Right after I turned 18 last January, I moved out of my parents' house in Whittier, Calif. I didn't have anywhere to go, but it didn't matter. I was unhappy at home. My mom and I always argued. I felt like she hated me. If she asked me to do a chore2, I'd do it, but she'd always say it wasn't good enough. She would say I was worthless, that I'd never graduate. If my dad tried to help, my mom would just get mad at him because he supported me. I thought that by staying I was breaking up the family, so I left.
For the first couple of months I stayed with my two best friends. Then one night when I was staying with my friend Robert, I heard his grandmother yelling at3 him—saying they didn't need to deal with my problems. I felt I was breaking up another family, so I left the next night. After that I lived under the bleachers at Pioneer High School, where I was a senior. I wasn't scared, but I'd basically be up all night, wondering I should have tried to stick it out4 at home. I felt bad because I knew my brothers and sisters and my dad were hurt that I'd left. Sometimes I'd run around the track. It cleared my mind and, at that point, I guess I was in a daze5. After school I'd go to someone's place and sleep for a couple of hours. In the mornings I'd wash up at a friend's house nearby.
I knew I couldn't live like that for long. It's frustrating6 not having somewhere to go at night. After a week some of my teachers heard I was living under the bleachers. At first I denied it. I was embarrassed, but at last I admitted it.
Soon after, a counselor7 found a place for me to live. She brought me to a homeless center, and I moved right in. After four months the people there are like family.
Through everything, I kept going to class. I was motivated8 by a promise I make to my dad that I'd graduate. I also just liked school. It was always a refuge9 for me compared to home. In June 2002 I graduated. I had talked to my parents a little since I'd left, but they still didn't come. Even so, with my friends and some people there, I was the happiest person in the world—it made me cry. Since then I've signed up10 for the Marines11—my dream since I was little.
In general, I think everything's turned out for the best. My mom would always say I wouldn't make anything of12 my life, but I did. One day I'll call my parents and say, “Some of this may have been my fault, some of it may not have been, but it doesn't matter now. I'm just sorry for the hurt I caused when I left.” In the meantime, I know I've learned a lot from this. I matured13 a lot faster. And I definitely don't take anything for granted14. Now I'm happy.
1． bleacher n． 露天看台
2． chore n． 家务杂事
3． yell [jel] at sb． 冲着某人叫喊
4． stick it／sth out (口)（虽然困难或不愉快）坚持到底，一直忍下去
5． be in a daze 茫然不知所措
6． frustrating adj． 令人沮丧的
7． counselor n． 顾问
8． motivate v． 激发
9． refuge n． 庇护, 避难所
10． sign up 签（报）名参加
11． marine n． 海军；水兵
12． make something of 使有用处；使成为有用的人
13． mature v． 变成熟
14． take for granted 认为……理所当然