I’m from second chances and hand me downs, from sharing everything with a sister. I’m from having an older sibling who can inspire and push me to be the best I can be, from the second I was born.
From being forced into the pool before I could walk, or from sitting down at an inexpensive plastic keyboard before my grandpa gave his ancient, grand piano to our family. From staying up late and watching cartoons, to waking up before the sunrise to greet my friends at practice.
I’m from hard work and dedication at a young age, but also learning how to enjoy myself when we get records and first places and ribbons and more. From learning how to share my life with yet another sibling, to learning how to share with even more.
From mistakes that never truly fade away, and evil memories that can never be erased, no matter how much good you put into the world. From jealousy that consumed my thoughts as I watched my siblings receive more than me. I’m from long talks with my parents on how they love me too, and they love us all equally. From doubt, self-hate, and finally, acceptance.
From learning to love every bit of life, and to cherish the small, joyful moments that may never come back, but are memories to keep until your last breath. From deciding to play with Legos during recess, and never losing creativity. From racing friends in reading competitions to see who can be the supreme overlord king of the sticker chart on our fifth grade book completion chart.
I’m from facing the reality of the world in middle school, to realizing that life is more than just timed multiplication tables and spelling tests. From waking up before the sun even thought about shining down on the world, to blood, sweat, and tears of a stressful swim practice, all while still half asleep.
From getting my first, true luxury, a black flip phone that made me feel like the utmost important person in the world. I’m from wearing the same jeans two days in a row and hoping nobody will notice, since my other pairs have seem to mysteriously gone missing.
I’m from late nights on my phone, watching TV and messaging friends who never let me sleep enough, to realizing that no matter how little sleep I get now, I will get less in high school. From walking into the building I have now spent almost three years of my life in, and being shocked by the immenseness of it all, the fear, the worry, the impossible mazes that the upperclassmen called hallways.
From never taking my older sister from granted as she helped me with problems I just could not solve. I’m from difficult times and even more mistakes. More and more mistakes.
I’m from never forgetting every small thing I have ever done that disappointed someone, to letting words slip out of my mouth that I didn’t want people to see or hear or know or comprehend. I’m from wanting to hide away and letting nobody find me, to realizing once more that mistakes are a part of everyone’s lives.
I’m from learning from my mistakes and growing taller than a tree, to never forgetting the vital parts of my past that make me who I am. I am from every single possible nanosecond of my life that built up one after the next, to create who I am today. One different turn or choice would not have made me who I am. I am from what life made me, and what I made myself.