I was born a hungry child,
needing formula as soon as I exited the womb.
Born during a snowstorm in Minnesota,
I entered the world on the winter solstice.
My heartbeat diminishing, my mothers growing faster with fear,
I entered the world through a cut to the stomach,
not planned and certainly unexpected.
While growing into a toddler,
I sang myself to sleep each night under the confines of wood bars,
my grandfather by my side.
Mozart and the Ave Maria became my lullabyes,
my grandma my audience to jarring garble.
Fast forward a few years to middle school.
I loved volleyball.
The crashing onto the hard vinal of the gym floor,
the shades of purple and blue that adorned my fragile skin.
I kept on playing, regardless of the constant, stabbing pain in my knees,
and the tears that flowed down my cheeks.
The way that my father was in the stands, cheering me on, every single game.
I was not one to give up
I switched to basketball,
Loving the way that you could run down the court and have everyone watching you,
the sounds of cheering and disappointment residing in every players ears.
While growing up,
during those years of sports and rigorous music practice,
I was riddled with sickness,
no matter how healthy I was.
The constant rattling of my chest,
and the stark bark of coughing
could be heard around the world of my household.
Hospital visits are now not as frequent as they were then,
my lungs now as strong as an ox.
As a teenager,
My interests have not really changed.
Melodies swirl around my brain like cotton candy,
And the soft fur that is wrapped around a puppy still adorns my sweaters.
Now I rely more on myself,
than the looks and words of others.
I look back on my years so far with a longing,
to change my outlook on life,
all those years ago.
Over the last year,
I've learned through hardship and heartache
that I am stronger than I ever imagined.

I want to continue to experience the path of life,
To pass on my stories,
To educate my future children.
I hope to one day develop into a hungry adult,
Eating up everything that the world has to offer.