“Carve Your Own Path”

Michael Downey

W.T. Woodson High School

Fairfax, VA

Michael lives by a motto: “You can follow the destiny you were born into or you can carve your own path.” 

Looking at his family environment, Michael’s destiny did not seem very bright.  His mother, who suffers from schizophrenia, would often have her confused children perform harmless tasks based solely on her hallucinations.  Because of her illness, she was unable to serve as a role model for her son.  His father, a substance abuser, had a strong dislike for work and would go to great lengths to avoid his responsibilities.  At one particular job, he began calling in anonymous bomb threats so he could have a paid vacation day. Then during a “streak of bad luck,” the family’s house burned down, forcing the family into a motel for almost a year.  As if that weren’t enough, their car broke down and Michael’s father suffered a leg injury, leaving him without work for several months.

Financially insecure, Michael’s father conducted illegal activities to support his drug and alcohol use.  He sold the family’s food stamps to buy drugs and alcohol, and for a brief period of time, he involved Michael in these activities.  In addition to having his son steal electronics, he also began exploiting Michael’s technological talents, forcing Michael into an enormously unfair predicament:  Michael had to decide between forging checks on a computer for his father or going without food.  After a short stint engaging in illegal business activities with his father, Michael told his father that he could not continue his unlawful actions.

Eventually his mother and father were caught cashing duplicated checks, and the police intervened.  To avoid charges, Michael was forced to explain how he became entangled in his father’s business, and Michael and his younger sister were removed from the house.  He now lives with his supportive legal guardians who have helped him use his once exploited talents to start a technology club at his high school and become the webmaster for the Key Club. 

Michael has spent the past few years carving out a new path for his life. Striving to be a role model for his younger sister, he looks to the future, refusing to end up living like his parents.  He dreams of becoming a politician so he can improve the lives of  people who are stuck in situations similar to the ones he has faced.