Endurance: Autobiography

For the first unit of our humanities class, Endurance, our class learned about people’s past, and what mental and physical aspects made them who they are today. Our class also did some of our own endurance tests. For the first test we took, we were asked as a class to stay completely silent for 10 minutes straight. We were all surprisingly able to handle it well. Personally, I just slept for a solid seventy percent of it, and most of the other kids just waited it out. For our second test, we were each asked to hold an ice cube in our hand for 1 minute. The first time, there were a few people who weren’t able to hold the ice the entire 60 seconds because of the burn. However, the second try, everyone was able to get it right. For our third test, the class went on an Field Experience to a martial arts studio. I was unfortunately late to class this day, so I wasn’t able to go on the trip. But, I heard that they did some rigorous training exercises. For our AP, we were asked to describe a challenge that we had to face, but from the point of view of ourselves 50 years in the future. I really liked this AP because it gave me a chance to reflect on the challenges I’ve had in the past, but at the same time think about what my future will be like. Hope you enjoy the first chapter of my autobiography.

Family Camp, SC, 2011

Chapter One: Revolution

My name is Sam Cowell. I was born at Evanston hospital, and raised by my two parents in a small town named Glenview, Illinois. Ever since I was little, I’ve been a shy and reluctant person. I generally dislike talking with people and making friends, so I’ve always had a tough time being socially active in school. I was pretty lonely at home. Most of the time I’d just be on my computer or watching TV. My parents hated seeing me shut everyone out, so they decided it would be best to find someone to socialize with.

One night, my mom and I were watching the season finale of American Idol. We were really eager to find out who was going to win. During the middle of the show, they had a segment on a village in Africa, and how the families there barely have enough food and water to survive. I asked my mom if there was any way that we could help them, which is when she came up with the idea of adopting a sibling for me.

From my knowledge, my mom and dad talked it over for at least three months before coming to a final decision; once they came to a conclusion, they both sat me down and asked me “Do you want a little brother?” I was overwhelmed with the question. I didn’t even know what to say at first. After being in shock for a few seconds, I responded: “Of course!” I didn’t really know what to feel after that moment. I was so extremely excited to be getting a sibling. Someone to talk to, hang out with, and develop a relationship with. I was excited, but also nervous. I started to think about what it would be like to have to share the attention I get from my parents and all of my things. We started the adoption process in May of 2008, and began looking for adoption agencies in Nigeria, Africa. As months went by, I was anxious to move forward with the adoption. Over a year passed, and all I knew at the time was that progress was happening.

After I got out of school in 2009, my parents told me that proceeding with the adoption at this point was extremely unlikely, and that we’re going to have to wait a little while until we can change agencies. As disappointed as I was, I was okay with it; I understood that the process can be time consuming and stressful. My parents eventually decided that they had to switch countries in Africa. There were too many laws in Nigeria at the time that prevented us from going through with the adoption. As a family, we decided that we were going to adopt from Ethiopia.

My parents took about a month before choosing an agency to go through with. The next year, in 2010, we were asked to choose a kid for adoption. This was one of the biggest decisions we, as a family, were ever going to make, so we wanted to make sure we did it right. We went through thousands of kids, and it was really hard to find a right fit. After looking for a few weeks, we finally chose a 7 year old boy who goes by the name of Natenial Samuel. We chose him because of his middle name: Samuel.

As we started to prepare for our trip to Africa, we had to go get shots to prevent ourselves from getting any possible diseases that are common in the city we were going to. I had to get about 18 shots, which only made me more nervous. My mom and dad had also told me that it was going to take a little while before he was going to be able to get adjusted here. The entire way he lives his life was going to change. I tried my best to mentally prepare myself for the trip. Not only was it hard realizing that I was going to be in a different continent for an entire week (I had never even left the country), but coming home with a brand new sibling.

In early July we left and met our new member of our family. It was amazing being able to finally meet him. I introduced myself and so did my mom and dad. We tried to ease ourselves into the situation he was in, because it was a big deal for him to be moving out of the adoption place. He’d lived there for over a year. We came home from after and everything was going great for a few months. We renamed him to Nate, as Natenial wasn’t really as fitting in America. After a couple of months, Nate started to get anxiety over being with us. It was really difficult for him to adjust to America. He started to have panic attacks and meltdowns. It was really hard on my parents and myself.

Nate because the center of attention for a little while. It was a challenge for me to have to go from being in the spotlight to having no attention at all. My middle school years were hard for me. I was socially awkward, and had to take care of myself most of the time. Nate was only getting worse when he was with us. My parents told me that he has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and has to follow through with a treatment process.

After a few months, we decided that it would be best if Nate went to a treatment center. It was too difficult for my parents to live with him because of his meltdowns, and they realized that I needed some awareness too. It was really hard to understand at first, but I eventually came to terms with him leaving. Over the next few years, we went back and forth of him going through programs to help get him treated, and he was finally able to come home. He was 10 when he was allowed to leave the treatment center, and I’m sure one of the happiest days of his life. My parents and I were so excited to finally have him home again, but without all the chaos.

I was thrilled to be able to finally develop a real relationship with him. We had always been close up to this point, but it was so hard to keep in touch while he was recovering. We became the best of friends, and still are to this day. Since the moment he came home, our relationship has gotten stronger each day. As I went through college, we would talk to each other almost every day, and stayed best friends all through those 4 years. During his college years, I would try to check in on him at least once a week, and make sure I told him everything he needed to know to succeed. At this point in time, we’re both in our forties and living our own lives. We both have our own families and are happy. We be sure to meet up at least once a month to catch up and hang out. I couldn’t have asked for a better gift than my brother. Through all the challenges and hardship my brother put my parents and I first when we first got him, I’m so happy that I was able to overcome those obstacles, because our relationship we have now is more of a reward than I ever could have asked for.