Notes on Personal Growth, Experiences, and Overcoming Challenges

The speaker initially felt unprepared and uncertain.
The speaker reflects on not being clear about what they wanted for themselves, which is a common and challenging experience.
Over time, the speaker became fascinated and engaged with the class.
The course taught the speaker how a business operates and prepared them for the future.
The speaker developed a growth mindset, budgeting skills, financial management skills, and other essential life tools.
As the speaker's learning expanded, they grew as an individual.

The speaker has been participating in the Youth Champions organization for three years.
Through this organization, the speaker learned to:
- Challenge themselves.
- Step out of their comfort zone.
- Network.
- Gain financial experience.
The speaker continues to participate because they always find new ways to improve as an individual.
The speaker describes the organization as impactful and transformative.

ITA collaborates with Youth Champions and EXP (another organization).
EXP provides students with additional hands-on experience.
The speaker participated in an EXP trip to Cal Maritime through ITA.
During the trip, the speaker learned basic firefighter skills.
This experience helped the speaker:
- Grow as an individual.
- Conquer their fears.
- Do things they never thought they were capable of.
- Gain confidence.
- Work with new people.
The week-long trip gave the speaker the opportunity to experience college.
Before the trip, the speaker had not considered college, but the experience helped them realize they want to attend college.

The experiences pushed the speaker to accomplish things they never thought they could do.
The speaker's experience at a job has taught them valuable lessons in responsibility, teamwork, and time management.
The speaker gained a practical understanding of how to handle tasks, interact with colleagues, and navigate challenges in a professional setting.

Life is like the ocean, mirroring the speaker's own journey.
The ocean is:
- Strong.
- Beautiful with a peaceful surface.
- Full of never-ending secrets.
- Water that continues to move without worry.
- Has dark waves that toss and turn, pulling you under.
The speaker describes fighting through waves, struggling for breath, and hoping to find safety while drifting away.

Having a dad with a drinking addiction can create complex and painful emotions.
It can lead to feelings of confusion, sadness, anger, and shame.
A child might feel neglected or overlooked, as the addiction often takes priority over family relationships.
There can also be a sense of fear, especially if the drinking leads to unpredictable behavior or emotional outbursts.
At times, one might feel helpless, wishing they could change the situation but feeling powerless to do so.
There may be moments of hope, only to be disappointed when the pattern repeats.
Over time, it can lead to feelings of isolation.
Struggling to explain or share the experience with others who don't understand.

Having a father with a drinking addiction can deeply affect a child's emotional well-being.
Children in this situation often feel a combination of confusion, sadness, and anxiety.
They may feel neglected, as their parent's addiction can take emotional and physical attention away from them.
This can lead to a sense of insecurity or lack of stability in their home life.
Many children of alcoholic parents also experience shame or embarrassment.
They may worry about how others perceive their family or feel responsible for their parent's actions, even though they have no control over them.
There can be anger or resentment at the addiction, at their parent, or even at themselves for feeling powerless.
In some cases, children may adopt a caregiver role, trying to protect their parent or other family members, which can cause them to grow up too fast and miss out on a carefree childhood.
On the other hand, some may internalize the chaos, struggling with their own self-esteem, relationships, or even developing unhealthy coping mechanisms later in life.
Ultimately, a child of an alcoholic often grows up feeling uncertain, emotionally drained, and in need of guidance or support to process and heal from the experience.