Achieving goals is all I ever think of since the day I graduated the 8th grade. I now sit in a classroom as a senior student, ready to think about what the future holds for me and the many goals I’ve achieved these four years in high school. Throughout the many obstacles I’ve faced, I know where I stand, but I wouldn’t have gotten this far without the struggles, the crying, and the moments I’ve shared with my mother and 4 younger siblings. I am the oldest child. I’ve lived with my mom for 17 years, she is 33 years old living by herself with us 5 kids. I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters. One of my sisters does not live with me, my dad had her with another woman 6 years ago and that sort of separates us from being together all the time like a normal family should be. Both my sister and I do not see my dad much because he says he has another family to take care but that is no excuse to not be a father to your children. My father and I had a very strong bond when I was about 5 years old… From 7 to about 12 years old he stopped coming around to my grandma’s house. My mom and I lived with my grandma for about a year after moving back from Porterville about which is about 30 minutes away from where I currently live; a small town named Lindsay. Around the age of 15 I stopped looking for my father I thought I once had, I tried to change him and hoped he’d still love me the same even if I didn’t want to see him anymore. He has put me through pain I never thought I would feel. He was the only man I ever looked up to, but he slowly lost my trust and faith in him. My mom has shaped me into the young lady I am today. She has physically, mentally, and emotionally struggled with many things in life while growing up as a teen mom. My mom has always been my biggest motivator because she didn’t get the opportunity to go to college and do what she loved most, but still managed to keep her head held up high and did everything she could to provide food on our plates and a roof over our heads. She has wanted nothing but the best for her children and I can honestly say she is a very brave and strong woman. School has been a top priority for the both of us. I’ve struggled a lot since I started high school. I grew up with a single parent with 4 other siblings in my household. My father didn’t care about me or my younger brother. My mom and dad never got along after a while and I felt like I was in the middle of it all because I still loved my dad and my mother meant the world to me. I was stuck, I was lost in my own world for a very long time. As the years go by, I am now 17 years old, I am self motivated, confident, and happy with what and who I have in life right now. I am grateful the lord has helped me through the big black hole I felt I would never come out of. Overall, although my life has not been easy, I overcame many obstacles and I know I have a bright future ahead of me. I will not give up yet nor will I ever. I just want to say that I am proud to be where I am today, and I wouldn’t change anything. Without my mom being by my side I know life would’ve been much more complicated than it was for me. I would’ve had no one but myself and brother to look over. I’m one thankful young lady.