Zemorah Yisrael

Zemorah's Story

My mother had no choice but to bring her six children to work with her. We tagged along many times, but there was something different about one trip. Instead of just sitting quietly with nothing to do, Mom’s client suggested we paint small clay flower pots. We loved arts-and-crafts, but it was not something we had the chance to do very often. As we finished our masterpieces, I noticed a difference between my pot and everyone else’s. Mine had a pattern.

As a child, I didn’t know exactly why I created art with structure. However, as I grew older, I realized the motivation behind my creative, yet logical pieces. Art was an aspect of my life over which I had control, while the rest of my life was a turbulent whirlwind. I was raised in a home without structure, unbalanced financially and emotionally. As a single woman raising six children, Mom often had to choose between paying the power bill or paying the water bill, and a few times, both were disconnected. When Mom began to work more, transporting herself and six children was impossible and so my siblings and I were left in a house all day, unschooled and without adult supervision. Frequently, we would open canned goods with knives and eat our meals cold. When we wanted something sweet, powdered brownie mix was our only option. Difficult times such as these were a constant reminder that I had to find a way to better prepare myself for the life ahead of me. The instability in our lives was not the lifestyle I envisioned for my future.

Eventually, Mom was no longer able to provide for six children and soon, we were separated. My older brother, Jaison, who left first, was put into the foster care system where he moved from home to home. My older sister, Yekileyah, who left second, was picked up by her father to reside with him for the next decade or so. My remaining three siblings and I were the last to go, picked up by our father and soon-to-be stepmom. This was, and continues to be one of the saddest moments of my life. Nothing compares to the separation of your closest family members.

Determined to prepare myself for a brighter future, I focused on academics as a path to self-improvement. School became my escape. Despite starting school a year later than my peers, I adjusted fairly well to this new environment and excelled academically. However, I faced significant social challenges at times and often felt like an outcast. I had a lazy eye. Ultimately, I began to wear glasses to hide this flaw of mine; yet, many students continued to ostracize me. However, this hardship forced me to stand alone and independence became a part of my identity.

Eventually, just as I led my younger siblings, my peers looked to me for guidance. My independence and keen sense of self awareness were parts of my identity that drew people in, landing me the role of leader inside of class and during extracurriculars. When faced with opportunities to enlighten those around me, I willingly shared knowledge. I soon saw the value of the educational environment as more than academics; it was beneficial for my character. I was determined to positively impact the peers who looked to me for guidance.

Growing up, my life wasn’t as easy as everyone else’s, but my struggles have pushed me to ensure a brighter future. Like a hammer striking a nail, endurance was driven into me. Every obstacle placed before me became a challenge that I knew I could overcome. As a child, art was my way of creating order when it didn’t exist in other areas of my life. Now as a young adult, I am gifted with the opportunity to sketch my own future, one full of stability and success in all aspects of my life.