Richard's Story

"In giving the majority of my focus to my family, I have little left over myself."

Richard shares his story while he is a sophomore in Chemistry.

What Richard Shares

I am dedicated to my family. Like most of us, I will do whatever is asked of me. Recently, I have realized that my family is asking me to do a lot. I leave campus and classes to drive my parents around town. I serve as an English translator for my family, and I take care of my mother and sister most of the time. I am determined to succeed academically so I can set myself up for a successful career in research but I'm not able to concentrate on my schoolwork when all of my energy is dedicated to others. In giving the majority of my focus to my family, I have little left over for myself. I've reached the end of my rope and I know that I can’t do this alone so I rely on community and campus resources for guidance and support. I count on my friends for emotional support and I have explored every recommended resource. I still have a long way to go in figuring this all out but what I do know is that I can't take care of other people effectively, until I take of care of myself and believe that I am my priority.