different places. I have lived permanently with my dad for the past 11 years, and I’ve never felt like when I go to my mom’s house, that it’s never my second home. I have always felt like just a visitor when I go to my mom’s house, and not her child… Read more

Francisco A., Age 18, Portland Youth Builders

Ever since I was little I liked to stay active and invent things, I would take apart electronics that didn’t work and somehow ended up fixing them.  I remember one of my biggest challenges was learning to speak English. I went to school not knowing how to speak the English language, or understand it. I remember that the teachers wanted to put me in ESL (English second language) but my parents didn’t want them to, so I learned the hard way… Read more