The earliest stages of childhood development is key. You always look back on your childhood days and it plays a big role in your later years.

 My childhood years consisted of me growing up without my parents and going from house to house. The only stability I got out of those years was living with one of my uncles for about five years. Starting in middle school, I had Child Protective Services in my life.  That’s a pretty crazy experience for an 11 year old.  Finally, I found my home with my aunt, her husband, and my cousins.  These past six years, I’ve lived with them. 

These memories can either make or break a person.  I have chosen to have this situation guide me to a better future. I had a prime example of what not to do in life and that was from my parents. I want to be better than what they were.  I don’t want to be one of the the examples where kids turn out like their parents.  I want people to see there is no possibility I am ever going to make similar bad choices. 

Early in elementary school, my parents were “on the run,” as people say. They took me and my brother with them, which led me to miss school and essentially held back a grade.  I have since caught back up to be with students my own age because of the help of the teachers and passing tests when I was younger.  In those same elementary years, I saw my parents on the news for the first time and it broke me, as a child shouldn’t have that experience.   Who could I tell how I was feeling? 

I lived with my parents for about two years.  In those two years, I witnessed things a child shouldn’t. I was trying to keep up in school while also missing days because my parents didn’t want to wake up.  Or they would lock themselves in their room so my brother and I couldn’t get in. I was helping raise my younger brother and I was only 10. 

These memories I will always keep for better or for worse. Right now, I am using them to motivate me with my academics and my achievements, but I will always hold a little bit of sadness with my childhood.