Member-only story
Trauma Has Changed Me
I am a Different Person — and I Don’t Like It
I’ve become a poor version of Kanye West. When West’s mother passed unexpectedly, the trauma of her untimely death changed him. West acted impulsively and irrationally (aka Taylor Swift, Grammy Awards, and Beyonce). He aligned himself with controversial figures like Trump and made inappropriate statements about slavery and Jews.
While West has lost many endorsements because of his actions, he still manages to pump out music and design clothes for his brand, and his Yeezy shoe line continues to be profitable. West is a famous lyricist and can count on many fans to defend his talents. But he is not the man he was before his mother passed. Trauma turned West into someone else.
That’s what happened to me. My mother passed from cancer complications, my career as a teacher took a turn, and recently, my dog died. In addition, my relationships have floundered as I go through my grief and try to get a grip on my life. I’m trying to get to a place called “alright,” it seems like a far-off land or in another universe.
As I restart my teaching career, I realize I don’t want to be in the classroom. Many of the students are apathetic and rude. They’d rather be in the hallways than in the classroom. Many don’t want to work and don't want to do the work. I’m supposed to be teaching all students when…
