"Where We've Been and Where We're Going"
The Hunterdon Central Community
​
Everyone has something come to mind when asked what their hardest struggle is. These stories stay with people throughout their whole lives and provide a huge impact when they’re told to others.
Jennifer Zujkowski said her hardest struggle was the loss of her friend to suicide. She was upset when she heard what had happened and felt like there should have been something she could do.
Sydney O’Connor said her hardest struggle was her parent’s divorce. She had to change her lifestyle and it was difficult to adapt to. She also had to deal with her parents not being together like she had been used to.
Kyle Cole said his hardest struggle was the death of his great-aunt. He was very close to her and when she died it was very heart-breaking for him. He cried a lot and the whole experience was very upsetting for him.
Alexandra Gall said her hardest struggle was a knee injury. She was experiencing a lot of pain and it affected her everyday life. It even kept her home from school at times. She was very limited by it and made her feel really down on herself.
Gunnar Engle said his hardest struggle was the death of his friend, Conner. It was out of the blue and was very hard for him. He said that Conner was someone he could be open with and was a supportive friend to him.
Trisha Belseiro said her hardest struggle was being put in a hospital for a mental illness. She had to go through that experience and it was hard for her.
James Benfield said his hardest struggle was moving schools. He had to leave all of his friends behind and try to make new ones at his new school. It was hard for him to adjust to the change.
Students at Hunterdon Central have dealt with death, life-changing injuries, language barriers, and more. They’ve seen themselves at their lowest lows whether it be being bedridden because of a back tumor, dealing with an ADHD diagnosis, or powering through a nasty divorce. However, as much as they’ve been through, they’ve shown us how strong we can be and who we have the ability to become. Every interviewee had their head held up high as they recounted hard moments from their past. Specifically, Francesca Ferrara talked about how she’d been hospitalized and bedridden for six months and that she was excited to be back and see her school friends.
