My Life in 5th Gear

This is a repost taken from my old blogsite.

I would like to share this essay, which I wrote during my Writing Class with one of the ESL teachers Ms. Meredith. We were discussing a tear jerking story and the author shared his fast-paced life or his life in “ 5th gear”. We were told to write the same.

My Life in 5th Gear

When I was in my mid-20s, I lived my life in 5th gear.

Being a single parent, I held responsible for my two children. I worked in the Legislative Office. I continued my college education. I regularly spent time with my friends as well.

I woke up at 5:30 in the morning to prepare foods for my children. I made it sure that they get everything they need before they go to school. When they are ready, I took them along the highway at around 6:45 in the morning until they get a ride going to school. Afterwards, I rushed myself to take a bath and go to the office before 8:00 o’clock in the morning. I go to school after office hours until 9:00 o’clock in the evening. I usually get home late from school and when I get home, I check my children’s books and notebooks to make it sure that they did their homework given by their teachers before they went to bed and also to know if there are assignments that they didn’t understand so that I could discuss it to them in the morning while they are eating their breakfast. I usually get to bed late during weeknights.

If needed, I go to my children’s school to attend Parents Teachers Association Meeting, sometimes to bring snacks or lunch for them and to give moral support to any of them in whatever activities they are into. During weekends, I do the laundry and do house chores as well. I thought I couldn’t live without friends so I find time to be with them once in awhile or during weekends, which made my mom sooo mad. I had to do all these things in order to get by every single day of that particular phase of my life.

Now, having thoughts of what I went through is making me feel like I had been in a race against time.

But having good kids like Jen and Jun is all worth it.

How about you?

Have you ever experienced life in 5th gear?