Becoming Who I Am

I have become the person I am today because of the ups and downs in my life. I like to think that I have shaped into the person that I want to be but at the same time I am still changing into a better person and life still has many experiences left in store for me. I like to take life as it comes and not have people tell me what I should do or be.

I believe that my parents getting divorced when I was 2 had a big effect on my life even though at the time I had no clue what was happening. In the long run it's difficult to adjust to and within that comes many problems. It's always difficult having to switch to a different house every couple days or so. It is also difficult to be able to picture myself in a happy relationship because I haven't ever really known what a happy relationship is. Also my dad got remarried not too long after he got a divorce and I was blessed with another mom and with a sister. At first I didn't think of it as a blessing because like many kids I wasn't happy that they came into my life. Now thinking about it they helped shape me and it helped me grow up faster. I can't blame my dad for everything because my mom isn't perfect either, she has gotten remarried and is engaged again but since it's later in my life I've learned to accept that they have the right to move on. In the end everyone deserves to be happy.

I have had to grow up faster I think than most because of alcohol and family problems that my dad has put me through. As a child my dad struggled with his alcohol problem and it even affected me in the long run. He got so bad as to one day when he was taking me to my softball tournament he got pulled over and blew well over the limit and got taken to jail. I was left there on the road to wait for my brother while my dad was being taken away, needless to say I don't think any child should have to have those memories of their father. Many things like this kept happening and I had to take measures that were needed. I stopped seeing my dad for about a year to try to get away from all the drama in that house and in hopes he would get better. In that time he was in alcohol counseling and I had a counselor to talk about what happened between me and him. The treatment worked for about a few months but then things just kept getting worse. I didn't want things to end like that but now I rarely go see my dad and sadly it's for the better.

My mom through everything has always been there. She's been my role model and my backbone. I always have her to lean on and she can always put a smile on my face. I love her to death and I am practically turning into the same person she is.

My friends and family have helped me grow and I am happy with who I am and I can't wait for my future ahead of me.