Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

The obstacles and opportunities of senior year of high school is a reality for over a thousand Cliftonites.

Associate Editor Ariana Puzzo corralled survey responses and wrote the stories on the following pages.

Obstacles present opportunities and opportunities often require building ladders.

Ranked 16th in the CHS class of 2023, Albaraa Gebril built those ladders in Clifton. The city is where he learned to view the world through a critical lens. Where he debated with those who have unique stories. It’s also where he learned to overcome hurdles.

“My journey to academic achievement has been fraught with challenges,” said Gebril, 19, who is among the many grads from various high schools interviewed and surveyed for this month’s edition.

Some challenges were learning-related — like figuring out how to navigate ADHD and a language disorder. He also dealt, at times, with judgmental peers as someone who grew up in a single-mother household.

The common link between these circumstances was that they often led to bullying. It endured throughout elementary and middle school, and it affected his academics.

“I resolved to leave all excuses behind upon entering high school,” said Gebril. “I told myself that I would work hard to compensate for my shortcomings, speak forthrightly, and seize every opportunity to better myself and others.”

Gebril’s perspective on academia bloomed. He researched the brain to learn how his mind functions. Gebril patiently “rewired my brain” and embraced not only discomfort but rejected instant gratification.

“I gained pleasure from hard work and overcoming obstacles, including my ADHD and language disorder.”

There were more possibilities than ever before, so he set his sights on the country’s leading universities.

Editor & Publisher

Tom Hawrylko, Sr.

Art Director

Ken Peterson

Contributing Writers

©

Ariana Puzzo, Joe Hawrylko, Irene Jarosewich, Tom Szieber, Jay Levin, Michael C. Gabriele, Jack DeVries, Patricia Alex

Associate Editor & Social Media Mgr.

Ariana Puzzo

Business Mgr.

Irene Kulyk